05:30 01-01-2026

2024+ Jeep Gladiator improves in IIHS safety; side-impact tops, lighting lags

The Jeep Gladiator, which many already see as a long-in-the-tooth model, has unexpectedly found a reason for optimism in safety reports. The U.S. IIHS evaluated the pickup in an updated frontal test and recorded progress for 2024-and-newer trucks: where the result had been borderline, the structure and restraint systems now perform noticeably better. The key shift doesn’t concern the driver so much as the second row: earlier, dummy sensors pointed to a higher risk of head, neck, and chest injuries, while the updated trucks show more favorable, if still imperfect, readings.

There’s also a clear strong suit the Gladiator continues to demonstrate: in the side-impact test, it earned the top rating.

The overall picture remains mixed. IIHS singles out the lighting: the Gladiator offers multiple headlight setups, and some of them deliver weak results, especially the base halogen units. Pricier trims with LED optics fare better, but still fall short of a truly confident showing. Another sore spot is pedestrian crash prevention, which is rated low for 2024+ models.

Meanwhile, the Gladiator keeps evolving on the product side. For the 2026 model year, nicer trim materials and a broader spread of interior options are promised. The much-anticipated Gladiator 4xe hybrid, however, never arrived—its project was canceled amid softening demand and a rethink of priorities. In contrast, there’s growing emphasis on a 6.4-liter HEMI version, echoing the Wrangler 392, with an expected 470 hp.

In short, the safety gains are welcome and tangible, yet the uneven lighting performance and lackluster pedestrian tech temper the momentum. The updates nudge the pickup in the right direction, but it still doesn’t quite come across as fully modern.