What's the difference?
If you believe there should be a ute version of everything, Jeep has long been there for you with a tray-backed Gladiator version of its iconic Wrangler off-roader.
But the Gladiator has hardly attracted the same love as its mainstream ute rivals, preferring a more lifestyle-oriented vibe, which it leans into extra hard for this 2026 update.
While it might look pretty much identical from the outside, Jeep has made some pretty significant changes underneath to make it a better overall offering, with a nice reduction in price, too.
So is it now worth your consideration? Read on to find out.
The SsangYong Musso XLV Ultimate is one of, if not the, most affordable part-time 4x4 ute on the market at the moment a recent facelift sees some improvements to its design, features and ride comfort.
I'm in the top-grade model with my family of three to see how those tweaks translate to real-world family life and how it competes against rivals like the GWM Ute Cannon and the LDV T60.
The Gladiator is far from the most practical, versatile, or sensible dual-cab on the market. Not going to lie, though. This is the most fun I’ve had in a ute in a long time.
The SsangYong Musso XLV Ultimate is an affordable workhorse that has good comfort, features and drives well. It suited my little family and our gear just fine this week with its space. If you need the practicality of a ute and are on a budget, you get a lot for your money here.