According to the auto reviewers, around the world, the latest Jeep Renegade is a quality car that can be described as the perfect combination of price, quality, and capabilities. Undoubtedly, the first interesting thing about it is the price, which starts only at $17,996, which is very affordable considering that the potential owner gets a powerful, compact SUV with all-wheel-drive and a list of awesome features. Despite the initial concerns that the car will not be built on a traditional Jeep platform, it performed well on many test drives. The styling also was met with a reasonable share of skepticism, especially when some reviewers pointed that it resembles many features of Kia Soul. Nevertheless, let’s see what it has to offer to make up our mind.
Performance
The 2016 Renegade is provided in a front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions. There are two powertrains available, including a 1.4-liter turbo four-cylinder combined with a six-speed manual and a 2.4-liter with a nine-speed automatic transmission.
The first respective engine is a base unit and is capable of producing 160 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque and the second, more powerful powertrain generates 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. The fuel economy of this engine was estimated at 22/31 mpg city/highway while the less powerful option returns 24/31 mpg, which is average for the segment. If you add 4WD, we are getting same 24/31 mpg on turbo unit and 21/29 mpg on naturally aspirated one.
Also, take a look at the Jeep Renegade Comanche concept.
Powertrain
Both of the powertrains do not provide an extreme acceleration performance: for example, the 1.4-liter engine is capable of reaching 60 miles per hour in 9.2 seconds and 100 mph in 33.4 seconds. Speed enthusiasts will be a little bit disappointed about this performance, but if the car is designed to be frequently used off-road, the speed is not the first thing that comes to mind.
The new Renegade comes with another advantage that makes it extremely usable in off-road conditions: a traditional Jeep’s short, 101.2-inch wheelbase that provides remarkable maneuvering capabilities, departure, approach, and break-over angles. In case that you want to climb some obstacles and ply a narrow trail, this Renegade is perfect for you.
Trim levels
The 2016 model is available in a variety of trims: Sport, Latitude, 75th Anniversary Limited Edition, Limited, and Trailhawk. This range provides the customers with a great selection of features and characteristics. The first trim level in the lineup, Sport, features 16-inch steel wheels, four-speaker radio, cloth upholstery, 3.5-inch TFT monochrome driver information display, a navigation system, Select Terrain system and controls on the steering wheel.
All trims feature an iconic seven-slot grille that reminds us of a classic Jeep design. The Lattitude’s starting price is $21,395, and this version adds 16-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, and 5-inch touch screen with USB and AUX. The next trim level, 75th Anniversary Edition starts at $23,375 bringing a BeatsAudio premium system, My Sky removable roof panels, heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, and Uconnect system.
The selection is continued by Limited trim, which starts at $24,895 and adds, even more, features for the fans of off-road driving: heated front seats with an adjusting system, 180-watt audio, 7-inch full-color information display, 115-volt outlet and 18-inch alloy wheels. The last trim on the Renegade lineup is Trailhawk that starts at $26,745 and comes with a standard all-wheel drive, a full package of off-road equipment, and a two-speed transfer case.
Special Features
According to the official Jeep website, the new Renegade is available in two 4×4 systems which feature a rear axle disconnect that provides a smooth change of the RWD and AWD. The manufacturer claims that this special feature is capable of reducing energy loss, enhancing handling, increasing efficiency but without any loss of traction when it is needed. This feature gives the vehicle a Trail Rated badge, which is a sign of its ability to provide excellent performance under difficult road conditions.
Interior
There are two interior colors available for selection: Black and sandstorm. The occupants of the cabin will be pleased with the amount of room and comfort available here. The material used for the interior elements is of high-quality, which contributes to the overall comfort; given that this version of Renegade is a little bit wider than most small SUVs on the market, the amount of headroom, both at the front and rear, is pretty much huge compared with others.
Two adults will feel comfortable in the back seat and will find a sufficient room for their cargo because the trunk is pretty sizable (18.5 cubic feet). So, whether you need to go to the local mall or off-road, this vehicle is perfect for all tasks.
2016 Jeep Renegade Safety Features
The official Jeep website claims that Renegade has 70 safety features. Indeed, it is an impressive package that allows you to feel pretty safe in off-road situations, which is very important. Specifically, the safety and other features list include park brake, advanced front airbags, electric power steering, stability control, seat belt alert, panic brake assistant, rearview backup camera, remote keyless entry, remote start system, supplemental front and side airbags, tire pressure monitoring, and many others.
The safety performance was checked by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and thus can give us a clue to how safe this car is. Overall rating provided by the NHTSA was 4 out of 5 stars, front crash rating 4 out of 5, side crash rating was 5 out of 5 and rollover rating was 3out of 5. The latter indicator may seem unsatisfactory but on overall, Renegade performed well.
Concluding thoughts
The latest Renegade has the potential to be a strong contender in its segment and is even nominated for the 2015 car of the year award. It is powerful, stylish, safe, and has many options to select regarding engine, interior, and exterior, which makes it highly customizable. One of the main advantages of Renegade is comparably affordable price, which may be appealing to many customers around the world who prefer reasonable performance at the corresponding price. If you are worrying what will happen to Jeep when Fiat is involved, then don’t be: this one is perfectly positioned regarding quality, price, and performance.
