Let’s talk about cool car names. Coolray? Dead giveaway. Corvette? Spot on. Mustang? Very Nice. But with all these cool car names I mentioned, no one could beat the Renegade from the American brand Jeep.
Full of angst, betrayal, and rebellion, the word ‘renegade’ reeks of attitude, and I believe that it’s one of the coolest-sounding vehicle monikers so far. But does the crossover itself represent its namesake?
Quick answer: Yes. But if you want a deeper analysis, read along as I go through the ups and down in this review.
Exterior
Design-wise, there is no question. The desire to rebel from the sea of the curvy and sporty-looking crossovers is apparent in its styling while staying true to Jeep’s corporate identity as you can see on the seven-slot vertical grille, round headlamps, and square X-marked taillights.
Just a quick trivia: the X-marked taillights? Those actually resemble jerry cans, which are a callback to Jeep’s heritage as a post-war vehicle manufacturer.
I like the whole quirky appeal, as is the head-turning orange paint theme of the tester. If you think this color’s too loud, Jeep Philippines offers the Renegade in white – but that would defeat the whole point of this car, wouldn’t it?
Being the smallest Jeep in the lineup, the Renegade is just around the size of the Ford EcoSport, fit for its cute character. Since I like cars with character, it would have been all aces for the Jeep crossover, sans one thing: halogen. As this tester’s the entry-level Longitude trim, it’s equipped with halogen bulbs for lighting. It would have been better if it has LEDs in this day and age.
Interior
Don’t let the minute exterior dimensions fool you – the Renegade is relatively spacious in the cabin, especially in the front. The rear, on the other hand, has legroom limited to average-sized individuals but the headroom’s abundant thanks to the boxy shape. There isn’t an A/C louver for rear passengers, though, plus the driver would have a hard time finding a spot to stow their smartphones in.
Now, the materials used are above par, even the plastics are soft touch. There are also a number of easter eggs found all over the cabin, such as the jerry can-shaped cupholders and the small map of Utah found near the gear lever. The seats are upholstered in soft texture fabric, while the steering wheel’s wrapped in leather. The icing on the cake is the panoramic sunroof that adds plushness to the cabin.
The Renegade’s cargo area would suffice as storage for five people. No issues with that. But if you’re using the crossover to haul larger things, it can accommodate since the rear backrests fold flat, while the front passenger seat folds far enough for maximum stowing needs – perfect for long items like maybe a surfboard.
Technology & Safety
FCA’s Uconnect system on the 7-inch touchscreen is easy to fiddle with, though I must say that there’s a wasted screen real estate when Apple CarPlay is in use. Beyond that quirk, the sound produced from the six speakers is just fine, while I greatly appreciate the physical and tactile buttons.
And oh, as a bonus, you might think that the Renegade doesn’t have audio controls on the steering wheel. However, they’re craftily hidden behind the wheel, and they’re intuitive to use.
I just really wish that the Renegade would have the convenience of cruise control, given the resurgence of highways in the Philippines. As a bonus, though, the Renegade comes with an idle start/stop function that has a positive effect on fuel efficiency. It also has an electronic parking brake but would have been better if it’s partnered with an auto-brake hold feature.
Safety-wise, the Renegade delivers more than enough for its class. A full array of airbags, brake assist, traction control, electronic stability control, anti-lock disc brakes, anti-roll mitigation, and battery run-down protection.
Driving & Handling
The Renegade draw power from a turbocharged 1.4-liter power plant that makes 147 hp and 230 Nm of torque. That’s more than enough to give the crossover the power it needs, but don’t expect a sporty drive as torque peaks early in the range. The 7-speed dry dual-clutch transmission shifts smoothly, though, and has minimal vibration. However, there’s a noticeable delay when downshifting, which sort of hampers the whole driving experience, especially when changing speeds.
With an upright windshield and large windows, the Renegade’s driving visibility is heaven-sent. It works well with its light steering feel, ensuring easy maneuverability on tight streets. This, while having a solid cornering ability and great ground feedback Noise isolation, on the other hand, is superb, while suspension leans on the stiffer side, so you might want to ease up on deep potholes.
Fuel Economy
With its on-road behavior leaning towards being conservative, the fuel consumption’s a bit surprising during my test. Running at an average speed of 90 km/h on the highway, I was able to clock in 15.1 km/l, which was just fine. In the city, however, the Renegade drank quite a lot, yielding 6.5 km/l amid heavy traffic.
Verdict
Cool name? Check. Cool-looking car? Check. But with a price tag of P1,640,000 before discounts, the Jeep Renegade is admittedly a pricey choice for a small crossover.
While the car itself has its shortcomings, it’s undeniably full of character and something that you won’t commonly see on the road. It can be a good choice for those who have the means, and I strongly recommend testing one for a better understanding of its charm.
