Review: Jeep BU Renegade (2015-on)

Overview

Released in Australia in October 2015, the Jeep Renegade was a compact SUV. Manufactured at Fiat’s factory in Melfi, Italy, the Jeep Renegade was available in front-wheel drive Sport, Longitude and Limited variants, or all-wheel drive Trailhawk variants. As per the table below, drivetrains consisted of:

• A 1.6-litre petrol engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission;
• A 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine mated to a six-speed dry dual clutch transmission (DDCT); and,
• Reserved for the Renegade Trailhawk, a 2.4-litre petrol mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Body and dimensions

Underpinned by Fiat Chrysler’s new ‘small-wide 4×4 architecture’, the Jeep Renegade was 4232 mm long, 1804 mm wide, 1689 mm tall and had a 2570 mm long wheelbase. Ground clearance for front-wheel drive models will be 170 mm, increasing to 220 mm for the range-topping Renegade Trailhawk.

The Jeep Renegade had 60/40 split and folding second row seats, or optional 40/20/40 split rear seats. Cargo space was 351 litres with the rear seats in position, though this increased to 1297 litres when the seats were folded flat.

Suspension and steering

The Jeep Renegade had MacPherson strut front suspension with coil springs and Chapman strut rear suspension with two high-strength steel lateral links. For four-wheel drive models, however, the front suspension had double shell lower control arms (rather than mono shell control arms for FWD models) and the rear suspension had an isolated steel rear cradle (not isolated for FWD models).

The Renegade Trailhawk was fitted with Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) Koni shock absorbers that enabled the shock absorber to respond differently to low-frequency movement (such as cornering, braking and accelerating) and high frequency movement (such as driving on uneven roads). Due to its 30 mm higher riding suspension, the Renegade Trailhawk had:

• 480 mm water fording depth;
• A 30.5 degree approach angle, 25.7 degree break over angle and 34.3 degree departure angle; and,
• 205 mm of rear wheel articulation.

The Jeep Renegade had steering column-mounted electric power steering (EPS).

Jeep Renegade: Active Drive Low

The Renegade Trailhawk was fitted with Jeep’s ‘Active Drive Low’ all-wheel drive system. The system had a fully variable wet clutch that was housed in the rear-drive module. In normal conditions, drive was directed to the front wheels and the rear axle could be disconnected from the drivetrain to reduce fuel consumption. In the event that the front wheels began to rotate faster than the rear wheels, however, torque could be progressively transferred to the rear axle.

With its 4.71:1 first gear ratio and 4.334:1 final drive ratio, the Renegade Trailhawk had a 20:1 crawl ratio. According to Jeep, this enables up to 2000 Nm of the engine’s available torque to be delivered to the rear wheels. Furthermore, Jeep’s Selec-Terrain system:

• Enabled the driver to select from Auto, Snow, Sand, Mud and Rock drive modes;
• Had a Selec-Speed Control function; and,
• Had a hill-descent control function.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Jeep Renegade included dual front airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, front seat-mounted side airbags, full-length curtain airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters.

The Renegade Longitude, Limited and Trailhawk were also fitted with Jeep’s ‘Blind-spot Monitoring’ system which used dual ultra-wideband radar sensors to detect traffic and warn the driver – via illuminated icons in the door mirror and an audible chime – when changing lanes or if being passed.

Optional, extra-cost safety equipment for the Jeep Renegade included:

• Forward Collision Warning–Plus: used radar and video sensors to detect if the vehicle was fast approaching another vehicle or obstacle ahead. To alert the driver, the system would briefly apply the brakes;
• Ready Alert Braking: could anticipate situations when the driver may initiate an emergency brake stop and use the ESC pump to set the brake pads against the rotors for faster braking response;
• LaneSense Departure Warning–Plus: if video sensors detected that the vehicle was deviating from its lane without indicating, the driver would be alerted and the electric power steering would provide corrective steering action to return the vehicle to its lane; and,
• Rear Cross Path detection: could warn the driver – via illuminated icons on the door mirror and an audible chime – of approaching traffic that may cross the driver’s intended path when reversing out of a parking space.

Euro NCAP testing

In Euro NCAP testing , the Jeep Renegade received a five star safety rating which included an 87 per cent adult occupant protection rating and an 85 per cent child occupant protection rating. In the frontal offset crash test, protection of the front occupants was generally rated good, though protection of the driver’s chest and lower legs was rated as adequate (i.e. a slight risk of serious injury). Maximum points were awarded in the side impact test; in the more severe pole test, however, chest protection was rated as adequate.

Features: Renegade Sport

Standard features for the Jeep Renegade Sport included 16-inch alloy wheels with 215/65 R16 tyres, a four speaker sound system, a Uconnect multimedia system with five-inch touchscreen and voice recognition, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity and audio streaming, air conditioning, cloth upholstery, cruise control, a rear parking camera, 60/40 split and folding rear seats, remote central locking, power windows and mirrors, tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment, a trip computer and an immobiliser. Visually, the Renegade Sport could be identified by its black door handles and mirrors.

Features: Renegade Longitude

Relative to the Sport, the Renegade Longitude was further equipped with 17-inch wheels and 215/60 R17 tyres, a six speaker sound system, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, a power adjustable driver’s seat, front fog lights, reverse parking camera, rear parking sensors, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, leather-wrapped steering wheel, an electrochromatic rear view mirror and black roof rails.

Compared to the Sport, the Longitude could be recognised by its body-colour door mirrors and handles.

Features: Renegade Limited

Compared to the Longitude, the Renegade Limited added 18-inch alloy wheels with 225/55 R18 tyres, Uconnect media system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, satellite navigation, nine speaker ‘BeatsAudio’ system, leather upholstery, eight-way power adjustable front seats, heated front seats, bi-xenon headlights, a heated steering wheel, seven-inch colour TFT instrument cluster and rear privacy glass.

The Renegade Limited could be identified by its ‘bright finish’ grille, door mirrors, roof rails and exhaust tip.

Features: Renegade Trailhawk

The range-topping Jeep Renegade Trailhawk was dinstinguished by its 17-inch wheels with 215/60 R17 all-terrain tyres and a full-size spare, and ‘Trailhawk’ leather upholstery. Visual cues for the Renegade Trailhawk included its four underbody skid plates, black front grille, black hood decal, ‘Trailhawk’ front and rear fascias, and red rear tow hook.

2016 Jeep Renegade 75^thAnniversary edition

Released in 2016, the Jeep Renegade 75^thAnniversary edition was based on the Longitude but could be identified by its low gloss bronze alloy wheels, grille surrounds, fog lamp bezels, roof rack, tail lamp appliqué, rear fascia and badges. Furthermore, the Jeep Renegade 75^thAnniversary edition was available in Jungle Green, Alpine White, Black, Omaha Orange, Mojave Sand, Glacier Metallic, Granite Crystal and Anvil paint finishes.

Features for the Jeep Renegade 75^thAnniversary edition included a Beats Audio system and MySky open-air roof system.

Specifications

• Specifications: Jeep Renegade (October 2015)
• Buyer’s Guide: Jeep Renegade (January 2016)

Related links

• Jeep Australia: Jeep Renegade
• Wikipedia.org: Jeep BU Renegade
• Behind the Wheel: 2016 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk Review