The Jeep brand has literally ventured out into a much wider spectrum with new products over the past several years. Outside of the traditional scheme of Jeep vehicles, there is the Renegade that has touted its cute looks and subcompact size to be welcomed in select homes of those who don’t ask for much for the primary qualities that most think you get out of the Jeep brand. To make the Renegade a more attractive offering to proudly wear the Jeep name on its hood, it receives a midcycle refresh that goes the distance to make the Renegade more capable and compliant out on and off road.
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For the 2019 model year, the Jeep Renegade gets a few updates with a new engine for starters, more advanced technology packages, and the option for a Trailhawk trim level that gets an Active Drive Low 4×4 system.
The new engine offering, a 1.3-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder mill, is smaller than the 1.4-liter turbo-4 that it replaces, but the new engine touts additional power but oddly enough no improvements in fuel efficiency. The new engine in my 4×4 test vehicle will yield the EPA figures of 23 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined.
The power from the smaller new engine is now rated at 177 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque, up 17 hp and 16 lb-ft from the older turbo engine. Both the standard 2.4-liter naturally aspirated engine with 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque and the newer turbocharged engine get mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission.
Out on the road, my 2019 Jeep Renegade 4×4 Limited test vehicle with the newer turbocharged engine performs decently overall. Though, the downfall of the powertrain lies within the 9-speed automatic transmission that still has somewhat lazy shifting and is slow to adapt to driving styles. Otherwise, the 1.3-liter turbocharged engine does a good job to keep pace and make the Renegade feel zippy around town. Zero to 60 mph is still on the slow side, taking about 9.0 seconds – and its laziness shows when you attempt to overtake vehicles on the highway.
The somewhat elongated front end of the Renegade adds a unique character but feels a bit “off” from the traditional expectations of a subcompact crossover’s positioning of the driver related to the road. At times you feel as if you’re piloting a small bus, but it’s not to take away from the Renegade’s improved off-roading chops. Now, the Renegade is more capable for off-roading duties and even more-so if you step into the Trailhawk trim. My Renegade 4×4 Limited trim still comes with a decent off-roading proposition by having selectable terrain modes where they shined brightly by taking the it through a dirt path with deep sandy pits. The Renegade surprisingly pulled through with ease with the only limiting factor being its all-season street tires.
The interior of the 2019 Renegade is mostly monotone but filled with clever easter eggs of Jeep symbols throughout. In fact, there is an abundance of such symbols where I lost track of how many FCA cleverly placed throughout the interior and exterior of the Renegade. Despite the excessive symbolism, the Renegade’s interior isn’t very comfortable, and finding a good driving position takes some time. The back seats are mostly tight with limited legroom. The good aspects of the interior is a soft-touch upper dashboard and the welcomed 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system that remains to be one of the best in the market for mainstream non-luxury vehicles, which includes Apple CarPlay, Android auto, and a bevy of connectivity features. As part of the refresh for the 2019 Renegade, Jeep adds the availability of adaptive cruise control and a suite of parking assistance options.
Other updates for the 2019 Renegade found on my test vehicle include optional exterior LED lighting, which includes updated bi-function LED headlights with LED halos replicating the new Wrangler’s lights, cornering LED Fog lights, and LED tail lamps, blind-spot monitor and cross-path detection, a premium Beats audio system, and a dual-pane panoramic sunroof with power sunshade.
The small size of the Renegade translates well to its pricing structure but gets well over $30K when going for the Limited, Trailhawk, and High Altitude trims. My nicely equipped Renegade 4×4 Limited test vehicle, without the adaptive cruise control feature, comes in at $34,265 out the door, including a hefty $1,495 destination charge. A base Jeep Renegade FWD Sport starts at a low $22,275.
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