BREAKING THE MOULD (some text hidden) SECTIONED_new_jeeprenegade_2019

By Jonathan Crouch

Jeep's baby Renegade has been usefully improved. Jonathan Crouch drives it

Ten Second Reviewword count: 85

The Jeep Renegade is a genuinely smart piece of product design, distilling Jeep's brand values into a smaller package while leaning on the smartest technology the Fiat Group has to offer. This improved version gets much improved cabin screen tech and media connectivity. And slightly more efficient powertrains that, as previously, offer either hybrid or PHEV tech. But as before, if you eat squirrel, own a bowling ball and call your first cousin your spouse, chances are you're going to hate it. Otherwise, read on.

Backgroundword count: 199

Take a respected brand, a fresh and vibrant market segment and a willingness to do something different. Then create from that a product with uncompromising looks, real capability and clever design. The result you'd get certainly wouldn't be ordinary. It wouldn't please traditionalists. No, in automotive terms, what you'd get would be something like this, the Jeep Renegade. At its original launch here in 2015, news that this Renegade was almost entirely based on Fiat's 500X had Jeep die-hards choking on their beer. These people needed to allow for the fact that much had been done with these underpinnings in creation of a tougher, more rugged and very different product. It's certainly one that's attracted widespread interest and still accounts for a large proportion of Jeep's UK sales. It's achillies heel was previously an ancient couple of petrol engines, which in 2018 were dumped as part of the changes made to this smarter, more sophisticated facelifted model. A 4xe PHEV variant was added to the range in 2020. And e-Hybrid mild hybrid models followed in early 2022. The update we're looking at here, which brought a higher level of cabin screen tech, was introduced for the 2024 model year.

Driving Experienceword count: 309

Beneath the bonnet, everything's petrol-powered in the Renegade line-up these days and you have to have automatic transmission. There's a choice of two electrified models. The first option is is the mild hybrid front-driven 'e-Hybrid' variant, which is based around a four cylinder 1.5-litre unit which puts out 130hp and 240Nm of torque and is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch auto transmission. The propulsion system includes a built-in 48 volt 15kW (20hp) electric motor delivering 55Nm of torque, which can propel the wheels even when the internal combustion engine is turned off. Your other Renegade option is the '4xe' Plug in Hybrid variant, which is a 4WD PHEV. To create the plug-in drivetrain, Jeep has taken a Fiat-derived 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and mated it to an 11.4kWh battery pack and a 59bhp electric motor. Total system output is 240hp, with 270Nm of torque and quite a rapid 7.1s rest to 62mph time. The electric motor drives the rear axle, delivering four-wheel drive. And the battery has a WLTP-rated driving range when fully charged of 26 miles. Power is marshalled by a 6-speed auto gearbox. As usual with a PHEV, there are 'Hybrid', 'Full Electric' and 'Sport' driving modes, plus an 'E-Save' battery saving setting which can put battery charge on hold so it can be used in urban traffic at the end of the trip. Plus there's an energy recovery system with two levels of regeneration. Jeep says the PHEV installation doesn't affect the off-road prowess of the top 'Trailhawk' version, but instead enhances it. First because the plug-in drivetrain offers 50% more torque than the alternative diesel. And second because the rear motor allows for independent torque split over the rear axle, allowing torque to be very precisely split between the rear wheels in tricky situations. For these, there are sand, snow, rock and mud drive modes.

To see the full road test text contact us on 0330 0020 227