2021 Jeep Gladiator Mojave Review: An Alternative to the Rubicon?

Auto123 reviews the 2021 Jeep Gladiator Mojave.

What's a manufacturer to do if it wants a bigger part of what has become a very, very profitable pie in recent years? Why, it’s simple: have more forks to dig in with! I recently drove one of those new forks produced by GM. Meet the 2021 Jeep Gladiator Mojave, a new variant of the long-awaited pickup truck finally unleashed two years ago by Jeep, a model that’s already made its mark in the off-roading community alongside the brand's iconic Jeep Wrangler.

Jeep understands this reality of the automotive industry in 2021: Yes, many motorists do want to be adventurous, but more importantly, they want to be seen behind the wheel of a vehicle that could go anywhere and withstand any kind of abuse. That would be the Gladiator. Even a basic Sport S trim is a serious candidate to take on the world. But from Jeep’s point of view, why stop there? If the demand is there, Jeep would be crazy to ignore it. The Porsche 911 Carrera is an incredible sports car at its core, but that doesn't stop its designers from developing all the other liveries of the model, including the amazing Turbo S.

The Gladiator Mojave, in spite of its hellish looks, is therefore aimed at a slightly different clientele than the typical Rubicon buyer. As its name suggests, the Mojave was designed for high-speed desert cruising, unlike the Rubicon, which seems to be just right to take on... the Rubicon, or other such super-rough trails or obstacle courses.

The Mojave was inspired by the F-150 Raptor and, by the same token, by the Ram 1500 TRX - another FCA product of course.

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