2020 Jeep Renegade Review

　　

2020 Jeep Renegade Review

byKurt NiebuhrSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　Looking for a small SUV that provides some personality? The 2020 Jeep Renegade could be for you. For one, its baby-Wrangler looks immediately differentiate the Renegade from its anonymously styled rivals. And unlike competitors, the Renegade has real off-road chops. Four-wheel drive is optional on every trim except the off-road-ready Trailhawk, where it's standard.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Jeep Renegade Sport 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$148/mo  for Renegade Sport

　　Renegade Sport

　　Sport 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 9A) - $22,375 MSRPSport 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 9A) - $23,875 MSRPJeepster 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 9A) - $22,375 MSRPJeepster 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 9A) - $23,875 MSRPLatitude 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 9A) - $24,395 MSRPLatitude 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 9A) (Most Popular) - $25,895 MSRPOrange Edition 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 9A) - $24,395 MSRPOrange Edition 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 9A) - $25,895 MSRPUpland 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 9A) - $25,270 MSRPAltitude 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 9A) - $25,390 MSRPAltitude 4dr SUV 4WD (2.4L 4cyl 9A) - $26,890 MSRPNorth Edition 4dr SUV 4WD w/Prod. End 03/20 (2.4L 4cyl 9A) - $26,670 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV (1.3L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $27,000 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV 4WD (1.3L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $28,500 MSRPTrailhawk 4dr SUV 4WD (1.3L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $27,970 MSRPHigh Altitude 4dr SUV (1.3L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $28,995 MSRPHigh Altitude 4dr SUV 4WD (1.3L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $30,495 MSRP

　　vs

　　$166/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　The Renegade has practical strengths too. Its cabin provides above-average rear legroom and ample headroom front and back. We're also fans of Jeep's Uconnect infotainment system, which has plenty of features and is easy to use. There are a few misses, however. The cabin can be noisy at highway speeds, and the Renegade has a smaller cargo area than competitors. Those drawbacks aside, the Renegade is a thoroughly competent subcompact SUV. You can learn more about its pros and cons in our detailed Expert Rating below.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.2

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Renegade drive? The Renegade doesn't do anything particularly outstanding here. We tested a Renegade Limited with the 1.3-liter engine and four-wheel drive. Its 9.3-second sprint to 60 mph makes it on the slower side of average for SUVs in this class. But more broadly, there's enough power to make passing or merging on the highway relatively uneventful.

　　Around town, the Renegade's brake pedal feels uneven and a bit mushy. In our brake testing it needed 135 feet to stop from 60 mph. That's longer than the class average. We do like the Renegade's engine stop-start system that provides near seamless restarts in traffic. The Renegade handles surprisingly well too. It's stable and planted in corners and easy and nimble to park.

　　

Comfort

7.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Renegade? The Renegade's ride is surprisingly firm. You feel more bumps and road imperfections than you might expect from a small SUV. Our fully loaded test vehicle's 19-inch wheels are likely a big factor. Getting a Renegade with smaller wheels (and therefore more absorbent tire sidewalls) should be more comfortable.

　　At idle, the Renegade is fairly quiet. While we didn't notice any squeaks or rattles, there's a good bit of wind and tire noise. The turbo engine doesn't offer a particularly great exhaust note either.

　　The climate control system works well, and our tester's heated seats and steering wheel worked quickly on a chilly day. The seats offer enough lateral support but feel a little too stiff and offer limited adjustment. Drivers who like to sit upright might find the headrest is angled too far forward.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The Renegade's interior is open and roomy with plenty of headroom and shoulder room, even with the optional panoramic sunroof. Rear-seat legroom, however, is tight for the class.

　　The square-shaped doors open wide, and the seats sit tall enough to make getting in and out easy.  The thick windshield roof pillars compromise forward visibility, but the large side and rear windows, in conjunction with the big outside mirrors, make it easier to see out of the sides and back.

　　The Renegade has easy-to-reach knobs and buttons with clear labels. Major menus in the infotainment system are all placed along the bottom of the screen and remain visible even with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration active.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The base Renegade's infotainment system is serviceable but lacks features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Mid- and high-level models come with an upgraded system that's one of the best in the class thanks to better smartphone integration, a clean, easy-to-use menu system and a high-resolution 8.4-inch touchscreen display. Our test Renegade had two USB ports and two 12-volt outlets.

　　The Renegade offers a decent number of driver aids such as adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and lane departure warning. They work pretty well too. But most of these are optional, and many competitors come with these systems as standard equipment.

　　

Storage

6.5/10

　　How’s the storage? With only 18.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind its rear seats, the Renegade is near the bottom of the class. The cargo area has a boxy shape at least, and the load floor is low.

　　Up front there's a bin in front of the gear shifter that's great for your phone or sunglasses, and the door pockets are large enough to hold smaller water bottles. The main cupholders are awkwardly placed — they're too low and too far rearward for easy access.

　　The 60/40-split rear seats fold flat and have anchor and tether points on both outer positions for child safety seats. Rear-facing safety seats might be tight, but most other seats should be fine.

　　

Fuel Economy

6.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? We tested the Renegade with the 1.3-liter engine and 4WD. The EPA estimates that this configuration is good for 26 mpg in combined city/highway driving. But we fell short of that on our 115-mile evaluation route, getting just 24 mpg. That's disappointing since most other vehicles in this class either meet or exceed their EPA combined rating.

　　

Value

6.5/10

　　Is the Renegade a good value? The Renegade is one of the most expensive vehicles in the segment, and the list of standard features doesn't reflect that price. Our Limited High Altitude trim model checked in at an eye-watering $36,110. Build quality is fine, but there's nothing exceptional inside and it feels like you're paying a lot for the rough-and-tumble Jeep styling.

　　A three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty is a bit skimpy, but the powertrain coverage of five years/60,000 miles is about average for the class. The five-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance coverage is reassuring.

　　

Wildcard

8.0/10

　　This is where the Renegade shines. Every trim, but especially the rough-and-tumble Trailhawk model, looks and feels cool. It's shaped like a small-scale version of the Wrangler, with exaggerated lines and features that give it both a cute and rugged appearance. While it's not especially fun to drive in most trims, the Trailhawk offers a decent amount of off-road capability that nothing else in the class can match.

　　

Which Renegade does zzdcar recommend?

The Sport is an inexpensive starting point, but it compares unfavorably with the rest of the segment given its lack of features. We think the Latitude is a better value — it adds a pair of the Sport's option packages as well as a handful of desirable features. You'll still have to beef it up with the Safety and Security II package and possibly the Advanced Technology package for a truly modern feel, but they don't add too much to the bottom line. We'd also go for the turbocharged engine. It costs a bit more, but the advantages in fuel economy and power are worth it.

　　

2020 Jeep Renegade models

The 2020 Jeep Renegade is a subcompact crossover sold in four primary trim levels. The base Sport is pretty bare-bones, so most will find the Latitude to be a good starting point. From there, you can move to the luxurious Limited or off-road-oriented Trailhawk, which is the only trim level outfitted with a four-wheel-drive system that includes low-range gearing. The Upland, Altitude and High Altitude subtrims add options and special exterior upgrades to the Sport, Latitude and Limited models, respectively.

　　All non-Trailhawk trims come standard with front-wheel drive or a less rugged all-wheel-drive system. Powering the Sport and Latitude models is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine (180 horsepower, 175 lb-ft of torque). Optional on those trims and standard on the Limited and Trailhawk is a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder (177 hp, 210 lb-ft). A nine-speed automatic is standard.

　　The Renegade Sport comes standard with 16-inch steel wheels, heated and power-adjustable mirrors, a rearview camera, cruise control, air conditioning, a height-adjustable driver's seat, a fold-flat front passenger seat, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, a removable cargo floor panel, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth, a 5-inch touchscreen, a USB port and a six-speaker sound system.

　　There are two primary feature packages for the Renegade Sport. A Sport Appearance package adds 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails and privacy glass, while the Uconnect 7.0 Group includes dual-zone automatic climate control, satellite radio, a 7-inch touchscreen, and smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

　　The Latitude comes standard with those two packages, plus automatic headlights, body-colored door handles and mirrors, ambient LED lighting, upgraded cloth upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a second-row USB port. The Cold Weather Group adds automatic wipers with de-icers, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.

　　On the luxury front, the Limited includes the Cold Weather Group items plus 18-inch wheels, automatic wipers, keyless ignition and entry (with remote engine start), an upgraded driver information display, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a 115-volt household-style power outlet, leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver's seat, and a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat with a center pass-through.

　　For off-roading, the Trailhawk adds 17-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, four-wheel drive with low-range settings, hill descent control, a raised suspension, tow hooks, underbody skid plates, a full-size spare, and unique exterior and interior accents. Its equipment closely follows the Latitude, but it also has a few of the Limited's upgrades. You can add a few more of the Limited's upgrades with the Premium Leather package.

　　Many of the features on upper trim levels can be ordered on the lower trims. As with other Jeeps, there are many available packages and stand-alone options. On the safety front, the Limited and the Trailhawk's Safety and Security package adds a blind-spot monitor, vehicle alarm and cargo cover; the Sport and the Limited's Safety and Security Group II adds those plus automatic wipers. The Latitude and Limited also have an Advanced Technology package, which includes automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and an automated parking system. (The Sport's Advanced Tech Group II also includes the upgraded driver information display.)

　　All except the base Sport can be outfitted with LED exterior lighting via the LED Lighting package. Those trims can also specify the Uconnect 8.4 Nav package, which adds a larger, 8.4-inch touchscreen and a navigation system.

　　But, wait, there's more. All trims can be outfitted with a full-size spare that eliminates its underfloor storage bin (standard on the Trailhawk). All trims can also be outfitted with manually removable My Sky sunroof panels. All but the Sport can alternatively be equipped with a traditional power-operated sunroof as well.

　　zzdcar Latest Jeep Renegade News

　　You Can Now Order a 2-Door Jeep Wrangler With 35-Inch Tires

　　

2020 Renegade Highlights

Trim: JeepsterSportOrange EditionLatitudeUplandAltitudeNorth EditionLimitedTrailhawkHigh AltitudeJeepster

　　

Base MSRP	$22,375
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$148/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	18.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles