Jeep Renegade lives up to its name
According to the dictionary, a renegade is an entity that has deserted their cause or defied convention and this little Jeep does just that.
Considering that the Renegade is in the same family as the Wrangler, Cherokee and the highly acclaimed Track Hawk, it does separate itself from the crowd and when it arrived at the office I grabbed the keys to find out where it fits in.
Traditional design
The moment someone mentions the name Jeep, an image of a big rugged, mountain conquering 4X4 comes to mind but the Renegade is just the opposite. Still retaining a 175mm ride height the Renegade compact SUV still has adventure at heart. In fact, even when the car is stationary you can go on an adventure to find all the little Jeep inspired easter eggs incorporated on both the exterior and interior. For example, hidden in the frit of the windscreen in front of the driver is a tiny little Jeep.
The little hidden gems are not the only features that note back to the traditional Jeep theme. Upfront you will find the familiar seven-slot grille and although embedded in a square-shaped bezel, round headlights. The side silhouette does somewhat resemble that of the larger Wrangler Unlimited.
Utilitarian interior
Autodealer got the Jeep test vehicle in Longitude guise, which ranks just above entry-level, in a four derivative range. Despite this, the Renegade included a variety of items that made the interior feel premium. The driver is treated by a multifunction, leather-covered steering wheel while both occupants upfront gains access to the 5.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system installed with the Uconnect operating system and features Bluetooth and navigation.
Although you will find a lot of hard plastics in the cabin, it does fit into the theme of durability. The spaciousness does seem like one of the key focusses with the greenhouse extending upwards you are left with ample headroom. The boot is 351-litres but extends to 1297-litres with the rear seats folded flat.
Powertrain
Under the bonnet is a 103 kW and 230 N.m, 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol motor mated to a six-speed automated dual-clutch transmission. While the little motor is befitting in the compact SUV segment it feels a bit underpowered as you set off. With that aside, it did return some impressive fuel consumption figures, after the week, the total combined came to a mere 5.5L/100km.
Verdict
There is a definite trend of manufacturers introducing compact SUVs and crossovers into the market and the Renegade is representing Jeep in this segment. While most other crossovers are more urban-focused, the Renegade retains urban comfort and efficiency but feel as though it will handle the rough stuff with more confidence. For me, Jeep chose the perfect name for the little car, while it has defied its convention as a traditional Jeep, it is also not just your typical compact SUV which makes it an interesting proposition and one that utilitarian South African might feel drawn to.
Warranty
The Jeep Renegade comes with a three-year/100 000km warranty and a three-year/100 000km service plan.
Price
Jeep Renegade 1.4T Longitude – R 400 00
