Jeep Wrangler vs Gladiator: Surviving a 2,500km Desert Race 

Let’s test drive and review the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator!
The Wrangler and Gladiator are build for off-roading from the factory, and they’re a big reason Jeep is able to keep its off-road reputation in the modern car market. There are lots of different types of Jeeps these days, but the Wrangler and Gladiator come equipped for rock- and hill-climbing, desert running, mountain trails, and other off-road adventure performance from the factory.
But these aren’t just any Jeeps. They’re street-legal (but modified) builds meant to survive 1,500 miles of racing in the desert at the Rebelle Rally. Driving them is a reminder of just how off-the-grid the rally is - it’s a big commitment, not a game.
These two Jeeps aren’t brand new. They’re a 2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon and a 2021 Jeep Wrangler Sport, and they represent a big gap in trim levels: The Wrangler Sport is the base model and cheapest modern Wrangler, while the Gladiator Rubicon sits high up on the trim list. The Wrangler Sport’s sub-$30,000 price at the time was huge, but now you can only get sub-$30,000 Wranglers with dealer discounts or used on the secondhand market - the current Wrangler starts at $31,995.
Magna, our new channel partner, modified the Jeeps for desert survival during the rally in hopes to best the competition.
Jeep’s history begins with Willys-Overland, which built army vehicles in World War II. The U.S. army wanted to buy new "light reconnaissance vehicles” used to survey lands, and Willys eventually started offering civilian versions of the car for sale. They represented the freedom to experience driving on-road and off.
The 2021 Wrangler Sport has a 2.0-liter, inline-four cylinder gasoline engine that makes 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, and that power goes through an 8-speed automatic to all four wheels. This Gladiator Rubicon is also 4WD with an 8-speed auto, despite the fact that Jeep debuted the new Gladiator with a manual transmission.
On both of these cars, Magna added steel bumpers to help with extraction; extra storage racks; auxiliary LEDs for night driving; skid plates to protect the underbody in case there’s contact with rocks or the ground; a rally computer; and a bunch of survival equipment like 5-gallon water containers; survival and first-aid kits; tents and helmets; recovery straps; shovels; and more. The Wrangler Sport also has a 2-inch suspension lift and 33-inch tires.
In this video, we’ll discuss looks (design, interior, exterior, wheels, off-road goodies, and more), practicality, survival modifications, the history of Jeep, more. We’ll also talk about why the Wrangler is charming in the modern market, and what it’ll be like to spend many hours in these trucks without wifi or connection to the outside world in the Rebelle Rally.
Thanks for watching my RU-vid channel. Enjoy the drive (and the videos)!
#cars #jeep #jeeplife #jeepwrangler #jeepgladiator #wrangler, #wranglers #wranglersport #offroad #offroading #offroad4x4 #automotive #carreview #carreviews #alanisking
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