2028 Jeep Gladiator Will be Heavy on Electrified Powertrains
For better or worse, the 2nd-gen Gladiator midsize truck is hopping on the EV bandwagon.
After an initial rush of early adopters, Jeep’s Gladiator midsize pickup truck hasn’t been as popular as the brand perhaps hoped. Still, Jeep is sticking with the off-road cargo hauler through at least one more generation.
The all-new Gladiator is set to drop for the 2028 model year, alongside the next-gen Wrangler. However, we’re already getting some pretty juicy tidbits to whet your appetite.
Expect both pure EV and range extender powertrains
In a recent interview with CNBC, Jeep CEO Antonio Filosa set expectations to sell 160,000 to 170,000 plug-in hybrids in the U.S. market during 2024. That’s a whopping 40 to 50 percent increase over the number of PHEVs sold last year. On that note, the current Gladiator model is getting a 4xe version for 2025. However, expect the redesigned 2028 models to take electrification to the next level.
Thanks to leaked internal documents between Stellantis, Jeep’s parent company, and an auto worker’s union, we know that both battery-electric and range-extender versions of the tough little truck will be forthcoming. The all-electric version is expected to deliver a range of 350 to 500 miles. Also, if Jeep’s Magneto 3.0 (featured below) is any indication, expect a surplus of horsepower. Like 600+ horsepower, plus the instantaneous monster torque that only an EV can deliver.
For buyers who want more range for road trips or venturing off-grid, Jeep has you covered. A model with a gasoline-powered range extender (aka generator) to self-charge the battery is also in the works. On a bittersweet note, with all of the hype surrounding the electric and hybrid versions, the fate of a traditional ICE powertrain is unclear. Though speculation surrounding a gas model abounds, facts are nonexistent.
The 2028 Gladiator is expected to remain body-on-frame
Both the next-gen Gladiator and Wrangler are expected to ride on Stellantis’ STLA Frame architecture. That’s the same body-on-frame platform that underpins the Ram 1500 REV (featured below) and shouldn’t be confused with the lighter-duty unibody STLA chassis variants. As for what the exterior styling brings, who knows? With an official reveal not expected until late-2027, there’s plenty of time to get your guesses in.
Images: Stellantis Media