Jeep has made its entry into the compact SUV segment through launching the all-new Renegade. At a glance, the vehicle looks nothing like an average vehicle produced by Jeep. It comes with a gentle design that simply looks appealing.
However, it is wrong to think of the Renegade as just a family-friendly vehicle. The compact SUV is still a 4×4 by blood and it is capable of taking on the off-road with ease. After all, Jeep has equipped the Renegade with their best off-road technologies that makes the vehicle a specialist in this department.
This includes the 4WD Trail-Rated Capability and automated assist systems which aids the driver in getting out of difficult situation when on the dirt, or mountainous trails. Aside from that, the Renegade is also equipped with the new 9-speed transmission technology but this offering is limited to the 2.4L model only.
The other standard Renegade is powered by a 1.4L engine that is paired to a traditional 6-speed manual gearbox.
We actually tried driving the Renegade on a simple test drive and it failed to impress us when on a normal road. The car actually feels heavy when accelerating. On a positive note, the Renegade did perform well when cruising as it offers a solid drive. We never actually get to test the vehicle on off-road conditions but we expect it to blossom there.
All in all, the Jeep Renegade is undoubtedly a serious competitor in the compact SUV segment. However, what confused us is its purpose. Is it built to appeal the off-road lovers? Or is the Renegade an ideal family car? To be safe, we labelled it as an all-rounder vehicle.
