The Jeep Renegade is unique and fun
2015 Jeep Renegade Limited Review
Jeep's entry in the CUV market is compact and truly unique
Web2Carz Senior Staff Writer
Published: December 31st, 2015
What do you do if you want a vehicle with some of the styling cues from a Jeep Wrangler and other, older Jeeps, but need something better-equipped for everyday life? You consider the Jeep Renegade. The Renegade delivers what you expect after a first glance. It's a whimsical take on Jeep's rugged reputation, but it's far from being a joke.
We drove the Renegade recently to familiarize ourselves with the vehicle and learned everything you need to know about this little CUV.
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Exterior: Reminiscent of the past, looking to the future
When you first look at the Jeep Renegade, the grille and front headlights remind you of some of the old Jeeps that made the brand what it is today - the Willys Wagon, any of the CJs, or the Jeep Wagoneer - but then you see the rest of the vehicle and realize that this is in no way an old school Jeep. The Renegade is a fun, quirky take on the rugged style Jeep is known for.
- Short and compact body
- Attractive grille and headlights harken back to forebears, nifty jerry can taillights
- Boxy body, but not boxy in the way the Wrangler is - think more Honda Element
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Interior: Easter eggs aplenty
The interior is packed with Jeep logos, appearing all over without being too obnoxious. It took us a few days before we really felt like we'd found all the interior design features in the Renegade. The styling borders on tacky, especially with all of the brightly colored interior accents and stitching. Packed with design embellishments.
- Easy-to-use infotainment system with touchscreen
- Simple, push button 4x4 controls
- Comfortable seats, plenty of leg room
- Cargo space feels large for such a small vehicle
- The vehicle's wide pillars can sometimes block the driver's view
- Cool retractable and removable roof panels for sunny weather
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Driving Impressions: More than adequate both on road and off
The Renegade drives nicely on the highway and around town as long as you don't go too fast. At times it felt more like a sporty hatchback than a CUV, although we wouldn't want to get in any street races. The steering is easy and comfortable and the brakes have absolutely no problem bringing the Renegade to a stop.
- Quiet drive on the highway and in the city
- Not too much body roll when you push it in the turns
- Comfortable ride, although gear changes could be smoother
- Mildly annoying engine vibration in pedals
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Final Impressions: A likeable CUV with character
Everywhere we took the Renegade someone asked us a question about the vehicle. It's cute and eye-catching and people are interested in the little Jeep. This makes driving the Renegade even more fun, and paired with the vehicle's performance it makes us think Jeep has a winner.
The Renegade does a lot of things well, and it does things that other vehicles in its class aren't, like the Renegade's off-road capabilities and its interesting roof panels that can be retracted or removed. While the vehicle isn't perfect - we were rather put off by the placement of the front pillars as they sometimes made it difficult to look through turns - the Renegade is an interestingly styled and fun package. -
Price and Specifications:
Engine: Turbocharged 2.4-liter I4 MultiAir
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Drivetrain Layout: Front-engine, four-wheel drive
Power Output: 180 horsepower / 175 lb-ft
Fuel Economy (mpg): 22 city / 31 highway
Base Price: $26,795
As Tested: $31,120 (incl. $995 destination)
Options on our test vehicle:
Navigation / Siruis XM Satellite Radio: GPS Navigation, Uconnect 6.5AN AM/FM/SXM/HD/BT/NAV, HD Radio, 6.5-Inch Touchscreen Display, Uconnect Access; My Sky Power Retractable / Removable Panels; Passive Entry / Keyless Go; Body Color Roof; 16-inch x 7.0-inch Aluminum Polished Wheels; Remote Start System
• For more information such as specs, prices, and photos of the 2015 Jeep Renegade, click here: 2015 Jeep Renegade.