The new Renegade is the first Jeep vehicle built in Italy as a result of the ownership deal between Fiat and Chrysler. Though it has retained much of its American Jeep heritage, touches of Italian finesse are all there to be admired.
The Renegade, a mini SUV, offers two four-wheel drive systems Active Drive I and Active Drive Low, both of which are paired with Jeep’s Selec-Terrain System. It also has an available My Sky dual panel removable roof. The My Sky can be either retracted like a standard sunroof or removed completely for a more open-air experience, similar to that of the Jeep Wrangler.
At one time it was believed that the Renegade would replace the Compass and Patriot in the Jeep lineup, but the Renegade has since been clearly identified by Jeep as being in a smaller class than the MK twins.
Comfort in high-tech
All models other than the base Sport model offer optional features such as passive entry with push-button start, a remote start system, the U Connect 6.5AN stereo with AM-FM HD Radio, iPod/USB and 3.5-millimetre auxiliary audio input jacks, SIRIUS-XM Satellite Radio, voice command, U Connect ACCESS and Apps with hands-free Bluetooth phone and stereo wireless audio streaming, GPS navigation by Garmin and a 6.5-inch touch-screen display. Even more, the steering wheel boastsmounted remote controls, while the sound coming out of nine premium amplified speakers with a subwoofer, tellite Radio. The craziest of technological innovations is the MySky retractable roof panel system, which is manually-removable or power-retractable.
Homely interior
The Renegade’s rugged and energetic look pays tribute to the brand’s legendary heritage, taking its flair to the next level. Drawing inspiration from extreme sports gear, the design theme is defined by intersections of soft forms with gritty details.The Renegade offers either cloth or leather seating surfaces. It offers seating for five passengers, with a 40/20/40 split-folding rear bench seat, and a fold-flat front passenger’s seat for more cargo capacity.
Fuel economy and Powetrain
Jeep claims 6L/100km fuel consumption rate, which makes the Renegade one of the best SUVs around in term of fuel economy.
The all-new 2015 Jeep Renegade is the world’s first small SUV with nine-speed automatic transmission. These include four MultiAir petrol units, two MultiJet II diesel units and a flex-fuel E.torQ engine coupled to two manual and one dual-clutch DDCT offerings.
Four-wheel drive is standard on every model, and for more capability there’s the Active Drive Low 4×4 system which includes a 20:1 crawl ratio. A disconnecting rear-axle is also included, which stays disconnected to save fuel economy, and reconnects to provide four-wheel drive.
Packed with Safety Features
The Jeep Renegade Limited Launch Edition comes well equipped with safety features and these include six airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, traction control, stability control and rollover mitigation. This model also came fitted with Blindspot Monitoring, Crosspath Detection, Lane Departure Warning, rear parking sensors and a ParkView rear camera.
Pricing
1.6L E-Torque Longitude R333 990.00
1.4L Limited T M Air 6MTX R396 990.00
1.4L TJET Limited Auto R420 990.00
2.4L Trailhawk R474 990.00
1.4L TJET Limited AWD R476 990.00
These include 3-year/100 000km warranty and a 6-year/100 000km maintenance plan.
New Jeep Renegade charms with Italian accent
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