The Jeep brand had two representatives in our editorial office in the last few days. After the rather successful Compass, the Jeep Renegade is also arriving, which, like the Compass, was equipped with a two-liter diesel engine in combination with a nine-speed automatic, and in addition in the highest Trailhawk equipment. As we already know from the Compass editorial test, this combination of engine and gearbox works really well and comfortably. So how it works in the Jeep Renegade and, of course, not only that, you will find out in our editorial test.
The Jeep Renegade is the smallest representative in the range of cars offered by this brand and shares its chassis platform with its sibling, the Fiat 500X. But the Jeep Renegade is also the brand's most original car. It may not be a favorite with many people due to its external appearance, but believe me, this is a car that simply deserves your attention. His attention to detail is immense and his reference to the legendary Willys is omnipresent. The Renegade is literally studded with individual details referring to this legendary vehicle, which also gave the name to this entire category of vehicles.
The exterior of the Renegade is very robust and sturdy. Its front part, thanks to a pair of large round lights, looks quite "cool" but still funny and original. The front lamps are integrated into the mask, which has a typical seven-hole layout for the Jeep brand. The Renegade is such a roughly hewn block, from which it is clearly visible what is the side, what is the front and what is the rear. Its considerable box-like shape has certain positives in the form of a large interior space on a small floor plan of the car. And that is a good assumption for an urban rival, as the Renegade largely is and will be. The connection with the legendary Willys is most evident in the exterior in the already mentioned front mask, then in the trapezoidal design of the fender edges or in the rear lamps, which are decorated with an X-shaped symbol referring to old military canisters.
There is really plenty of space in the interior. The equipment of the tested model was quite rich, from heated front seats to a heated steering wheel, automatic parking and a panoramic glass roof. I already praised the multifunction steering wheel in the Compass model, where I enjoyed its voluminous perimeter ring, and the digital display of the on-board computer, which is located between the speedometer and tachometer alarms, also deserves further praise. In its central part, the dashboard has an on-board infotainment display, through which you control the air conditioning, navigation, audio system or telephone. In the part below the display, the controls for the air conditioning and the audio system are located in duplicate, there is also a control for selecting terrain modes of the Selec-Terrain system, and there is also a control for activating the Hill Descent Control assistant. The center panel between the front seats has a classic automatic transmission selector and controls for the start x stop system, the electronic handbrake and the stability switch. The robustness of the exterior is also evident in the interior itself, which was additionally softened in the tested version and enlivened by details with red coloring. The spaciousness of the entire interior is also reflected in the luggage compartment, which has a pleasantly high loading edge and a volume of 351 liters.
After the experience with the same motorization in the tested Compass, we quite well expected that this most powerful diesel drive unit would not have the slightest difficulty with the Renegade. And yes, it really was, the combination with the nine-speed automatic makes driving very comfortable. The Renegade is simply a pleasure to drive, very nimble and nimble around town, and that includes a certain amount of respect that it commands with its robust appearance. It is quite confident on the roads and manages the highway speed below the limit of two thousand revolutions per minute, so it can also be economical. During the test, our consumption was just under 8 liters of diesel per 100 km.
The Jeep Renegade Trailhawk also carries the Trail Rated label, which predetermines certain off-road abilities, thanks to which it should easily deal with the conditions in this inhospitable environment. Of course, we took him to the field and it must be said that he did not disappoint us in any way. Its amenities in the form of approach and crossing angles are very good, and its cross-country ability is just as good.
The Jeep Renegade Trailhawk is a really great car for us. Its driving characteristics are comfortable, the interior space is spacious and it simply lives up to its name in the off-road. To all this, it is necessary to add a large dose of originality, imagination and playfulness. The base price of the Jeep Renegade with a petrol engine starts at an interesting 465,600 CZK including VAT. The version tested by us with the most powerful two-liter diesel engine, automatic transmission, all-wheel drive and Trailhawk equipment costs CZK 838,100 including VAT. The Jeep Renegade is simply a very interesting piece in the segment of small SUVs, and those who decide for it, or have already decided, must have clearly chosen with their heart.
