The Jeep Renegade is a chunky 4+1 seater. In the manner of SUVs from the USA it is square-cut and lantern-jawed but with 21st Century manners. The model as tested was in Longitude trim (Options will be regionally dependent) and is available with two or four-wheel drive. Most buyers we expect would want the extra versatility of 4x4 which are much more up for a bit of track and trail ranging.
In this trim level it is very much the small urban SUV but that's no bad thing because the styling makes it stand out from the herd of crossovers browsing across the city streets. Here at MHH Japanese Cars we like the exterior very much because it is somehow in keeping with the Jeep tradition. Underneath though it's basically a Fiat 500X from the European market.
On The Inside
There's a lot of hard plastic, with only a few soft touches, which is inevitable at this price point. Full credit though for the dashboard which is distinctive. The test car came with a modest 5” Uconnect DAB radio with a touchscreen that includes satellite navigation and Bluetooth.
By today's standards the screen is small. On the other hand, why does it matter? It all works well and clearly this was part of the interior design philosophy. You get a 7” screen on Limited and Trailhawk editions. Elsewhere, USB, 12v and Aux sockets are strategically placed on the lower dash and in the central armrest.
The seats are fine, comfortable and adjustable but we’re not so keen on the nylon-like fabric. I hope that the idea is as a hard-wearing material. Move up the specifications to Limited or Trailhawk and you get leather. On the plus side, with a light fabric as headlining and big, deep windows, being inside the roomy Jeep Renegade is pleasantly light and airy. The driving position is high and there's sufficient reach and rake adjustment.
On The Road
The driving experience has been greeted with mixed reviews, probably depending on what people expected from the car. Certainly there's a bit of wind noise, the throttle response is a bit sluggish and the steering isn't the sharpest ever experienced, but most users wouldn't notice.
The Jeep Renegade has a 'personality' that is hard to quantify but which is lacking in some other crossovers. There's tons of grip and tall car lean is well controlled in corners. Emissions are lagging behind a bit at 140g/km and the combined fuel consumption figure is 47.1mpg for the tested version.
The Jeep Renegade is up against some stiff opposition in the crossover stakes and prices across the range are comparable with other similar cars although it does not undercut them. Some of the opposition is rather standard fare and here at MHH we like the Jeep because the brand in general does well in reliability surveys and it offers something a little different to the run of the mill.
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