Is Jeep PH bringing back the Gladiator with a 2.0L turbo plug-in hybrid?

After quietly axing the Gladiator, Jeep PH could bring it back as a PHEV

When Jeep Philippines first brought the Gladiator pickup truck four years ago, it was only available with the brand's signature 3.6L Pentastar V6 which is available in the Sport, Rubicon, and Overland variants. The six-cylinder made a decent 285 PS with 352 Nm of torque and is paired with an 8-speed automatic gearbox complete with a 4WD system.

Fast forward several years later, the Gladiator is no longer being offered by Jeep Philippines. We recently checked out the automaker's website and noticed that they are now only selling the Wrangler and the Grand Cherokee L. It seems Jeep quietly discontinued the Gladiator for quite some time. However, the pickup truck might make a comeback in the not-so-distant future.

Recently, Jeep Philippines distributor Inchcape Philippines received regulatory approval for a new light-duty vehicle that's powered by a 1998cc engine. As mentioned before, light-duty vehicles usually translate to pickup trucks while the engine displacement of the mystery vehicle means it will have a 2.0L under the hood. Last but not least, it will have a curb weight of around 2320kg – making it quite a hefty light-duty vehicle.

After doing some research and checking the numbers, it looks like Jeep will be bringing the Gladiator 4xe PHEV to the Philippine market. No exact specifications or figures are available as of this writing. However, Jeep CEO Antonio Filosa already confirmed a few months ago that starting next year, the Gladiator 4xe PHEV will be officially revealed.

Should the electrified pickup truck get the same powertrain as the Wrangler 4xe, it will have a 2.0L turbocharged inline-four that's paired with an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack. The 4x4 SUV makes a combined 380 PS with 637 Nm of pull and can travel up to 40 km without using a drop of fuel on a fully charged battery.

For now, Jeep Philippines is quiet with regards to the Gladiator 4xe PHEV. But with hybrids now having zero tariffs, it's not surprising Jeep may be looking to take advantage of the lower pricing for electrified vehicles.