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Motoring

Jeep Renegade – USA style with Italian breeding

The seats are fine, comfortable gearing. It’s probably best in auto
and adjustable but I wasn’t keen mode. I tried it using the manual
on the nylon-like fabric. I hope sequential shift option but it didn’t
that the idea is as a hard-wearing offer anything extra although I
material. Move up the specifications can see it being useful in certain
to Limited or Trailhawk and you circumstances.
get leather. On the plus side, with Other reviewers have been a
a light fabric as headlining and bit negative about the driving
big, deep windows being inside the experience but I don’t agree. I
roomy Jeep Renegade is pleasantly sometimes wonder what people
light and airy. The driving position expect. Sure, there’s a bit of wind
Geoff Maxted of Drivewrite.co.uk takes the Jeep Renegade for a drive is high and there’s sufficient reach noise, the throttle response is a bit
and rake adjustment. sluggish and the steering isn’t the
The Jeep Renegade is a chunky Italians, styled by Americans. There’s a choice of engines, both sharpest I have ever experienced,
4+1 seater. In the manner of SUVs There’s a lot of hard plastic, with diesel and petrol. Being lighter, I but I’ll be willing to bet that most
from the past it is square-cut only a few soft touches, which I favour the petrol versions which users wouldn’t notice.
and lantern-jawed but with 21st suppose is inevitable at this price seem to better suit the personality The Renegade has a ‘personality’
Century manners. The model as point. Full credit though for the of the Jeep Renegade. Our test that is hard to quantify but which
tested in Longitude trim (around dashboard which is distinctive. car was fitted with a feisty little is lacking in some other crossovers.
£20k depending) is no friend of The test car came with a modest 140bhp 1.4L breathing through a There’s tons of grip and tall car
mud. That sort of business it leaves 5” Uconnect DAB radio with a turbocharger. The more rugged 4WD lean is well controlled in corners.
to its more off-road capable 4WD touchscreen that includes satellite versions get a 2.0L with 168bhp. Emissions are lagging behind a bit
brethren which are much more up navigation and Bluetooth. Drive is through a six-speed DDCT at 140g/km and the combined fuel
for a bit of track and trail ranging. By today’s standards the screen (or Euro Twin Clutch) gearbox. This consumption figure is 47.1mpg.
In this trim level it is very much is small. On the other hand, why transmission is essentially a Fiat This car is up against stiff
the small urban SUV but that’s does it matter? It all works well and six-speed manual transmission with opposition in the crossover stakes
no bad thing because the styling clearly this was part of the interior self-shifting capabilities including a and prices across the range are
makes it stand out from the herd of design philosophy. You get a 7” dual-clutch system which increases comparable with other similar cars
crossovers browsing across the city screen on Limited and Trailhawk the smoothness and speed of the although it does not undercut them.
streets. I like the exterior very much editions. Elsewhere, USB, 12v and gear changes. I like the Jeep because the brand
because it is somehow in keeping Aux sockets are strategically placed It is by nature (say Fiat) a more fares well in reliability surveys and
with the Jeep tradition. Underneath on the lower dash and in the central efficient transmission than a offers something a little different to
though it’s a Fiat 500X. Built by armrest. hydraulic automatic with similar the run of the mill.

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