Jeep Gladiator Mojave, High Altitude Debut With Catalog Of Extras

Jeep rolls into the Chicago Auto Show with new special editions of the Gladiator and Wrangler. They arrive at dealers in the second quarter of 2020.

The Jeep Gladiator Mojave makes the already capable pickup even more ready to handle rugged situations. The company gives the model its new Desert Rated emblem, which is a play on the brand's famous Trail Rated badge.

Jeep puts its major focus on improving the Gladiator Mojave's suspension for handling desert terrain. There are 2.5-inch (6.35-centimeter) Fox internal bypass shocks with external reservoirs, and the ride height is an inch (2.54 centimeter) higher at the front for a total of 11.6 inches (29.46 centimeters). Fox also supplies front hydraulic jounce bumpers that function has auxiliary shocks for extra damping when the suspension compresses fully. The track is a half-inch (1.27-centimeter) wider for better stability. Frame reinforcements and stronger axles make sure the truck can handle the punishment of off-roading.

The Gladiator Mojave gets a 3.6-liter V6 making 285 horsepower (213 kilowatts) and 260 pound-feet (353 Newton-meters). A six-speed manual is standard, but buyers can option an eight-speed automatic. Regardless of gearbox choice, there's four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case and locking rear differential.

Jeep dresses up the body with a hood scoop, side rails, and a front skid plate. The truck rides on 17-inch wheels with 33-inch Falken Wildpeak All-terrain tires as standard, and Falken Wildpeak Mud-terrain rubber is optional.

Inside, buyers can select between a Black or Steel Gray interior. The front seats have larger bolsters, and there is orange accent stitching. Jeep adds an Off-Road Plus driving mode that tweaks the throttle response, shift points, and traction control for driving at high speeds on the sand or slowly crawling over rocks. it also lets the driver lock the rear differential at high speeds with four-wheel-drive high gearing, which is a feature previously unavailable from the truck.

If the Mojave is tougher than you need, then Jeep also introduces the High Altitude edition of the Wrangler and Gladiator. They lean more in the direction of luxury than ruggedness.

The High Altitude come standard with LED headlights and fog lights. The hardtop, fender flares, mirrors, handles, and bumpers are the same color as the body. Running boards make accessing the cabin a little easier. They also ride on 20-inch wheels with a black finish.

Inside, there's leather upholstery that covers the dashboard, center console, and door panels. Nappa leather is on the seats. The 8.4-inch infotainment screen with navigation is standard. There's also a driver assistance suite that includes blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-path detection.