I always wanted a Jeep Wrangler, but it seemed too much of a toy for a girl who didn't have a lot of disposable income. So I bought a pickup truck. It felt more sensible, and I could still go out after work with the guys and indulge in hill climbs and off-road adventure. To a point. That point was where the dirt roads turned into paths that were just too tight to maneuver with my big truck, and when I wanted to take more than one friend along.
What I needed was the 2015 Jeep Renegade, Jeep's first compact ute with room for five (barely). It's a true Jeep in the most rut-busting sense of that brand, but with a practical and civilized carlike side. And then there is its adorably macho design, compliments of two recent graduates of Detroit's prestigious College for Creative Studies. Katniss Everdeen would be using it as her getaway car. With a flame job, of course. Make of that mishmash what you will, but I'm standing by it.
Cut to the chase. There are four Renegade personalities, starting with the base Sport model, which will get you into the woods for $18,990. It has front-wheel drive, which people in the Snow Belt favor, but to get farther down the rutted path, you'll need the Sport 4X4 ($20,990). I would also add a rearview camera for $195. There are nine great exterior color choices. Check out Omaha Orange on the exceptional vehicle configurator at Jeep.com.
The Latitude ($22,290) has fewer color choices (six) but more amenities, like the rearview camera, snazzier aluminum wheels, a roof rack, heated rear mirrors, and the Uconnect touchscreen and Bluetooth among them. My fave options: 4X4 ($2,000) and the Cold Weather group (a mere $545), which has my essential luxuries — heated seats, heated steering wheel (!) and heated windshield de-icer. If you want the vast array of safety technology and driving alerts, look at the Safety and Security group ($595) and the Advanced Technology group ($995).
Both Sport and Latitude models are powered by a 1.4-liter, 160-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The transmission is a six-speed manual. If you want the optional nine-speed automatic, you'll have to also get the bigger 2.4-liter, 180-horsepower four-cylinder, for an extra $1,400. Both excellent engines come from Fiat. As a serious off-roader, I have always favored automatic transmissions to do the quick shifting in sticky situations when you can't let off the gas.
The high-end Renegades are the Limited (for the most sophisticated Jeeper) and the Trailhawk (a dream package for dedicated off-roaders), both with the bigger engine and nine-speed automatic, along with a long list of cool standard features. The Limited is more the Sunday-go-to meeting, premium Renegade — all leather inside, the rearview camera and dual-zone temperature controls, a bit over the top for such a diminutive vehicle. The right options for this buyer would be the Advanced Technology ($995) and Safety and Security ($595) groups. If you want the 4x4 version, it will be another $2,000.
At $26,990, the four-wheel-drive Trailhawk is at the very top of the Renegade food chain. It brings the off-road fun to a more technical level with an advanced SelecTerrain 4X4 system, protective transmission and transfer case skid plates, more ground clearance and suspension travel, front and rear tow hooks (don't laugh), roof rails, and hill descent control. Fave options: remote start ($200), Navigation and SiriusXM satellite radio ($1,245).
Some of you might howl bloody murder when you find out that this little Jeeplet was assembled in Italy and built on the Fiat 500X's architecture. But don't fool yourself about why Fiat bought Chrysler in the first place. It was all about the world-renowned Jeep brand and fun quotient. And it's entirely possible that more Renegades will be sold in Europe than in the United States.
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THE BASICS
Price Range: $18,990-$26,990 (prices include destination charge)
EPA Fuel Economy: not available
Competition:
Chevrolet Trax $20,995
Nissan Juke $21,075
Kia Soul $16,015
Fun-O-Meter: 10!
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ABOUT THE WRITER
Jean Jennings is a veteran automotive journalist with three decades of experience sharing her zany take on the world of cars. She is the former editor in chief of Automobile Magazine and is a frequent on-air commentator. Visit her website at www.jeanknowscars.com.
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©2015 Jean Knows Cars, LLC; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
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