At first glance, you wouldn’t think that the Jeep Renegade shares its platform with the Fiat 500X. They certainly are different in looks and pricing, however what is similar between the two is the engines they share and both are a hit and miss at best. Here’s why:
The standard 1.4 turbo offers a decent blend of low running costs and decent flexibility around town and on the highway; however this engine can’t be had with an auto gearbox. You’ll have to step up to a 2.4 four-cylinder to get an auto gearbox. We find it very strange that the 1.4 turbo can’t be had with an auto gearbox, especially when there are options out there that have far less horsepower and can still be had with an auto gearbox. The nine-speed auto gearbox that does come in the 2.4 isn’t a very refined one. The engine tends to get lost in the gears and it’s not very reliable either with tons of complaints about hesitant shifts and in some cases transmission failure. We decided this time around to try out a the Jeep Renegade with the 1.4 turbo and despite it having the 20hp difference compared to the 2.4 it still manages to help the Renegade feel peppy.
On the road the Renegade feels like a much larger crossover than it actually is. There’s a bit of wind and road noise that creeps into the cabin at faster speeds, however the radio can drown out that noise. What we like the most about the Renegade is despite it being both a short and fairly tall vehicle, it doesn’t feel lofty to drive. You might get tossed around a bit by crosswinds on the highway but this is basically due to the fact that the Renegade is about as aerodynamic as a tower block. Steering feedback is generally okay, it’s really nothing to brag about and the ride comfort for the most part is well tamed. The Six-speed manual gearbox does take some getting used to, especially when driving around town where it often feels a tad too notchy for our tastes.
The interior feels like a mixed bag of both good and bad. While the overall feel of the cabin seems very well laid out and all the controls are logically placed. The plastics used in certain parts of the interior feel cheap and nasty. It’s even more bizarre that despite it being such a small car with short overhangs, the front hood and dashboard feel like they are longer than they actually are, making forward visibility a bit daunting. The rear seat offers decent space for three and the boot space is decent in space as well. However, we were expecting a bit more versatility like you’d find in a Honda HRV. It seems as if Jeep missed a huge opportunity with the versatility of the cabin.
You get a fair bit of standard kit with the Jeep Renegade and it can be seen as class average compared to keen rivals such as the Subaru XV. Bluetooth came standard, as well as auto-off headlights, air-con and electronic stability program. You’ll have to step up to the higher spec trims to get fancier alloy wheels and leather seats. The Trailhawk trim adds more rugged tires and mechanical bits to help make it a real off-road vehicle. It makes the Renegade the toughest compact crossover of the segment.
The Renegade certainly has the looks and the appeal, we just wish that the 1.4 turbo had auto gearbox option and the nine speed auto gearbox was better paired to the 2.4 engine. It’s a great vehicle but it’s bogged down by dreadful engines.
Likes: A fully capable crossover with rugged looks and spacious interior, the running costs are within reason and the purchase price is attractive.
Dislikes: The nine-speed auto gearbox is plagued with refinement issues and reliability concerns.
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