The subcompact crossover that can actually leave paved roads, the Renegade combines everyday drivability with some of the best off-road moves in its price class. It might be the smallest Jeep you can buy, but that doesn't stop the Renegade from upholding the family name.
What's New for 2016
For its second year on the market, the Renegade sees minor equipment revisions only.
Choosing Your Jeep Renegade
Although the Renegade has a short footprint, there's plenty of width to accommodate five passengers. You get 18.5 cubic feet of cargo space with a full crew aboard, and 50.8 cubic feet of it with the rear seat folded. These figures are slightly above average for the smallest class of crossover.
The standard 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder puts out 160 horsepower and comes paired with a six-speed manual transmission. If you want the available nine-speed automatic, you'll have to upgrade to the 180-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder. Either engine can be had with all-wheel drive in place of the standard front-drive setup. The system features a terrain selector for optimum traction in different driving conditions.
The Renegade comes in the same trims as other Jeep Crossovers, from the basic Sport to rugged Trailhawk:
All Renegades are eligible for My Sky, a pair of removable roof panels over the passenger compartment. You can add a power slide/tilt function to the front panel on all models except the sport.
Many of the Limited's extra features are available on Latitude and Trailhawk in smaller bundles. All three are available with a Safety and Security Group featuring blind spot monitoring system, rear cross-traffic alerts, and an anti-theft system. There's also an Advanced Technology Group with lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, rear parking sensors, and forward collision alert with automatic braking.
The Sport carries a tempting base price, but keep in mind that you have to pay extra for necessities like air conditioning and cruise control. That makes the Latitude the best place to start in our view.