A few months ago I attended the launch of Jeep’s new Renegade in Wicklow. On the day I only really got to drive the vehicle for a few minutes, so last week I asked the manufacturer for a week-long test drive. There are many things to admire about the Renegade, and fans of the historical and infamous Willys will love the nods and quirks which are dedicated to the old army legend.
From the second you sit into the raised driver seat in the Renegade you can see the dedication Jeep shows to the Willys. When you look at the RPM odometer you see red mud where you’d normally see the red line – a nice touch that’s there remind you that you are sitting in a machine with a long off-road heritage. In the right-hand corner of the windscreen you will find a small image of the Willys. Above the infotainment touchscreen you will find an inscription of the year 1941 (which is when the first Willys was made), and even the taillights of the Renegade are dedicated to the fuel cans from the original Jeep.
Appearance
Outside the Renegade is robust and boxy. It’s a large-looking machine, and it’s hard to believe that it sits in the same category as the likes of the Mazda CX-3, the Skoda Yeti, the Opel Mokka, and even the MINI Countryman. This car just seems bigger.
Even though I’d describe this small SUV as being boxy, it still looks great. The deep red colour in our test model is brilliant. This colour, the robustness of the shell, and the seven slot grille to the front gives this SUV a subtle aggression. It might just make it one of the best looking vehicles in its class. It’s a head-turner and it’s unusual – a bit like the KIA Soul, but with a much nicer front.
Interior
Initially I found the seating within the Renegade to be a bit hard – but I grew to like it. The ride height was as it should be – high and commanding. The steering wheel is thick and there is an off-road feel within the vehicle. The plastics didn’t feel cheap and the only thing missing on the dash was a small bit of chrome to accentuate the touchscreen.
Headroom and legroom to the front is plentiful. The rear is a little tighter when the front seat is pushed right back, but there was enough room for my legs (I’m just under 6 foot). The boot is laid out better than that of the CX-3 and its layout is a bit more versatile for shopping and going on journeys.
Drive
The model I drove was front-wheel drive with a 1.6 MultiJet diesel engine. It offered 120bhp and I have to say that this 4.2metre vehicle didn’t lack in terms of power. It’s capable at overtaking, and climbing up hilly roads was simple. My test routes included motorways, city roads, mountain roads and country roads.
A real benefit to me was to have one of its rivals directly before driving the Renegade. The CX-3 was a better performer on the road – it was lighter and the steering was slightly more responsive. The Renegade initially felt heavier, and it took a while to get used to. The car did feel like it belonged off-road – but because it was front-wheel drive, I didn’t get to bring it 4x4ing around the hills of Donegal.
Where the Renegade was better than the CX-3 was going over bumps. This small SUV deals very well with ramps and dips in the road, soaking them up easily. What I found to be a little annoying was the loudness of the engine. I can remember giving out about Opel’s last engine in the Mokka – a 1.7 diesel, which has now been replaced. The Renegade’s engine is pretty loud.
Fuel Economy
Let’s look at the Mazda CX-3 again. I drove the exact same route with the CX-3 and I covered circa 770km. The 44litre tank in the Mazda returned an average of 4.7l/100km – it gave me no reason to refill. I gave the Jeep the exact same treatment and it returned an average of 6.4l/100km from its 48 litre tank, and I had to add more fuel to get it back to base. I drove both vehicles under the same conditions – I think it would be fair to say that I actually tried harder in the Renegade. I noticed that the Renegade was heavier straight away, and I can remember sitting in Dublin traffic thinking “this could do with Stop/Start technology” – low and behold, two days later while stopping at the lights in Clones, the Stop/Start kicked in (it comes as standard).
Stats & Prices
On paper we’re told that this particular Renegade will give you 4.6l/100km (as you can see from above I didn’t get this). In terms of performance you will get from 0-100km/h in 10.2 seconds and it offers a maximum speed of 179km/h. The towing capacity for this version is 1,000kg (400kg unbraked,) and the boot space is 351litres (1297litres with the seats down). The ground clearance of my front-wheel drive version is 175mm, and if you opt for the four-wheel drive version this increases to 198mm or 210mm if you go for the Trailhawk version (ground clearance for all petrol models is 175mm). The maximum torque, according to Jeep, is 320Nm at 1750rpm.
The version I tested is priced from €30,450, whereas an entry level 1.6litre petrol version starts from €22,950. Four-wheel drive versions start from €31,200 (for the 2.0 litre MultiJet with 140hp and a Longitude trim). Prices can stretch up to €39,750.
Summation
Overall I think the Jeep Renegade is a great car. Where it beats the rest of its competitors is in its appearance and unique styling. Perhaps it’s the best-looking in its class. What it does lack is some of the refinement that its competitors hold.
