Introduction
What Car? says...
The Jeep Renegade is a first foray into the small SUV market by the legendary American brand that invented the sport utility vehicle.
Under the skin, the Renegade is closely related to the Fiat 500X – in fact the two cars are built at the same factory at Melfi in southern Italy because of Jeep and Fiat's shared ownership. You'd probably never guess that from looking at them, though, because the Renegade has more ground clearance, Jeep's trademark grille and chunky off-road looks.
Rounding things off is the company-car friendly 4xe plug-in hybrid (PHEV), with the promise of good economy and low emissions figures. It’s both the fastest Renegade to date and the only way you can have one with four-wheel drive.
Over the next few pages, this Jeep Renegade review will tell you everything you need to know about what this small SUV is like behind the wheel (on and off the road), plus which trim and engine options make the most sense.
When you're ready to buy a car of any make and model, it's quick and easy to check out the discounts available with our free What Car? New Car Buying section. It's a good place to find the best new Jeep deals.
Performance & drive
What it’s like to drive, and how quiet it is
One version that promises low running costs is the 4xe plug-in hybrid (PHEV). It uses the same 1.3-litre petrol engine as the regular Renegade but gains a 59bhp electric motor that drives the rear axle to make it four-wheel drive. Between the two is an 11.4kWh battery that provides enough power for an official electric-only range of 26 miles.
There's a choice of two combined power outputs for the PHEV, depending on the trim level: Longitude and Limited models have 187bhp while the more off-road-focused Trailhawk has 237bhp.
In electric vehicle mode, the Trailhawk model we tested had enough zip for journeys in town. If you drive with a light right foot and plenty of patience, it will get up to motorway speeds on volts alone. When you wake the engine up in this particular Renegade, you’ll find it has a surprising turn of speed.
You won't want to be going fast if the road is a winding one, though. The Renegade leans over far more than the Ford Puma in corners and the steering is very light and imprecise, which can make you doubt whether you've turned the wheel enough to get you round a bend.
| RRP price range | £25,640 - £36,765 |
|---|---|
| Number of trims (see all) | 5 |
| Number of engines (see all) | 3 |
| Available fuel types (which is best for you?) | petrol, hybrid |
| MPG range across all versions | 141.2 - 49.5 |
| Available doors options | 5 |
| Company car tax at 20% (min/max) | £1,700 / £2,006 |
| Company car tax at 40% (min/max) | £3,400 / £4,012 |
| Available colours |
