The interior of the Jeep Renegade is functional and uncluttered.Fast facts
› Model: 2016 Jeep Renegade Sport › Exterior color: Omaha Orange › Interior color: Black › Engine: 1.4-liter turbocharged, 4-cylinder › Horsepower: 160 › Transmission: six-speed manual › Fuel economy: 31 highway, 24 mpg city › Local Dealer: Crown Chrysler Dodge Jeep › Price (as tested): $21,080
Mark Kennedy
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Is the new Renegade merely a Fiat in Jeep's clothing?
True, the mechanicals in the small crossover are identical to those in the Fiat 500X, but from its iconic seven-slot grille to its available pop-out roof panels, Jeep DNA runs deeply in the Renegade's bloodstream.
Our tester, an Omaha Orange Renegade in Sport trim with a 160-horsepower, 1.4-liter turbo-charged engine and six-speed manual transmission, is perhaps the most economical and fun-to-drive configuration of the vehicle, which was introduced in 2015 to do battle with the likes of the Nissan Juke, Honda HR-V, Buick Encore and Chevrolet Trax.
Of all those vehicles, the Renegade has the best off-road chops - assuming you spring for the Trail-hawk package, which includes a hill-descent feature and a traction management system. A larger, four-cylinder motor is standard in Renegades equipped with automatic transmissions, and it produces a 20-horsepower bump over the smaller engine.
The trim range includes Sport, Latitude and Limited models. Base models start at $18,000 and can stretch to $30,000 in top-of-the-line Limited trim. Our tester rings up at a modest $21,080.
An inventory check at Crown Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Chattanooga this week showed an abundant supply of Renegades across all trim levels.
STYLING AND FEATURES
It's hard to describe the tough-sounding Renegade model without using the word "cute" - cute like a Doberman Pinscher puppy, maybe, or a snub-nosed pistol. Our Omaha Orange tester comes from the Popsicle end of the color spectrum, amplifying the charm factor.
The cube-shaped roof-line adds to the whimsical look, but also opens up the cabin, which is one of the most spacious in the class. Head and shoulder room are especially generous, belying the Renegade's relatively small footprint. The Renegade may have the best outward visibility of any compact vehicle we have ever tested, and the huge vertical windshield makes it feel as if you are driving a fish tank.
The grille features chrome slots on a black background. Blacked-out wheel arches accent the orange paint and give our Renegade a Halloweenish color scheme. Sixteen-inch styled wheels shod with thick, all-season tires provide a retro vibe.
Inside, the black-on-black cockpit is fairly spartan, with none of the gadgetry we've come to expect in modern cars. For example, there's no color touch-screen or back-up camera in the base Renegade Sport, although both are standard in higher-priced trim levels.
Heat and air conditioning are controlled by three dials mounted just above the center stack. The AM-FM head unit is so basic that it would have looked at home in a 1990s economy car. The manual shifter, on the other hand, has a stylish chrome shift knob, and the three-spoke steering wheel is beefy, with grippable notches at 10 and 2.
The cloth seats include Jeep logos stitched into the material, and the front buckets are firm and supportive. Back seats are just right for small children, although adults would need to sit in the lotus position.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
The Renegade Sport drives like a Fiat 500 Abarth on stilts, which is to say it's way more fun than you might expect. The Fiat powertrain, a 1.4-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission, reminds us that a stick shift and a turbo-charger are sure-fire cures for blandness.
It seems certain the automatic tranny will have a higher take rate, but the manual is a slick-shifting gearbox that allows you to squeeze out every ounce of torque from the little engine. The renegade's zero-to-60 mpg time is in the nine-second range, but feels quicker. It's possible to purchase a Renegade with manual transmission and all-wheel-drive, a particularly sweet combo.
In everyday family driving, we found the Renegade suitable for soccer practice car-pooling. Throw in backpacks and sideline chairs, though, and it's a little tight. It performed admirably as a mountain-climber, although a little extra horsepower would have come in handy on the steepest grades. Those who want a true off-road Jeep may want to save up for a Wrangler as the Renegade feels and performs more like a commuter car.
BOTTOM LINE
The Renegade has respectable fuel economy, 31 mpg highway and 24 mpg city. At prevailing gasoline prices, the average Jeep Renegade driver would spend less than $1,000 a year on fuel.
The base price of $17,995 on our tester is boosted by a $1,495 power and air group, which includes air conditioning, power heated mirror and speed control. Alloy wheels add $565, and the destination charge is $995.
Still, at about $21,000, the 2016 Renegade Sport is an engaging compact crossover that serves as an entry-level Jeep sure to produce future Wrangler and Cherokee owners.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOL UMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/ mkennedycolumnist.