In an age of pandemics and dystopian movie levels of natural disasters, it’s no surprise that millions of new car buyers worldwide are gravitating towards sport utility vehicles and crossovers. Who can blame them? The better-built modern SUVs and crossovers can perform many things only a true 4×4 off-roader can do not so many years ago.
Now when you talk of true 4×4 off-roaders, few vehicles can match the legendary Jeep CJs and Wranglers—the incredibly capable machines that conquered every form of terrain from wartorn battlefields in World War II to the unforgiving heat and sand of the Sahara to the forbidding landscape of the Rubicon Trail.
Today it is that spirit of intrepid adventures—and the empowering knowledge of a vehicle’s capabilities in challenging environments—inspired by that pioneering Jeep that has led countless carmakers to make crossovers in all shapes and sizes. And for legions of buyers to snap them up.
Which brings us to a particularly distinctive example of the burgeoning subcompact crossover genre. Who better to create a Jeep-inspired SUV—that retains more comfortable and car-like driving characteristics—than Jeep itself?
This is the Renegade—Jeep’s definitive version of the crossover SUV. The front-wheel drive Renegade, which was originally priced at just under P2.2 million when it was first introduced locally two years ago, now starts at a very tempting P1,640,000 for the Longitude variant and a value-packed P1,790,000 for the Renegade Limited.
But there’s more good news. Jeep is throwing in an additional P150,000 discount, which means the net prices now are P1,490,000 and P1,640,000 for the two variants. Add to that Jeep’s low down payment promo of as low as P79,000, and the Renegade becomes an even more compelling choice for those shopping for a unique crossover with a legendary heritage.
Think of the Renegade as the starter model in the Jeep range. It’s ideal for those who want to experience the Jeep lifestyle without having to fork over the P3 million-plus price and deal with the bigger dimensions of a Jeep Wrangler.
Notable for its scene in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice as Bruce Wayne’s matte black SUV racing through a city’s destructions, the Renegade shares the uniqueness and youthful spirit of the pioneering Jeeps.
Slotting in size between the 2-door and the 4-door Wrangler (but closer in length to the former), the Renegade is instantly identifiable as a Jeep, thanks to its signature 7-slot grille, expressive, big round headlamps (with daytime running lamps), that upright stance, and those squared-off wheel well openings.
But while the Wrangler retains much of the timeless styling of the classic Jeep, the Renegade is every inch contemporary and clearly designed to cater to the younger and more lifestylish set geared up to conquer the urban jungle and beyond—from the young and driven entrepreneurs or corporate types to the multitasking moms.
If the styling of a Jeep Wrangler is akin to wearing clothes fit for a safari, the Renegade goes for an ingenious blend of sporty and ruggedly casual. Ingenious because it is undeniably flashy, especially in the bold colors of red and orange (white is also available). Sporty because the Renegade has all the off-roading design cues you’d expect from a proper SUV—short overhangs, blacked-out plastic lower body panels, roof rails, all-terrain tires, and a tall ride height with generous ground clearance. And ruggedly casual because it still gives off that unmistakable and upmarket Jeep vibe that lets it stand out in a sea of compact crossovers and SUVs.
Generously sized 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels (for the Longitude and Limited variants, respectively) strike the proper balance between looks, riding comfort, and rough road drivability while a panoramic sunroof gives a vast vista of the sky and stars—perfect for a scenic drive along a seaside or mountain road or that Instagram shot beside a towering cliffside or between gleaming skyscrapers. Helping achieve the Renegade’s comfortable ride are 215/60R-17 all-terrain tires
Side by side with a Wrangler, the Renegade is roughly two inches narrower than its iconic sibling, making it a cinch to drive around town or park in even the tightest slot—made easier by a ParkSense Rear Assist System that uses a ParkView Rear Backup Camera and a dash-mounted 7-inch LCD monitor (with dynamic guide lines), while giving visual and audible alerts if the vehicle gets too close to another car or object behind it.
That intuitive 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system is powered by UConnect 4 that supports Apple Car Play and Baidu CarLife. A sweet-sounding 6-speaker infotainment system with voice command and Bluetooth liven up long road trips and even those all-too-often gridlocked moments.
The seats are nice and border on the soft side (but are still supportive)—a boon when you plan to venture off the beaten path. They don’t have power adjustments but at least have the much appreciated height adjustment which, coupled with the tilt-and-telescope steering wheel, means anyone can enjoy a perfect driving position in the Renegade.
Aside from a host of cleverly designed and usefully located storage areas around the spacious all-black cabin, the Renegade has a decent-sized cargo space with compartment cover and lamp—good for a weekend getaway for two to three adults or a couple with young kids. More cargo space can be had with the 60/40-split-folding rear seats.
Features and functionalities aside, it’s the small “Jeep” details you’ll find throughout the cabin that will surprise and delight—almost like an Easter egg hunt. The first thing you’ll notice are the Jeep branding on the seats. Of course you won’t miss the Jeep brand on the steering wheel, which will be repeated on the touchscreen when you turn on the infotainment system. There are also Jeep branding on both side mirrors.
Look more closely and you start seeing more discreet Jeep cues. There’s the trademark 7-slot grille-and-headlights logo on the door speakers, on the center console ahead of the gearlever, and again on the inner side of the tailgate. A particularly nice detail is the “mud” effect graphic on the tachometer, which serves as the redline. The bottom of the cupholders, meanwhile, have the X-shaped design element found in the taillights. Bu that’s not all—a cleverly cryptic map is found molded on the bottom of the center console box. That’s the map (with coordinates) of the infamously grueling Moab off-road driving site in Utah—long a Jeep playground.
The Renegade is powered by a smooth and responsive 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder gasoline engine with Engine Stop Start, which helps save fuel by shutting off the engine when the car comes to a stop and turns back on automatically when you release the brake. The engine produces 147hp and 230Nm of torque and is mated to a 7-speed dual-dry-clutch transmission (DDCT). In heavy-traffic city driving, the Renegade averaged 6-7 km/l, which went up to 9-10 km/l when traffic freed up.
This small but capable Jeep is generously equipped with safety features such as All-Speed Traction Control, 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS, Battery Run Down Protection, electronic parking brake for effortless fingertip activation, electric power steering for easy maneuvering in tight spaces, Blind Spot Monitoring, Cross Path Detection, Lane Keep Assist, Electronic Roll Mitigation, Electronic Stability Control, the aforementioned ParkSense Rear Park Assist System and ParkView Rear Back-up Camera, and next-generation smart airbags.
Fingers crossed that we never experience dystopian levels of disasters or calamities, but there is always something heartfully reassuring knowing that one’s vehicle is capable of facing the challenges head on. The Jeep Renegade is precisely that.
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