Popular Mechanics Gives Jeep Gladiator Excellence Award
Photo: FCA
Models proving to be capable and practical earned winning spots in this year’s Automotive Excellence Awards curated by the staff at Popular Mechanics. The editorial staff also looked to see what vehicles balanced an affordable price tag with premium features and favorable reviews from other auto experts grabbed. After all the numbers were crunched, opinions weighed, and test drives completed, the 2020 Jeep Gladiator easily won the Mid-Size Truck of the Year award.
Available Now: 2021 Jeep Gladiator
“The Gladiator is so damn cool that we forgive its Wrangler-related crudities — slow steering, solid front axle, noise — because its Wrangler qualities also make it wonderful,” according to Popular Mechanics writer Ezra Dyer. “It’s a rare combination of whimsical fun and everyday usefulness, a workhorse that doubles as a weekend toy.”
Dyer was particularly impressed with the seemingly limitless configurations of the 2020 Jeep Gladiator. Customization is key when you need a truck that can go from the worksite to an off-roading adventure with minimal effort.
To maximize the Gladiator’s appeal, Dyer suggests getting the premium soft top despite the noise-cancelling efforts provided by the hard top option.
“The whole point of a Gladiator is to enjoy its open-air capabilities, and you just won’t be able to do that with the hard top,” Dyer writes.
The Jeep Gladiator with its off-the charts capability, interesting looks, truck/SUV blend of features, and rugged legacy has won fans and critics over since its debut. It even snagged the prestigious title of North American 2020 Truck of the Year award. It also earned the Winter Truck of New England award from the New England Motor Press Association and the Truck of the Year title from the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press Association. FOUR WHEELER selected the Gladiator Rubicon as the 2020 Pickup Truck of the Year.
Available Now: 2021 Jeep Wrangler
DeAnn Owens is a Dayton transplant by way of the Windy City, yet considers herself to be a California girl at heart even though she’s only visited there once. To get through the dreaded allergy season unique to the Miami Valley, she reads, writes, complains about the weather, and enjoys spending time with her husband, two sons, and their newest addition, a Boston terrier puppy that is now in charge of all their lives. In the future, she hopes to write a novel and travel through time. See more articles by DeAnn.