Jeep Gladiator 2021: entry price cut by $10K with new base Sport S model

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Jeep has announced the 2021 Gladiator Sport S is coming to Australia, which cuts the price of entry by $10,000 while still retaining many of the features that make it so capable off road.

The new Gladiator Sport S variant is priced at $65,490 (before on-road costs), which is significantly more affordable than the previous entry grade Overland which starts at $75,450. 

As the price of smaller dual-cabs such as the Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok creep towards $80,000 in their highly specific versions, the latest offering from Jeep means the price gap between a regular and full-sized ute is increasingly small. 

The Gladiator Sport S has kept the 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine which develops 209kW of power and 347Nm of torque and the eight-speed torque converter automatic used in the more expensive variants.

The diesel V6 offered in North America is not available to Australian buyers, despite diesel being the fuel of choice for most dual-cab drivers locally.

Perhaps most importantly, Jeep has retained the active on-demand 4×4 system along with tough Dana front and rear axles.

A set smaller 17-inch aluminium rims have been fitted with a simpler design, while the addition of underbody skid plates and 47.8:1 crawl ratio should make it incredibly capable off road.

To cut down on costs Jeep has replaced the aluminium fender flares from the Gladiator Overland with black textured plastic. The body-colour roof has also been swapped out with a three-piece back folding hardtop. 

The Gladiator Sport S also misses out on niceties such as heated leather seats for cloth offerings and the 8.4-inch touchscreen has been sized down to a seven-inch unit.

However the full-size ute still retains wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and an additional seven-inch driver’s display sits in front of the driver, with nine-speaker Alpine premium audio system fitted as standard

Buyers can option the larger touchscreen along with a remote starting function, security alarm and hardtop headliner in the $2,450 Comfort and Technology package.

Those looking to use the Gladiator Sport S as a family car will be happy to learn Jeep has left the safety features alone. With front AEB, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a reversing camera, adaptive cruise control along with front and rear sensors all fitted as standard.

Jeep also offers the Lifestyle and Adventure package as a $2,950 option, that offers extra equipment such as a spray-in bedliner, lockable underseat storage bin along with a 240-amp alternator paired to a 700-amp battery.

The Jeep Gladiator Sport S is currently available to order and with the first batch arriving in showrooms this month.

Jeep Gladiator Sport S 2021: prices in Australia

All prices listed are before on-road costs.

• Gladiator Sport S: $65,490
• Gladiator Overland: $75,450
• Gladiator Rubicon: $76,450