The Jeep Gladiator Mojave stands out in the crowded mid-size truck market, carving a niche for itself as a high-speed desert runner. Targeting enthusiasts who crave weekend adventures in rugged terrains rather than slow-speed rock crawling, the Mojave directly challenges competitors like the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. While maintaining Jeep’s iconic solid front axle, a feature often debated in modern off-road vehicles, the Gladiator Mojave offers a distinct driving experience that many find surprisingly appealing.
Embracing the Solid Axle Advantage in the Mojave Jeep Gladiator
In an era where independent front suspension (IFS) is often lauded for its on-road comfort and handling, Jeep boldly retains the solid front axle in the Gladiator Mojave. While IFS may offer marginal benefits on smooth surfaces, the Mojave champions the robust durability and inherent advantages of a solid axle in true off-road scenarios. Dismissing critiques about solid axles being “outdated” is crucial when evaluating a vehicle genuinely built for challenging landscapes, not just paved roads. The Mojave Jeep Gladiator isn’t trying to be a sports car; it’s engineered to excel where the pavement ends.
One of the most compelling reasons to consider the Mojave Jeep Gladiator is its distinctive character and its potential status as the last of its kind – a mid-size truck with a solid front axle designed for high-speed off-road performance. Despite its robust off-road capabilities, the Gladiator, across all its models, delivers surprisingly refined on-road driving dynamics. The extended wheelbase contributes to confident highway tracking and predictable handling even when pushed to its limits on paved surfaces.
However, the true essence of the Mojave Jeep Gladiator emerges when venturing off the beaten path. Aggressive off-road driving feels intuitively easier in the Mojave compared to its IFS-equipped rivals. This might seem counterintuitive, but the inherent limitations of IFS, particularly in wheel travel and constantly changing ride height during suspension compression, become apparent in demanding terrain. The Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and Colorado ZR2, despite their off-road pretenses, often struggle to overcome these IFS compromises.
For those with aspirations to personalize their vehicles with lift kits and larger tires, the solid axle design of the Mojave Jeep Gladiator offers significant advantages. Modifications are simpler and more cost-effective compared to the intricate adjustments required for lifting an IFS vehicle. The author’s personal Jeep Gladiator, running 37-inch tires with a factory MOPAR 2.5-inch lift kit, stands as a testament to this simplicity, maintaining OE alignment specifications without issue. Achieving similar tire fitment and suspension upgrades on a Colorado or Tacoma would necessitate significantly more effort and expense. Furthermore, the MOPAR lift kit, installed for a reasonable $1,200, preserves the factory warranty, offering peace of mind to owners.
The Mojave Jeep Gladiator prioritizes ride quality with its softly sprung suspension and advanced dampening technology. The inclusion of 2.5-inch FOX Remote Reservoir shocks, featuring internal bypass technology, draws parallels to the first-generation Ford Raptor in its design philosophy. This combination results in class-leading ride comfort, particularly beneficial for overlanding scenarios involving rugged but not exclusively high-speed terrains. The Mojave further benefits from FOX hydraulic bump stops on the front axle. While untested in extreme airborne scenarios during the press loan, personal experience with a Gladiator in similar situations underscores the value of these bump stops for enhanced high-speed compression dampening.
Durability is further enhanced in the Mojave Jeep Gladiator with the addition of cast-iron knuckles on the front axle. This addresses a known concern among some Wrangler and Gladiator owners regarding front axle strength. While seemingly a minor upgrade, the cast-iron knuckles offer a significant improvement, negating the need for aftermarket axle housing replacements often required in other Gladiator models pushing their high-speed limits. For those seeking to explore the Mojave’s performance envelope, this reinforced component is a crucial advantage.
A Standout Interior: Bold Design and Open-Air Freedom in the Mojave Jeep Gladiator
In contrast to the often-understated interiors of competitors, the Mojave Jeep Gladiator makes a bold statement inside. Where some manufacturers opt for monotonous black plastic finishes, Jeep elevates the Gladiator’s cabin with a distinctive design language, pushing towards a more premium feel.
The Mojave trim embraces a vibrant and assertive aesthetic, notably featuring orange accents throughout the interior. While the bold orange may not appeal to everyone, enthusiasts with an appreciation for this color will find it a welcome addition. Orange stitching adorns the dashboard, shifter boots, and the sporty steering wheel, creating a cohesive and energetic ambiance. This unique steering wheel, distinct from the standard leather-wrapped version, boasts a more ergonomic triangular shape with enhanced grip at the 10 and 2 o’clock positions. It elevates the driving experience and is a desirable upgrade that many Rubicon owners might consider.
While the Mojave Jeep Gladiator’s cabin may not be the quietest or most spacious in its class, it compensates with unparalleled open-air freedom. It remains the only pickup truck offering removable doors, a fold-down windshield, and a removable roof. These unique features inevitably introduce some compromises in terms of noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH), but the overall interior noise levels remain within acceptable limits, especially considering the vehicle’s adventurous nature.
However, a minor design quirk stands out: the interior of the removable hardtop remains white. This seems like an oversight in a vehicle where meticulous design considerations are evident throughout.
The Hood Scoop Debate: Form Over Function?
Aesthetically, the most distinguishing feature of the Mojave Jeep Gladiator is its aggressive hood, prominently featuring a large, front-facing ram-air intake. This hood design immediately sets the Mojave apart from other Gladiator models, lending it a more race-truck inspired visual appeal compared to a rock crawler. However, this imposing hood does come with a slight trade-off in forward visibility.
While the ram-air hood contributes to the Mojave’s assertive styling, it’s purely cosmetic, lacking any functional ram-air induction capabilities. The grille elements are purely decorative. Furthermore, the hood is surprisingly heavy, making it cumbersome to lift and potentially hazardous if accidentally dropped.
While competitors like the Tacoma and Colorado ZR2 also incorporate non-functional hood scoops or vents, this doesn’t excuse Jeep’s design choice. Jeep, as a brand synonymous with authenticity, has traditionally prioritized functional design in its Wrangler family vehicles. The Rubicon trim, for instance, features functional heat extractors on its hood. The absence of any functionality in the Mojave’s hood is a notable departure from this ethos and arguably the most significant drawback of the Mojave. The visual prominence of the hood, coupled with its lack of purpose and added weight, may be a point of frustration for some owners who value functional design.
Verdict: Is the Mojave Jeep Gladiator Your Ideal Desert Truck?
The Jeep Gladiator Mojave unapologetically stands apart from its competitors, embodying a spirit of fun, speed, and distinctive character. It’s a truck that allows you to remove the roof and embrace open-air driving in a pickup format, a unique proposition in the market. While competitors strive to inject excitement into their mid-size truck offerings, the Gladiator leverages its Wrangler heritage and economies of scale to deliver a truly unique and purpose-built vehicle. Jeep’s unique position enables them to create vehicles that stand out, and the Gladiator Mojave is a prime example.
However, there’s a sense that Jeep could have further enhanced the Mojave package. The inclusion of only a 1-inch lift and the decision not to fit larger tires from the factory seem like missed opportunities. Given the ample space in the spare tire location for a 35-inch tire and the high-clearance fenders, the Mojave could have arrived with a more aggressive stance directly from the factory.
Despite these minor shortcomings, the Mojave Jeep Gladiator emerges as potentially a more compelling option for overlanders than the Rubicon model. The Rubicon’s extreme 4:1 low-range gearing is often underutilized in overlanding scenarios, while the Mojave’s more practical 2.72 ratio proves more versatile for typical overlanding needs. Overlanders also benefit from the Mojave’s reinforced frame, superior stock suspension (often negating the need for aftermarket upgrades), and its inherent readiness for larger tires. The enhanced durability of the cast-iron knuckles, while not critical for all users, adds another layer of robustness for demanding conditions.
However, for Jeep enthusiasts who immediately plan to install lift kits and extensively modify their vehicles, the Mojave’s advantages become less pronounced. The key upgrades – Fox 2.5-inch shocks and hydraulic bump stops – are readily available in the aftermarket. Furthermore, the prevalent trend among Gladiator owners to opt for 37-inch tires and substantial lifts diminishes the relative benefits of the Mojave’s stock suspension. In such cases, the Rubicon, with its sway bar disconnect and front locker, might offer greater long-term value. This comparison also holds true against the Colorado ZR2 and Toyota TRD Pro; however, the Gladiator Mojave maintains an advantage in simpler and less costly upgrade paths.
Ultimately, the Jeep Gladiator, in general, represents a compelling purchase, a sentiment validated by the author’s personal investment in a Gladiator at full retail price upon its initial release. The success of the Gladiator platform allows Jeep to explore more niche models and special editions, and the Mojave Jeep Gladiator stands as a resounding success. It’s a highly recommended vehicle, but prospective buyers should also explore other Gladiator models to determine the best fit for their individual needs. For those seeking a thrilling and capable mid-size truck straight from the dealership, without extensive aftermarket modifications, the Mojave delivers an exceptional and uniquely Jeep driving experience.
Key Distinguishing Features of the Mojave Jeep Gladiator Compared to a Standard Gladiator:
- 2.5-inch FOX remote reservoir shocks with internal bypass technology
- FOX hydraulic front bump stops
- 1-inch front lift
- High-clearance fender flares
- 33-inch Falken Wildpeak AT3W tires
- Interior enhancements including sport steering wheel and orange interior accents
