Sam Krahn 
While Ford is busy launching the Bronco today, Jeep certainly isn’t taking the day off. Along with the V8 powered Wrangler 392 Concept, Jeep has finally delivered on customer demands and put the EcoDiesel V6 engine under the hood of the Gladiator pickup. The engine gives the 2021 Jeep Gladiator EcoDiesel best ever fuel economy and driving range, plus an insane torque figure.
The 3.0 liter EcoDiesel V6 will be available on the Gladiator Sport, Overland and Rubicon when it goes on sale in third-quarter 2020. Orders are now open for the model. It’ll provide 270 hp and much more impressive 442 lbs-ft of torque, and is only available with the TorqueFlite 8HP75 eight-speed automatic transmission.
FCA hasn’t announced pricing just yet, but according to CarsDirect, the cheapest Jeep Gladiator EcoDiesel you’ll find will carry an MSRP of $41,040. That number has yet to be officially confirmed.
Jeep claims the EcoDiesel Gladiator will give best in the range fuel economy and driving range, but hasn’t yet given any stats. The Wrangler EcoDiesel delivers 22 mpg city and 29 mpg highway, so expect slightly worse stats in the Gladiator considering the weight and aero drawbacks of the pickup truck body style.
The Jeep Gladiator EcoDiesel features Dana 44 heavy duty front and rear axles, and a EcoDiesel specific 3.73 axle ratio. Rubicon models get a Rock-Trac two-speed transfer case with a 4.0:1 low-range gear ratio, while the Sport and Overland models get a Command-Trac part-time two-speed transfer case with a 2.72:1 low-range gear ratio.
The Gladiator gets Jeep’s third generation EcoDiesel engine, and has improved performance and NVH levels. It features a water cooled turbo, redesigned cylinder head intake ports, and a new new 5.1-gallon diesel exhaust fluid tank that allows for 10,000 mile oil changes. The compacted graphite iron engine block supposedly reduces NVH, which is appreciated with any diesel engine.
While the extra heft will be a tradeoff deep in the trails, the EcoDiesel engine provides a compelling package in the Gladiator. It’s no surprise to finally see this model, as the diesel Wrangler offers the engine also, and Jeep claims there has been, “overwhelming consumer demand” for it.
