The 2015 Jeep Renegade is Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ answer to the hotly contested, compact crossover segment in the United States.
For traditional Jeep enthusiasts, the new 2015 Jeep Renegade might look more at home in the suburbs instead of the Sahara Desert.
However, don’t be too quick to write off the new 2015 Jeep Renegade as a “soft-roader” because looks can be deceiving.
First Impressions
From the outside, the Jeep Renegade definitely oozes the Jeep DNA. It might look like a brick with some plastic lower body cladding, but as with all Jeeps, its pedigree is determined by what is underneath the body rather than what the body looks like.
As with all contestants in the compact crossover segment, the Jeep Renegade is designed to attract consumers who are likely to visit a local nursery for plants than those participating in an Iron Man challenge..
So, is this a “proper” Jeep?
Yes, it is a proper Jeep, but with a smaller carbon footprint than its bigger brothers and cousins.
Performance
The standard engine is a 2.4 L Tigershark series 4-cylinder, which produces 180 horsepower at 6400 RPM and 175 lb.ft. of torque at 3900 RPM. All 2015 Jeep Renegade models come standard with a 12.7 gallon fuel tank and run on regular unleaded gasoline.
EPA Fuel Economy Ratings
21: City
29: Highway
24: Combined
Cruising Range
266.70 Miles:City
368.30 Miles: Highway
When combined with the standard 9-speed automatic and the all-wheel-drive system, the Jeep Renegade can hit 60 mph from 0 in a respectable 8.8 seconds.
Top speed is limited to 115 miles per hour.
What’s New for 2015?
The 2015 Jeep Renegade is the first Jeep to share its platform with an Alfa Romeo. The Renegade also replaces the aging Jeep Compass and Patriot, which were based off the Dodge Avenger sedan.
The Jeep Renegade is an all-new vehicle in Jeep’s North American portfolio, designed to attract city dwellers more so than true off-road enthusiasts.
To cope with the bustling city life, the 2015 Jeep Renegade comes standard with a host of active and passive safety features to protect occupants.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Roll Stability Control (RSC), side impact beams, dual stage front airbags with driver knee airbag, dual stage front and rear side curtain airbags, driver and passenger seat mounted front airbags, TPMS, rear child safety locks, and back up camera for increased visibility are all standard.
2015 Jeep Renegade vs. 2016 Honda HR-V
PROS
When it comes to off-road capabilities, the Jeep Renegade already has an upper hand. Even though it is designed for the city, if the need arises for a mild off-roading session, the Renegade is more than ready to answer the call.
The base engine in the Jeep Renegade is more powerful than the base engine offered in the Honda HR-V. The 2.4 L Tigershark engine in the Renegade produces 180 horsepower @6400 RPM and 175 lb.ft. torque @ 3900 RPM.
By comparison, the 2016 Honda HR-V is a 1.5 L naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder with 141 horsepower @ 6500 RPM and 127 lb.ft. torque @ 4300 RPM.
When it comes to bang for the buck, the Jeep Renegade trumps the Honda HR-V. Depending on the trim level, the Jeep Renegade offers more standard features than the Honda HR-V too.
CONS
The Interior of the Honda HR-V is roomier and can be configured in more ways than the Jeep Renegade.
Even though the Honda HR-V is based on the Honda Fit hatchback, it can carry more cargo behind the first and second row seats than the Jeep Renegade.
Thanks to the smaller engine in the Honda HR-V, even with the heavy four-wheel drive system, the HR-V has higher averages in the city and the highway than the Jeep Renegade. The Honda achieves 27 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway.
2015 Jeep Renegade vs. 2016 Mazda CX-3 AWD
PROS
The Jeep Renegade has more interior passenger and cargo volume than the Mazda CX-3.
Again, the Jeep Renegade’s go anywhere attitude trumps the Mazda CX-3’s city only demeanor. The AWD system in the Jeep has settings for snow, mud, and sand, and automatically adjusts its driving dynamics based on the terrain conditions.
The AWD in the Mazda CX-3 is mostly designed for traction on dry roads and in light snow or rain.
For consumers with a heavy right foot, the Jeep Renegade offers more power and torque than the Mazda CX-3. The 2.0 L naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder engine in the Mazda CX-3 produces a respectable 146 horsepower @ 6000 RPM and 146 lb.ft. torque @2800 RPM but the Jeep Renegade still provides more.
CONS
A family man with a race car driver’s soul will easily feel at home in the 2016 Mazda CX-3 versus the 2015 Jeep Renegade.
The CX-3 drives more like a compact car than a crossover.
The cabin of the Mazda CX-3 looks and feels more premium than the one offered in the Jeep Renegade. All the important controls in the CX-3 are well within the driver’s arm reach or conveniently placed on the steering wheel.
Design wise, the exterior of the 2016 Mazda CX-3 looks like a sports car, while the exterior of the 2015 Jeep Renegade looks more like a traditional Jeep, with body cladding at the bottom.
Availability
The 2015 Jeep Renegade is currently on sale with a starting price of $20,990 for the sport model with all-wheel-drive.
Jeep Renegade, Mazda CX-3 and Honda HR-V Images:
Information and Image Source: Jeep, Mazda, and Honda
