The Jeep Renegade is not only the smallest and most affordable Jeep SUV, but it is also the newest model in the Jeep’s SUV line. But is the Jeep Renegade a good car?
It depends on what you’re looking for. If you desire an affordable, practical, and versatile subcompact SUV, this is a nice option. But if you want a more reliable, powerful, spacious, and faster SUV, then the Jeep Renegade is not one of those cars.
All in all, the Jeep Renegade offers value for money because it is practical, stylish, rugged, and cheaper to maintain than most of its competitors. On top of that, this small Jeep is agile, efficient, and coms with lots of safety features. Nonetheless, it is quite compact with a lackluster interior.
History of the Jeep Renegade
The Jeep Renegade is a subcompact crossover SUV made by the FCA United States. This car was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2014, and production started late in the same year. At the moment, they have produced up to 8 model years, which are doing well on the market.
Besides, the Renegade is the entry-level and smallest SUV from the Jeep brand. It is followed by the Jeep Compass, which was the smallest Jeep. Moreover, this vehicle comes standard with the front-wheel-drive system, but it also has an optional four-wheel-drive system.
Features of the Jeep Renegade
Appearance
The Jeep Renegade is one of the best-looking cars in its class. Yes, this car may be cheap and small, but it still has the external features of a Jeep, such as the Jeep Renegade’s grille. Some of the external features that make it stand out are 16-inch black-style steel wheels, daytime running lights, automatic headlamps, adjustable mirrors, a sunroof, and much more.
Unlike the exterior, the interior is lacking and compact. This car can accommodate up to five people, but it won’t be very comfortable. On top of that, the overall interior is not as advanced as most of its competitors. Apart from that, the interior is made up of a lot of soft-touch plastics.
The Jeep Renegade comes with a wheelbase of 101.2-inches, a length of 166.6-inches, a width of 74.2-inches, and a height of 66.5-inches.
Performance
Don’t confuse the small size of the Jeep Renegade with poor performance. Even though this car is small, the Jeep Renegade still performs exceptionally well. Note that the performance varies with the Renegade trim that you select. The best performing Renegade model is the Trailhawk, while the Sport trim is the least performing.
In the past, the standard and lower Jeep Renegade trims were equipped with 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engines that delivered a maximum of 180 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque. However, this engine was dropped in favor of the 1.3-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine that delivers a maximum of 177 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque.
Comfort and cargo space
This is one area where the Jeep Renegade is lacking. Despite the car being practical, this SUV has small legroom, which is not only a problem for taller individuals but as well as the average ones. On top of that, it has a small cargo space, which makes it unsuitable for people who usually carry a lot of luggage.
Fuel efficiency
Since the Jeep Renegade is a subcompact SUV, it does not use a lot of fuel. This car is one of the most fuel-efficient Jeep models on the market. It comes with an EPA rating of 24 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway, and 27 mpg combined. So, you will save on fuel and reduce pollution in the environment.
Price
As stated earlier, the Jeep Renegade is the cheapest Jeep model on the market. However, the prices vary from one trim to another. The cheapest trim starts at around $25,700, while the higher rims cost over $30,000. The entry-level trims are Sport, Latitude, and Altitude, while the higher-end trims are Tailhawk and Limited.
Check out some of the common issues with Jeep Renegade.
FAQ
What is the high mileage for Jeep Renegade?
Most Jeep Renegade models start having serious issues after hitting over 150,000 miles. So, if you’re in the market for a used Jeep Renegade, you should try to avoid a used Jeep Renegade with over 150,000 miles. This may force you to spend more time in the garage than you anticipated.
What is the most reliable Jeep Renegade model year?
The title for the most reliable Jeep Renegade model year goes to the 2017 Jeep Renegade. Despite being the most reliable Renegade on the market, it is also plagued with engine stalling and excessive oil consumption. Aside from the 2017 Jeep Renegade, the 2020 and 2021 model years are also reliable.
What are some of the common problems with the Jeep Renegade?
If you’re in the market for a Jeep Renegade, it is vital to know some of the issues that you will face when you decided to acquire this car. Common Jeep Renegade problems are transmission issues, electrical problems, check engine light comes on, engine problems, excessive oil usage, irregular vehicle shut-offs, and much more.
How fast is the Jeep Renegade?
The Jeep Renegade is neither a fast nor a slow car. This is because it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 9.0 seconds. Furthermore, it has a top speed of 123 mph, which is decent, but not good or bad when compared to other subcompact SUVs on the market.
Does the Jeep Renegade hold its value?
No, the Jeep Renegade is one of the Jeep models with the worst resale value. This is because this car depreciates by 48% after 5 years, which is very low. So, if you bought a new Jeep Renegade for $30,000, you will have to resale it at around $15,600.
Conclusion
If you’re searching for a compact, practical, efficient, and rugged subcompact SUV, the Jeep Renegade is a nice choice to try out. However, this entry-level Jeep SUV also comes with multiple issues such as a compact interior, inferior interior, excess fuel consumption, and many others.
Even though the Jeep Renegade is cheap to maintain, it is still unreliable. Also, it has a small cargo area, which may limit the number of luggage or things you can carry. Generally, you get value for what you pay for.