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It may be smaller and less stout than its Wrangler big brother, but the 2020 Jeep Renegade is still just that: 100-percent Jeep. A subcompact Sport Utility Vehicle, the Renegade is full of Vim and Vigor. What is that? We don’t know, but the Renegade certainly has lots of it.
A five-passenger, four-door hatchback vehicle, the Jeep Renegade is small but still all Jeep. That means it has legendary Jeep build quality and plenty of on- and off-road prowess that can take it almost as far off the beaten path, within reason.
From the round headlights and the trademarked seven-slotted Jeep grill, there will be no mistaking this Renegade for any lesser vehicle. It’s a real, honest-to-goodness JEEP. It’s like the Jeep Wrangler and the Grand Cherokee had a love child and named it Renegade.
Boxy and tall, the Renegade has a large, practical greenhouse that helps to increase the overall passenger-cargo area. Our Trailhawk 4×4 model was so well-equipped that it included front and rear skid plates and bright red tow hooks, just in case.
The Renegade is available in four trim levels: Sport, Latitude, Limited and Trailhawk. Since ours was the top-shelf Trailhawk version, that meant it came loaded for bear. We’d say skip the rather bare-bones Sport version, instead opting for the next level Renegade Latitude, which includes air-conditioning (?!) and cruise control as standard.
Our Trailhawk version featured a push-button start, passive-entry remote and a full Premium Leather package with heated seats, front and rear. There’s also a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel for those ultra-cold mornings in the Midwest.
From a tech standpoint, the Trailhawk version swings for the bleachers. That’s because it includes the Jeep Uconnect 8.4 NAV Group. It’s one of the best infotainment systems in the business and consists of an 8.4-inch touchscreen display, Sirius XM Guardian Service, Uconnect 4C GPS Navigation and HD radio.
On the cargo-hauling side of the equation, the 2020 Jeep Renegade is true to its Subcompact roots. Look for 18.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats. Fold them forward and that space grows to 50.8 cubic feet. And for those awkwardly-sized pieces, there’s also the ability to take advantage of the Renegade’s 40-20-40 split rear seats.
One of the cool features in most Jeeps is the hidden “Easter Eggs,” which the brand hides in plain sight around the vehicle. In the case of our Renegade, there are scenic designs around the edge of the windshield that this Jeep may encounter while off-roading. There’s also the representation of the seven-slot Jeep grille at various points in the cabin, and even the stylized X patterns located in the rear taillamps that are reminiscent of the Jerry Cans carried by the old Willys Jeeps during World War II.
The 2020 Jeep Renegade is available with two different engines. Standard is the 2.4-liter Tigershark with MultiAir2. An inline four-cylinder engine, the Tigershark produces 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque.
The second choice is the turbocharged and liquid-cooled 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine. Standard on the Limited and Trailhawk, but optional on the Sport and Latitude, it was and is our choice for those who appreciate more power and torque. The 1.3-liter manages to make 177 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque. And we can guess, some of you are probably asking, “Why do I want a vehicle with less horsepower?” The answer is simple, sort of: A sports car may have high horsepower with lower torque. That makes a small amount of energy at a fast rate.
On the other hand, having lower horsepower, but a higher torque rate means you can do a lot of work but don’t need to do it very quickly. That’s where the Renegade is most comfortable. Situations like crawling on a trail, towing a small watercraft up to 2,000 pounds and more.
Our Trailhawk included a 4×4 all-wheel-drive (AWD) powertrain that is actually trail-rated to get you on and off-road and then back again. The choice is yours. Both engines are matched to a standard nine-speed automatic transmission for high-mileage driving, day in and day out.
Selec-Terrain is similar to advanced 4×4 systems found in other specialized off-road-capable vehicles. The system tailors the Renegade’s 4×4 drive, adapting from the default automatic to Snow, Sand, Mud and Rock, which is a setting exclusively found on our Trailhawk sample. Also on ours: Hill Descent Control and a 20:1 rock crawl ratio.
The Jeep Renegade rides on a MacPherson Strut front suspension comprised of high-strength steel throughout. In the rear, there is a Chapman strut arrangement, with an isolated rear cradle for the 4×4 drivetrain. Steering is via an electrically-assisted rack and pinion system.
City driving in the Renegade seems just what this Jeep was made for. Though it’s not a rocket off the line like many vehicles, it still manages to hold its own up to the point it wants to merge onto a rapidly moving highway. The transmission offers a touch of hesitation that can be overcome by positive pressure on the accelerator to get the Renegade underway.
Once we were cruising through South Florida, we found the Jeep Renegade to be a smooth operator. So smooth that we were pleasantly surprised by how silent the interior really was. These minor finds were like the “Easter Eggs” that Jeep places around the Renegade, just waiting to be found!
Find out more about the new Jeep Renegade by contacting your local Napleton Auto Group dealership. Our sales advisors will be happy to find the Jeep of your dreams today.
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This post was published on December 24, 2019
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