FOR any auto manufacturer with a firmly entrenched persona, a pitch into a new field is always something of a gamble. Take Porsche’s gambit with the Cayenne for instance. When it whipped the covers off the Cayenne, purists bemoaned what they believed was Porsche’s dilution, and possible decline, by moving away from the sportscars for which it’s famed and capitulating to the lifestyle set. Lo and behold, Cayenne became one of the company’s biggest money-spinners and has paved the way for the smaller, and likely to be just as popular, Macan. Jeep’s decision to bring in a more compact, town-friendly model in the shape of the Renegade could well be a similar case in point.
Jeep’s perceived milieu always centred on its larger, rugged, off-road models, and the attempt to broaden its audience with the less rugged Patriot and Compass models met with a lukewarm reception. The growing popularity of town-bound, compact SUVs shows no sign of abating, however. And for Jeep, ignoring this trend by remaining content to live in the bush and shave its lantern jaw with a Bowie knife could’ve been a serious oversight because most of society has moved to the city and is more content sipping a cappuccino than a canteen full of river water. But can a compact, town-going SUV shorn of its off-road underpinnings emulate Jeep’s macho personality while luring in a whole new set of buyers?
When penning the Renegade, Jeep’s designers had to tread a fine stylistic line with a shape that’s both gender-neutral and appealing to Jeep traditionalists and trendy urbanites alike. And, judging from the majority of positive reactions it garnered from fellow motorists we encountered (both male and female), the Renagade’s amalgam of the Cherokee’s smooth-skinned appearance and the Wrangler’s boxiness, replete with a suitably purposeful-looking take on its traditional round-headlamp and seven-slot grille face, appears to have done just that.
But it’s the slew of interesting little Jeep-inspired details applied to both the exterior and the cabin that really cements this model’s appeal. The raft of Easter Eggs (hidden elements) include a repetition of the “X” design element (modelled on the steel fuel can that was lugged by the original Willys Jeep in WWII) in the taillamps, headlamps and throughout the cabin, a similar wealth of “Jeep face” logos (we spotted them in the headlamps, inside the rear hatch, on the speaker covers, interior mirror housing and seats, among other places), a map of the Moab Desert Trail in Utah that’s become a Jeep driver’s Mecca, and even a brace of little niceties in the black trim around the front and rear windscreens – a Willys Jeep up front and Sasquatch loping up the rear wiper – to name just a few.
On any other vehicle these touches would come across as contrived, but given the Renegade’s quirky stance – and the company’s radical departure from its norm – they lend character that appeals to traditionalists as well as style-conscious folk that want everyone to know that they’re piloting a Jeep.
Much like the Fiat 500L, from which its chassis is derived, the Renegade’s compact dimensions belie a surprisingly spacious interior. There’s ample room for four adults and the wealth of head- and shoulder room, along with generous glazing, further reinforce that impression of airiness. The only letdown in the Renegade’s otherwise impressive packaging is a boot that’s shallower and a bit less capacious than expected.
Along with the aforementioned detailing, the cabin feels materially solid and the ancillary controls, although Fiat/Alfa-sourced as per the Renegade’s Italian-build origin, are clear and don’t jar with such Jeep-influenced cues as the sturdy passenger-side grab handle. Another aspect of our test unit that impressed was a crisp-looking TFT vehicle information display in the instrument binnacle. The optional sat-nav infotainment system looks equally slick and its touchscreen interface is intuitive, although its waist-level siting isn’t ideal.
In that cavernous-feeling cabin; looking over a broad, square bonnet through a near-bluff windscreen, you get the impression that you’re piloting a far larger car. But the Renegade’s light steering, good visibility and manageable turning circle ensure that it’s not cumbersome around town.
Although the 103 kW developed by the Fiat-sourced 1,4-litre turbopetrol engine is rather modest, it is complemented by a handy 230 N.m of torque that helps alleviate some of the strain. A snappy, precise gearshift means that getting the most out of the engine isn’t a chore, and the clutch is light and easy to modulate, therefore traffic crawling isn’t a calf-straining exercise. There’s a pleasant burble to the engine’s soundtrack that gives way to some gruffness as speeds climb but it’s not overly intrusive. The main source of high-speed noise are the sizeable wing mirrors.
Even on its optional 18-inch rims, the ride proves to be supple and well damped. Body control, as to be expected in a car of this ilk, isn’t really suited to snaking roads at high speeds, but in the majority of driving scenarios the Renegade feels planted and predictable in its manners. Being a front-wheel- drive model (the 4WD variant will arrive in due course) precludes any real off-roading, but the Jeep has 175 mm of ground clearance and a fair degree of axle articulation, which means dirt roads and minor obstacles are navigable without jostling its occupants too much.
TEST SUMMARY
If you’re a dyed-in-the-wool Jeep fan, the Renegade’s arrival will be quite extraordinary: this model’s 2WD drivetrain, lack of real off-road ability and more boutique-biased bearing mean it doesn’t really tick any of the traditionally macho Jeep boxes.
It’s not cheap, either. Similarly packaged cars such as the attractive-looking Nissan Qashqai 1,2 Acenta considerably undercut the Jeep, but they may not have quite the same brand cachet.
But times and tastes have evolved and the Renegade is proof of the company’s willingness to take a gamble in order to embrace a wider audience that has always admired the Jeep brand, but found its products’ ability to conquer challenging terrain – and the resulting compromises such a proviso entails – surplus to requirements. And in the climate of an urban market that’s lapping up distinctive compact SUVs, there’s a strong consensus within the CAR team that the company’s decision to inject a comfortable and enjoyable compact town-goer with a generous helping of Jeep character could prove something of a masterstroke.
