Jeep’s diesel lineup is expanding as the company has introduced the 2021 Gladiator EcoDiesel.
Set to arrive at U.S. dealerships in the third quarter, the 2021 Gladiator will offer a new 3.0-liter V6 EcoDiesel engine that produces 260 hp (194 kW / 264 PS) and 442 lb-ft (599 Nm) of torque.
The engine features stop/start technology and promises “superb fuel economy and minimal levels of noise, vibration and harshness.” It is connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission that has been “calibrated for low RPM shifts and the on- and off-road rigors of Jeep Gladiator duty.”
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The diesel engine will be offered on Sport, Overland and Rubicon variants. They’ll come equipped with Dana 44 axles, four-wheel drive and a Rock-Trac or Command-Trac transfer case.
The engine carries over from the Wrangler and features a water-cooled turbocharger with a variable geometry turbine. It also boasts a forged steel crankshaft, aluminum alloy pistons and a 16.5:1 compression ratio. The engine also has a “compacted graphite iron” block which is lighter than a traditional cast iron design.
Jeep didn’t reveal much else about the model, but the Gladiator EcoDiesel has a 5.1 gallon (19.3 liter) diesel exhaust fluid tank and it should only need to be refilled every 10,000 miles (16,093) or so. Of course, its status can be monitored by a new gauge in the instrument cluster.
Jeep didn’t mention pricing but, in the Wrangler, the engine costs $4,000 and the mandatory eight-speed automatic tacks on an additional $2,000. If the same holds true to the Gladiator EcoDiesel, you’re looking at a base price of roughly $40,000. Regardless, the model is currently available to order.
