Stellantis India recently announced a much-needed product onslaught comprising seven Citroen and five Jeep models, all due within the next four years. While the company did not specify what these models would be, it did confirm there would be a premium pickup, which we understand to be the Jeep Gladiator.
The pickup would be one of the earlier arrivals, and Jeep is likely to bring it in as a CKD, just as it currently does with the Grand Cherokee and the Wrangler, with which the Gladiator shares its platform (JL).
Gladiator may mark Jeep India’s entry into the premium pickup segment
Currently, the American pickup comes in a single 3.6-litre V6 petrol version, which could be the engine of choice for India too, and as is intrinsic to the brand, a 4x4 powertrain would likely be offered. Alternatively, given that the Gladiator and Wrangler share a platform, Jeep could consider utilising the Wrangler’s 2.0-litre direct-injection four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine under the hood of the Gladiator in India.
In Jeep’s home market, the US, the Gladiator and the four-door Wrangler are similarly priced, so expect the Gladiator to be priced at around Rs 70 lakh in India. This would be considerably higher than the Toyota Hilux. However, the Gladiator is larger. At over 5.5 metres long, it stretches the tape past the Hilux, which measures just over 5.3 metres.
The lifestyle pickup segment remains a niche market in India, although interest is gathering. The new Toyota Hilux was launched recently, and Mahindra has announced its Scorpio Lifestyler. Isuzu also sells its D-Max V-Cross here. But given the higher segment the Gladiator would occupy, expect its sales to be modest. Besides, Jeep also needs to upgrade its sales and service network, a process it says is already underway. The automaker says its Stellantis Brand House format would support expansion into Tier 2 and Tier 3/4 markets, where it sees potential.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
