Think World War II. Think Jeep. Perhaps no other four-wheel-drive vehicle of the US Army’s efforts during such a war was as iconic and unstoppable as the wartime Jeep. It was produced in the hundreds of thousands and proved to be one of the most multi-faceted and reliable mobile platforms of the war. The Jeep’s popularity after WW2 was very strong, making it one of the most successful military vehicles of all time.
Think present day. Think Jeep Renegade. You’re looking at a robust all-terrain vehicle that’s ideal for an incredibly wide spectrum of customers. Primarily, it’s a trendy and adventurous 4x4. But it’s also a great car for fun-loving singles. It works for parents whose time is spent ferrying their kids around. It’s a potential party wagon, one used to transport friends from one event to another. Whichever way you look at it, the Jeep Renegade works… and well too!
Designed in the US and built in Italy, sharing the ‘small-wide’ platform with the Fiat 500X (test-driven in the May 2015 issue of MOTORING), the new Jeep Renegade could be Chrysler’s successful ticket to bridging the gap between old Jeep fans and new ones.
It is available locally with a good choice of engines. The entry level is the front wheel drive 1.6 JTD MJet 11 with 120bhp and a manual six-speed gearbox.
There’s also the 2.0 JTD with 140bhp and a six-speed gearbox plus 4x4 Active Drive, followed by the same engine with a nine-speed low automatic gear box plus 4x4 Active Drive.
Ultimately, you can also opt for a 2.0 JTD with 170bhp and a nine-speed gear box low automatic and 4x4 Active Drive.
Why a nine-speed gearbox, one might ask? Well, it might sound like a lot but the truth is it allows the gears to operate through a larger range of ratios than those of a CVT. Jeep’s engineers are confident that such a gearbox will not only achieve better efficiency, but it will also offer a good dose of added reliability.
The 4x4 system in all Renegades, with the exception of the Trailhawk, is Active Drive which comes with a fully-automatic power take-off unit that disconnects the rear axle to improve fuel efficiency when four-wheel drive isn’t needed. Engagement is instantaneous.
The car’s design is practical, yet sexy, and you can immediately tell that there’s a touch of Italian flair and creativity
The Renegade is built from steel and composites that Jeep says underwent extensive computer-simulated impacts allowing them to fine-tune the vehicle and give it world-class torsional stiffness.
The car’s design is practical, yet sexy, and you can immediately tell that there’s a touch of Italian flair and creativity.
And as soon as you sit inside, a feeling of comfort envelopes you. The driver’s position at the wheel is nothing but commanding and visibility is excellent all round. The dashboard dials are positioned in a very clever way so there’s no need to take your eyes off the road when driving. Head, shoulder and leg space is ample and this goes for the rear as well, where passengers can comfortably sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.
And talking of relaxation, the Renegade’s climate control system is very effective and efficient… just perfect for Malta’s scorching summers.
Of reassurance to many are the Renegade’s many safety features – electronic roll mitigation and adjustable front seat seatbelts, rear three-point seat belts with load limiter, stop and start, electronic servo and assisted steering, driver and passenger air-bags… the list just goes on.
Finally, what about the car’s drive and performance? The Renegade definitely has heaps of presence on the road. Well, maybe not as much as its bigger brothers, but it definitely looks good on the road. As soon as we hit the open roads, this 4x4 proved its true potential, coping extremely well in traffic and manoeuvring comfortably between cars. When we hit a bit of off-road – and we’re not referring to Maltese roads here but real track terrain – the Renegade registered a great amount of grip at all stages.
Jeep’s top brass are hoping that the Renegade will continue to embed the brand into the hearts and consciousnesses of more and more customers the world over. Judging from our test-drive, we have no doubt that they will succeed.