2018 Jeep Renegade Review – Compact Yet Capable

Performance – The Jeep Renegade is offered in five trims and the one I tested was the Limited variant that sits just below the top of the line TrailHawk trim. The compact SUV comes in two engine options, a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol and a 2.4-litre naturally aspirated petrol which also happened to be the one I tested. It outputs 180 HP and 240 Nm of peak torque which sadly don’t translate into good performance. The power delivery through the 9-speed automatic gearbox is sluggish and one has to really floor the accelerator to get the car going. Even in the manual mode, it takes its own time to respond which becomes irritating when you really want to drive it enthusiastically.

Part of the reason for this poor performance is also the weight of the car which further increases with the optional 4-wheel drive system. The weight also takes a toll on the mileage which is lower than the competition. The 1.4-litre motor can be a better choice as it comes with a 6-speed manual gearbox and also produces 5 Nm more torque compared to the 2.4-litre engine.

Driving Dynamics – Where the hefty weight of the Renegade really helps is in keeping it planted on the road. The feel and feedback from the steering is good and it weighs up well at high speeds. The body roll is surprisingly well contained but the composure is lost on bumpy patches which the Renegade’s suspension simply isn’t able to absorb. The brakes too feel rubbery but do provide the Renegade with good stopping power. The 4-wheel drive system is, however, the highlight here and even if you won’t use it, it will be comforting to know you have it.