Jeep Renegade review

The Jeep Renegade. So, is it a new model?

Yes. Jeep may call itself the inventor of the SUV, but it has never previously offered a credible contender in the rapidly growing crossover segment. The Renegade is intended to put that right. Prices have not yet been announced, although we are told that European pricing will begin below €20,000.

Just how small is it?

Measuring 4,232 mm in length, it is almost exactly the same size as a Skoda Yeti - the finest car ever made, naturally. That car, along with the Mini Countryman, is the model Jeep most often cites when discussing the Renegade.

Jeep Renegade design and character

The Renegade carries several recognisable Jeep design cues. Its seven-slot upright grille and circular headlamps echo both the original Willys Jeep and the Wrangler, while its profile has hints of the old-fashioned Cherokee. Its designers have also scattered numerous nods to Jeep history throughout the cabin and exterior, although a few feel a little… twee.

For example?

The touchscreen surround is inscribed with “Since 1941”, while an image of the Willys front end appears on everything from the speaker grilles to the rear lamp lenses. The rev counter even uses a mud splatter instead of a red line. And the central dashboard air-vent arrangement takes its inspiration from ET’s head.

It is trying rather hard in much the same manner as a Mini, and it will certainly not appeal to everyone, but never mind. The nearly overcrowded crossover market contains plenty of sober, serious alternatives. It is nice to have one that is not overly self-important.

Off-road ability and road manners

But is it serious in the areas that count?

Potentially more than necessary. Although it was developed alongside the forthcoming Fiat 500X - with the pair sharing chassis mounting points, wheelbases and a factory in Melfi, Italy - their paths diverge from there.

In the USA, where Jeep anticipates selling huge numbers of them, off-road capability is regarded as a priority. Consequently, some genuinely capable equipment is offered. Front-wheel drive is standard, but two all-wheel-drive systems are available. The most extreme version includes hill-descent control, a crawler ratio and additional ground clearance. Both systems use an adjustable drive-mode dial, offering programmes including snow, mud and sand; conveniently, it can also simply be left in auto.

We tried the range-topping Trailhawk, fitted with the more extreme system, and it is impressively talented. It tackles challenging climbs and descents with little fuss, apportioning torque smoothly between the wheels even when some are suspended in the air. Naturally, almost no owners will ever attempt this, but anyone seeking a genuinely authentic Jeep can at least tick that requirement off with the Renegade.

And how does it fare on the road?

It is entirely adequate. The ride is mostly supple, refinement is respectable considering its bluff sides and specialist mechanical package, and both the front- and four-wheel-drive models offer plenty of grip. It corners competently but is never especially engaging - which puts it behind the Skoda and Mini in that respect - yet it is never disagreeable.

Its selection of turbocharged petrol and diesel engines is familiar from Fiat and Alfa Romeo models. A 118 bhp 1.6-litre diesel is likely to be one of the most popular choices, and it has just enough strength for moving the Renegade along on the road, although it is far from quick. The flagship 168 bhp 2-litre diesel is much more persuasive, but it is likely to be significantly more expensive, particularly when paired with the nine-speed automatic gearbox that suits it so well.

Nine gears?

Indeed, although sensibly there are no paddle shifters: using the lever for manual control makes it easy to lose track. When left alone, its shifts are neither as rapid nor as seamless as those of a well-sorted twin-clutch gearbox, but that scarcely matters. It selects ratios intelligently and downshifts smoothly. At no point did it choose the wrong gear and provoke our annoyance, while it also dealt effortlessly with the demanding off-road course.

A manual gearbox is offered too, which has greatly excited the American online press. Yes, this remains a Jeep in which you can “shift stick”, with a six-speed manual fitted to most versions - although not to the toughest Trailhawk.

Technology, options and Jeep Renegade availability

Is there any other technology worth knowing about?

Every Renegade comes with a 5-inch touchscreen and Bluetooth, while higher trim levels receive a 6.5-inch display with satellite navigation, plus a TFT screen located between the instruments. A range of safety systems is also available as options, including lane-departure and collision-avoidance technology, which is starting to feel de rigueur these days.

I suppose it has masses of personalisation choices too…

Correct. The colour range is suitably chunky, combining traditional off-road-themed greens and browns with brighter orange, yellow and blue shades. There are numerous alloy wheel designs, US Army-style decals and, for those willing to study the accessories catalogue closely, a wide selection of attachable tents and kayak carriers. After all, it would hardly qualify as a crossover without a bundle of outdoor-pursuit clichés.

When will I be able to buy one?

It is due in most European markets shortly, with UK sales starting in the first quarter of 2015. Should Jeep set the price correctly, the Renegade ought to make a strong argument for itself: it has legitimate off-road credentials and an entertaining character that several rivals lack. It has not quite displaced this from its position as the world’s greatest car, though.