The Jeep Renegade (BU/520) premiered at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show as Jeep’s new Mini or Subcompact Crossover SUV, featuring front-wheel drive as standard equipment. Four-wheel drive was offered with Active Drive I and Active Drive Low, both of which were paired with Jeep’s proprietary Selec-Terrain System. It would be the first Jeep produced exclusively outside of the United States, with the setting up of factories in Italy, Brazil, and China. Sales from 2014 to 2018 reached a total of 585,874 units, with only 1,916 sold in Australia.
Euro NCAP tested the 2014 Renegade and gave it a 5-star rating in Overall safety, 87% in Adult Occupant safety, 85% in Child Occupant safety, 65% in Pedestrian safety, and 74% in the Safety Assist.
Safety equipment includes front airbags (driver and passenger), side head and chest airbags, rear child Isofix, passenger airbag cut-off switch, seat belt reminders, ESC, Speed Assistance, all as standard equipment.
The NHTSA tested the 2019 Jeep Renegade, rating it 4 stars for both Front Driver and Passenger safety and 3 stars for Rollover but did not test the other features.
The Renegade is available in four trim level options, namely:
- The Sport serves as the base package, which comes standard in FWD. For the powertrain, it has either a 1.4L MultiAir Turbocharged I4 or 2.4L MultiAir I4 engine which pairs with a choice of six-speed manual or 9-speed automatic transmission. Standard equipment includes 16-inch black-finished steel wheels, a black-finished front grille, side mirrors and door handles, 3.0 Uconnect system with AM/FM stereo w/ USB, iPod, and 3.5mm AUX input, as well as Bluetooth capability and voice command, ABS, alarm, height-adjustable driver’s seat, dual air-con, PAS, cloth seat trim, remote locking, traction control, and 3.5-inch monochromatic instrument cluster display screen.
- The Latitude package is the mid-range option. It offers everything included in the Sport package plus the following: 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, 5.0BT UConnect system with AM/FM stereo, USB, iPod and 3.5mm AUX input, 5-inch colour touchscreen display, voice command, Bluetooth phone, Sat Nav, cruise control, power windows, air conditioning, and front fog lights.
- The Limited package is the top-of-the-line trim level, featuring all of the previous options, as well as a 2.4L TigerShark I4 engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission, leather seat trim, silver grille, chrome side mirrors and door handles, among many others.
- The Trailhawk is the off-road-ready variant, offering Latitude’s equipment in combination with 2.4L TigerShark I4 engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission, off-road suspension with underbody skid plates, red-finished front low hooks, and a more rugged and durable interior.
Optional features include passive entry with button-start, remote start, 6.5AN Uconnect system, and SIRIUS-XM satellite radio.
In 2018, Renegade received a facelift update for the 2019 model year with changes to the front and rear bumper, larger grille, and the addition of new LED headlamps, the same as the ones used in the Wrangler. The interior received an upgraded infotainment system with a modern processing unit and a 7-inch or 8.4-inch multitouch display with customisable menus and air-con adjustments.
Jeep built the Renegade on the FCA Small Wide 4x4 platform, shared with Fiat 500X, 500L, Toro, and Jeep Compass. Powertrain variants available in Australia include petrol versions only:
- 1.4L Fiat FIRE MultiAir2 Turbo petrol engine producing 103kW (138hp) paired with a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission
- 1.6L Fiat E.torQ petrol engine producing 81kw (109hp) paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox
- 2.4L Chrysler’s Tigershark MultiAir2 petrol engine producing 129kW (173hp) paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission
Due to the limited number sold in Australia, finding spare parts for your Renegade can be a problem, but Carpart offers a solution! Our marketplace offers everything you’d need for your car, as well as an option to sell your spare parts! Give it a try today!
Author: Luka Kusic