Jeep Gladiator 2026 News

Fuel prices are soaring across the board whether it is petrol or diesel. Some drivers are being more affected than others as lower fuel efficiency contributes to higher refuelling costs. Here are the most expensive cars to run currently in Australia based on fuel efficiency. Other contributing factors to the high fuel costs on this list include the fact many of the cars have big fuel tanks and require premium fuel.Fuel prices have been calculated using the average prices for fuel in New South Wales and at an average of 15,000km driven per year. Among the heaviest guzzlers is the Nissan Patrol four-wheel drive, with its 5.6-litre V8 drinking fuel at a rate of 14.4L/100km. Its 140-litre fuel tank and requirement for premium unleaded petrol means it costs $364 per fill-up and a total yearly cost of $5617.28. The Patrol will move to a more efficient 3.5-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo petrol, which is expected to reduce fuel costs. The Ford Mustang sports car is another V8 on this list, with its 5.0-litre unit registering average fuel efficiency at 13.6L/100km and a yearly cost of $5310.27.Ford’s other representative is the Ranger Raptor high-end ute, powered by a twin-turbo six-cylinder petrol engine costing $4482.76 per year. The Ineos Grenadier off-roader is the most expensive model to run and costs $5618.50 a year to run, in part due to it being diesel, which has been the fuel type that has increased the most. The Lexus GX550 has refuelling costs of $208 per fill-up currently, costing $4800 for the year, along with nearly $3000 for the Jeep Gladiator, which unlike many on this list can run off E10 fuel.The 6.2-litre petrol V8 found in the Chevrolet Silverado full-size pick-up has an economy of more than 12 litres per 100km, costing $4,356.30 over the year.  Genesis’ GV70 luxury SUV costs more $4400 per year in fuel, a similar figure to the supercharged 5.0-litre V8 variants of the Land Rover Defender. Highest fuel efficiency new vehicles on sale under $150,000 

To write that Jeep is in trouble is not news. The American off-road brand has been in major decline in the Australian market for years.The real question is — can Jeep survive 2026? Because there is some hope beyond that, but first Jeep must make it there.Instead of thriving in this SUV-dominant era, Jeep has found itself struggling to retain buyers or find news ones. The decision to drop the Grand Cherokee, once the backbone of the brand in Australia and the best-selling large SUV just over a decade ago, was seen as a sign parent company, Stellantis, is preparing a retreat from Australia.The brand is adamant that is not the case and the late 2025 introduction of the 2026 Gladiator and the incoming updated Wrangler are a sign the brand isn't ready to quit yet.Jeep could continue on selling its two core models, the reality is those would be lucky to each pass 1000 sales annually, leaving the brand in a precarious position with the Grand Cherokee gone.Instead, Jeep has to spend 2026 holding on for a better future. There is hope on the horizon, in the form of the new-generation Compass, which was revealed in early 2025 and was originally touted as coming in ‘26, but a Jeep Australia spokesperson told CarsGuide no official timing has been locked in.While it could sneak in by the end of ‘26, it’s more likely to be ‘27 by the time the Compass arrives. When it does, it would finally give the brand a fresh small SUV to compete in one of the biggest segments of the market, where the current model is literally one of the least popular models.The new Compass is bigger and more spacious than the current model and sits on the same underpinnings as the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008, so it will introduce European-style ride and comfort; something that could help woo buyers back to Jeep.Fortunately for Jeep Australia, while there will be an all-electric variant, Jeep is also offering the new Compass with hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains to give it broad appeal.Will this be enough to revive Jeep’s fortunes in Australia? Unfortunately not, at least not unless the new Compass is a runaway sales success. But it does have the potential to give the brand a much needed boost.Certainly more than the electric Avenger has done or the possible addition of the Recon mid-size electric SUV or larger, more premium Wagoneer S have the potential to do.It’s telling that the Grand Cherokee is on-track to remain the brand’s best-selling model in 2025, despite being axed as early as March. The Wrangler may be iconic, but it’s an extremely niche vehicle, and the same is true of the Gladiator.Perhaps the biggest problem for Jeep Australia is that the problems aren’t local. Jeep is struggling in its home market, and naturally that is where the focus will be to ensure the long-term survival of a brand that was forged in battle but has become a synonym for off-roaders.Like so many brands it got caught up in the excitement/legislation around electric vehicles and strayed too far from its core principles, wasting billions of dollars on 4xe vehicles that are so far proving to be deeply unpopular; certainly the Grand Cherokee 4xe did not find its mark in Australia.Stellantis is now looking to invest many more billions into reinvigorating Jeep’s US manufacturing operations, to try and revive its sales at home. What that means for Jeep in Australia remains unclear, but 2026 will all be about hanging on and hoping for a brighter future.

Modern 4x4s are packed with clever tech - but at what cost?

Jeep has cancelled the plug-in hybrid version of its Gladiator off-road pick-up truck before it even went on sale.