Jeep is bringing back the Scrambler as a high-horsepower, two-door pickup truck version of the midsize Gladiator pickup. While firm details remain a little hazy, credit goes to The Drive for getting some tantalizing information from Tim Kuniskis, Head of American Brands for Stellantis. Two extended doors? Check. That’s because, according to Kuniskis, this will make accessing the second-row seating easier. A big burly Hemi V8 under the hood? Not totally confirmed, but it’s about as likely as saying it’ll snow sometime in Alaska this upcoming winter. A removable cargo bed cap? Jeep-centric Kuniskis boldy used the classic Chevrolet K5 Blazer as a point of reference here: yes, that’ll be coming along for the ride too (the cargo bed cap, not a K5 Blazer). Reversible and foldable second-row seats? Wait, what’s that Tim?
Clever Seats Mean More Cargo Space
As more than a few automotive outlets have questioned – and yes, this includes us here at PUTT – why reversible rear seats? The fact they can be removed and/or folded down makes perfect sense. But turned backward? Are we thinking tailgate party seating, a romantic perch for watching a mountain-side sunset, or just a way to make second-row passengers feel like they’re on a Tilt-A-Whirl?
As Kuniskis explained, a key benefit of this versatile seating is that it frees up more cargo volume. After removing the rear cap and folding (or removing) the second row, he said overall space will be greater than what the Gladiator offers. Again, the ‘how much more’ aspect remains TBD for the moment. If you’ve forgotten, the cargo bed of the Gladiator is a somewhat petite 5-feet long. For many pickup truck buyers, size does matter and a boost in bed space would be welcome.
Hemi V8 and Independent Front Suspension
Like many of Jeep’s wildest concepts, including the over-the-top Buzzcut Wrangler from this year’s Easter Jeep Safari, the Scrambler is not going to have trouble getting up to highway speed, or scrambling (yes, we went there) its way over rugged terrain. Expect a V8 engine to potentially find its way under the hood. A solid guess would be the same 6.4-liter V8 that’s offered in the tire-smoking and boulder-busting four-door Moab 392 Wrangler, one of 12 limited-edition models Jeep plans to roll out this year. An independent front suspension is also very likely to make up the mechanical blueprint of the Scrambler. That would be something of coup among solid-front-and-rear-axle-or-die Jeep loyalists.
The 12 Merry Months of Jeep Wrangler Special Editions
For comparison, let’s look at another special Jeep: The 2026 Jeep Wrangler Moab 392. This rock-crawler-meets-muscle-car delivers an easy to remember 470-horsepower and 470 pounds-feet of torque. Paired to an eight-speed automatic, the Moab 392 has a 4.65 rear axle ratio and can sprint from 0-60 mpg in less than five seconds. The Moab 392 rides on 35-inch LT315/70R17C all-terrain tires mounted on beadlock wheels. Additional go-anywhere addendum consists of Jeep’s Selec-Trac full-time 4-wheel drive system, a 2.72:1 low-range transfer case, rock rails, black-painted recovery hooks, heavy-duty underbody skidplates and an available Warn winch with an 8,000 pound maximum capacity.
Of course, even one of the wildest Jeeps has something of a soft side to it. The Moab 392 is also outfitted with an Alpine stereo and Napa leather upholstery. One thing worth noting: the Moab 392 will be an ideal means of getting on a first name basis with the attendants at your local gas station. That’s because it returns an EPA-estimated 13 mpg in city driving, 16 mpg on the highway, and a combined average of 14 mpg. Who says you need to cover that mortgage or pay rent, right?
Where Does The Scrambler Fit In The Jeep Family Tree?
In terms of price, where might the Scrambler fall within the Jeep family tree? The Moab 392 Wrangler has a starting price of $81,995, including Jeep’s hefty $1,995 destination charge. We would estimate somewhere in the same region of $80,000 to $90,000. That would make it one of the most expensive Jeep models, though obviously one of the most powerful and off-road capable too. Nothing has been confirmed, but sales of the Scrambler are likely to begin within 2-3 model years from now.
