PREVIEW
Just when you thought the small SUV/crossover
niche couldn't get any more crowded, along comes one of the funkiest new models
from the staunchest defender of all that is rugged, muddy and squarely styled.
The 2015 Jeep Renegade takes one of the most red-blooded of American brands
into the realm of the ultra-compact crossover.
Its diminutive size is inherently cute (even
if the design will polarize or flat-out repulse the Jeep faithful), but Jeep
leaders in America have ensured that at least one version can withstand a dirty
flogging on a mountain. Base models will be front-wheel drive, but full-time
4x4 ("Jeep Active Drive") will be available on all models. A rear
axle that disconnects when not needed for traction promises improved fuel
economy. The range-topping Trailhawk edition is built to endure serious
off-road duty, featuring a taller ride height and clearance, 17-inch wheels,
hill descent control and a 4WD system with lower gearing designed for slow
scrambling up steep surfaces.
All 4WD models offer Selec-Terrain dynamic
modes that optimize traction for snow, sand, mud and, on the Trailhawk, rock
crawling.
The Jeep Renegade will offer a choice of
four-cylinder engines: a turbocharged 1.4-liter rated at 160 horsepower or a
larger, non-turbo 2.4-liter good for 184 hp. The smaller engine comes with only
a six-speed manual transmission, while the 2.4-liter pairs with a nine-speed
automatic, similar to that on the Jeep Cherokee.
At about 16 inches shorter and 2 inches
narrower than the Cherokee, the Renegade becomes the smallest Jeep in the
lineup. Still, it will offer many of the same features found on upper-level
Jeeps, including a smartphone-integrated infotainment system with 5- and
6.5-inch touchscreens, a 7-inch configurable gauge display, and driver aids
that include a rearview camera, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot
monitoring, lane departure warning and forward collision warning. The Renegade
even borrows a cue from the Wrangler, allowing the outside in with dual sunroofs.
The 2015 Jeep Renegade will hit dealers in January of 2015. Jeep has not
announced pricing, but the Renegade will compete with models ranging from the Kia Soul, which
starts at around $15,700, to the Nissan
Juke, with a base price of nearly $20,000.
Check back for a full review of the 2015 Jeep Renegade, including specs,
driving impressions and buying advice as it becomes available.
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