We get a chance to drive the first Italian-built Jeep at the 2015 Midwest Automotive Media Association Spring Rally at Road America
Pros
Interior room
Handling
Steering response
Cons
Cheap interior pieces
Middling performance
Pricey uplevel models
Joining the crowd
Whether or not the subcompact crossover SUV segment takes off this year remains to be seen. One point that cannot be debated, however, is the fact that this particular sector of the market is about to become very crowded.
This means that in addition to the Buick Encore and Nissan Juke, the new Jeep Renegade will be battling it out with the Chevrolet Trax, Honda HR-V and its own stable-mate, the Fiat 500X, as well as the soon-to-be-released Mazda CX-3.
So what are our first impressions?
2015 Jeep Renegade
The 2015 Renegade is available in four trim levels (Sport, Latitude, Limited and Trailhawk), with a choice of two engines (160 horsepower 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-four making 184 lb.-ft. of torque or a 180 horsepower naturally aspirated inline-four with 175 lb.-ft. of torque) in either front- or four-wheel-drive configurations. The model Jeep made available for us to drive was the entry-level Sport model 4x4.
Both a 6-speed manual and 9-speed transmission are offered, although both are entirely dependent upon the engine chosen as the 1.4 turbo four is offered only in combination with the manual, while the 9-speed comes mated exclusively to the larger displacement 2.4-liter four.
Exterior
Jeep designers call the Renegade's design language "Tek-Tonic" with "Tek" referring to the Wrangler-inspired X-shaped surface treatments found through the interior and exterior.
Outside, that X theme is reflected in the design of the Renegade's taillights as well as its most unique feature: two optional "My Sky" open-air roof systems. The first consists of a manual rear panel and a power tilt/slide front panel while the second – which appeared on our tester - features front and rear manual removable roof panels. Since the day was overcast with intermittent rain and drizzle, we decided not to tempt the fates and left both panels in place.
Interior
Interior accoutrements include a soft-touch instrument panel, large passenger grab handle, a removable, reversible and height-adjustable cargo floor panel as well as a fold-forward front-passenger seat. Swimming against the current tendency to over-complicate things, the controls are simple and straightforward in the extreme – the radio and climate system consists of 16 buttons (including 6 radio pre-sets) and two knobs.
But despite the cutesy Jeep grille-shaped speaker covers and features such as the "Easter egg" console storage bin Moab map mat and the "Since 1941" tag emblazoned above the radio, most of the interior trim is hard, plasticky, low-rent and seems out of place on a vehicle with a sticker price of over 24 grand.
On the flip side, views out the front, sides and back are excellent, although the view out the rear three-quarters is hindered by a wide C-pillar. There's also plenty of leg, hip, shoulder and head room for two adults in front and two in back. There is a third seat belt in the back seat, but the narrow center perch would probably be uncomfortable for all involved unless the additional occupant was a small child.
Under the hood
Since our tester was equipped with a 6-speed manual, it was powered by the smaller 1.4-liter turbo that, by the way, features a structural aluminum bedplate and cast-iron block.
So how does it all work?
On the road
The good news for buyers looking to save a few bucks is that the base Renegade is fully 300 pounds lighter than the top-shelf Limited model. Although rowing through the gears is fun and initial acceleration is brisk, the turbo four runs out of steam fairly quickly. Trust us when we say that, because of a fair amount of body roll, this is not a vehicle you'll enjoy carving corners with.
On the other hand, we noticed a decent amount of feedback from the steering wheel. The brakes were also easy to modulate, although there's also a noticeable amount of front-end dive. Wind and engine noise were also fairly muted, although a fair amount of tire noise made its way into the cabin.
Pricing
Jeep Renegade prices start at a reasonable $18,990 for a FWD Sport example sans blow cold (A/C) and can top out at over $33,000 for a fully optioned and accessorized Trailhawk 4x4. This Sierra Blue Sport 4x4 tester had a starting MSRP of $19,995. Adding alloy wheels ($595), side roof rails ($195), power and air group ($1,495), fixed/removable roof panels ($1,095) and a $995 destination fee brought its as-is price to $24,565.
The Bottom Line
We found that there’s a lot to like about the 2015 Jeep Renegade. It has a smooth ride, responsive steering and a fairly quiet ride – at least in around town driving. The turbo engine and 6-speed manual transmission also work well together and there's a decent amount of feedback through the steering wheel and the brake pedal.
On the other hand, the interior, though plastered with the "Jeep" name and myriad other references to its off-road heritage, consists of a plethora of hard plastic surfaces. This gives it a decidedly low-rent look, even for a Jeep.
So despite the fact that the entry-level model is priced competitively, the cheap-looking interior and class-above pricing for the off-road Trailhawk trim only lands the new Renegade mid-pack in the current crop of subcompact crossovers.
