Late last year, Jeep launched their first ever compact SUV and it is called Renegade. Unlike any other Jeep vehicles, the Renegade came out with a different design language that is made to appeal the general market.
We were simply attracted to the Renegade that we helped ourselves to a test drive with the vehicle yesterday. Upon igniting the Renegade, it lets out a soft roar which is gentle to the ears. The seats too are also comfortable and are nothing like those on the Cherokee or Wranglers.
So we started cruising to a dirt trail track near the vicinity and throughout our journey, the Renegade offered a pretty pleasant driving experience. It seems that the suspensions are no longer stiff as they offer a soft touch whenever we crashed into a pothole.
The Renegade is towed by a 2L 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine that develops 138hp through a 6-speed manual gearbox. Despite the large engine capacity, it is unfortunate that the Renegade feels underpowered. The car can be a nice cruiser but it is definitely bad at overtaking. The sluggish acceleration doesn’t help when on the highways. Also, the Renegade is a fuel drainer which we don’t find amusing at all.
Regardless, we managed to arrive on the dirt track in no time at all. Then, we pulled down the lever to engage into 4WD mode. That is when the Renegade suddenly turned into a monster, reminding us that it is made by Jeep. The engine roared as we hit the high revs when taking on hills. While we clocked an average speed of 30mph, the thrill offered is simply priceless.
With that being said, it is safe to conclude that the Jeep Renegade was not built for the roads but rather, off it. Underneath the Renegade enticing looks lies that same beast which is found on every other Jeep vehicles.
