Designed to take all that Nature can throw at it, the Jeep Gladiator has taken a punishing blow from our crash-testing agency.

THREE stars: Jeep’s first production ute sold here, the Gladiator, has been given the same middling crash test score by the national vehicle safety auditor as the Wrangler it is based off.

In determining this result, the Australasian New Vehicle Assessment Programme – aka ANCAP – has noted that the same “structural issues” that kept Wrangler from doing better are also pinning back the just-released traydeck variant. 

In a report issued today, it has also highlighted a lack of protection for other road users, pedestrians and cyclists.

The model’s safety assessment from the New Zealand Government-funding and NZ Automobile Association-supported independent testing agency hasn’t come from putting a Gladiator to the sword in its Melbourne laboratory.

No direct testing was carried out by ANCAP. Rather, it has applied the same rating it awarded the Wrangler last December, when the addition of autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and blind spot monitoring lifted that model’s safety rating from one star to three.

Gladiator versions has AEB as standard, however ANCAP criticised it for a lack of pedestrian and cyclist detection or lane keeping assist.

According to the safety report, the Wrangler/Gladiator bonnet affords only 'poor' or 'adequate' protection to the head of a struck pedestrian over most of its surface.

"Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) is available on the Jeep Gladiator; however, the system is not designed to react to vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists," the report states.

Plus, ANCAP said, the model has the same “structural issues” it found with the Wrangler.

As the vehicles share the same core structural underpinnings, engine configuration and restraint package – and therefore provide similar structural crash performance – the ute was awarded the same sub-standard scores in all key testing areas. 

These include 60 percent for adult occupant protection, 49 percent for vulnerable road user protection and 51 per cent for Safety Assist.

 “The structural issues we saw with the originally-tested Wrangler also apply to the Gladiator including A-pillar and cross-fascia beam failure, footwell intrusion, high seatbelt loads and excessive pedal movement. These remain an increased risk for occupants,” said ANCAP director of communications and advocacy, Rhianne Robson. 

“Consumers have come to expect a high level of safety regardless of price-point and market segment. 

“Safety should remain a priority in all vehicle purchases, and this is no different for a vehicle of this type – particularly at this price-point,” Robson added.

In response, Jeep’s distributor in Australia has cited that the Gladiator “is a specialist off-road performance vehicle that has more than 70 advanced safety systems.

"This includes front and side airbags, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, parking sensors, a rear-view camera and autonomous emergency braking."

Jeep’s New Zealand distributor, Ateco Group, has yet to comment.