Used 2019 Jeep Renegade

In the competitive field of subcompact SUVs, the 2019 Jeep Renegade is a standout. Unlike the Mazda CX-3 or Honda HR-V, the Renegade offers two engine choices plus an advanced 4-wheel-drive (4WD) system with settings for Snow, Sand, Mud and, on the Trailhawk trim, Rock. A new engine this year offers more power with impressive torque, while a revised interior is made more user-friendly. The Renegade’s boxy design maximizes space, allowing four adults to fit comfortably, although cargo space remains on the small side. With a starting price around $23,000, the Renegade is a bit more expensive than a Hyundai Kona, Kia Soul or Fiat 500X, but it’s the only one in this group that can actually tackle tough off-road conditions.

The 2019 Renegade jettisons the old 1.4-liter turbo in favor of a new 1.3-liter turbo producing 177 horsepower and 200 lb-ft of torque. Unlike the old engine, this one is available only with the 9-speed automatic. While unique in this segment, we’ve had issues in the past with this transmission, namely its sluggish response time and shift habits. We’ll have to wait and see if this new model delivers faster shifts. The standard engine remains the 2.4-liter Tigershark, which offers 180 horsepower, but only 175 lb-ft of torque. The Renegade is a heavy vehicle, even more so when equipped with its 4-wheel-drive system. As a result, acceleration is about average for this class. On the road, the Renegade’s performance is adequate for daily commutes, but a far cry from the more athletic performance of the Mazda CX-3, Honda HR-V and Toyota C-HR. However, when the paved road ends, most of the Renegade’s competitors lack the ability to follow, the one exception being the Subaru Crosstrek.

You and the 2019 Renegade may be in rush-hour gridlock, but the mud splatter printed on the face of the Jeep’s tachometer will remind you that the weekend is getting closer by the second. It’s as if the SUV were telling you, “Hang in there. You can make it.” The Jeep Renegade can fit five but is really more comfortable with just four people on board. There’s also 18.5 cubic feet of storage capacity behind the rear seats. That expands to over 50 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and in all but base models, the front-passenger seat folds to accommodate longer items like surfboards.

Round headlights? Check. Seven-slotted vertical grille? Check. Rugged attitude? Check. Short overhangs for rock climbing? Check. One of the best things about the 2019 Jeep Renegade is that it looks like a Jeep. A real Jeep. It’s as if the Renegade is a greatest-hits mix tape engineered from the DNA of the iconic Wrangler and the luxurious Grand Cherokee. Its angles and upright greenhouse even sample from the Willys MB of the 1940s. Still, the Renegade manages to be more modern than retro, with plenty of black trim and curvaceous surfacing. Although the “X” featured in its unique taillights is derived from army jerrycans. And that’s just cool.

SELEC-TERRAIN
Similar to the advanced 4×4 systems found on Land Rovers, the Jeep Renegade’s 4-wheel-drive system allows the driver to select up to five settings; Auto, Snow, Sand, Mud and, on Trailhawk trims, Rock. The Trailhawk also includes Hill Descent Control and a 20:1 rock crawl ratio.

MY SKY OPEN AIR SUNROOF
The My Sky sunroof features removable panels that can be stored in the cargo area creating a very Wrangler-like open-air experience. If you just want fresh air, the front panel can be slid back or vented like a traditional power sunroof. The Renegade also offers a power glass panoramic sunroof.

Jeep’s Renegade for 2019 comes in four trims: Sport, Latitude, Limited and Trailhawk. The base model’s roughly $23,000 starting price is tempting and grants immediate access to the Jeep brand, but is rather light on content with simpler features like an AM/FM radio with USB input, 6-way-adjustable driver’s seat, tilt/telescopic steering column, rearview camera, power windows and door locks, and 16-inch wheels. Most glaring is its lack of standard air conditioning and cruise control. We recommend stepping up even one trim level to Latitude, which brings those two basic features along with a 7-inch Uconnect touch-screen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Four-wheel drive is optional on all new Jeep Renegade models except Trailhawk, where it’s standard. The 1.3-liter turbocharged engine is standard on Limited and Trailhawk models, optional on all others. Other options that vary by trim include blind-spot monitoring and lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, leather seats, navigation, heated seats and steering wheel, 506-watt Beats audio with nine speakers, the My Sky removable-roof system, rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone climate control and rear park-assist. Four-wheel-drive models have a terrain-select system that optimizes the Jeep’s traction for settings like Snow, Sand, Mud and — on Trailhawk models — Rock.

Two 4-cylinder engines are available for the 2019 Jeep Renegade. Sport and Latitude models come with a 2.4-liter engine, while Limited and Trailhawk use a new 1.3-liter turbocharged engine that is optional on the other trims. Both can be had with 4WD instead of the standard 2-wheel-(front) drive (2WD). A 9-speed automatic is standard across the line. The Jeep Renegade can tow up to 2,000 pounds with the 2.4-liter engine and 4WD. Towing is not recommended for 1.3-liter models.

1.3-liter turbocharged inline-4
177 horsepower @ 5,750 rpm
200 lb-ft of torque @ 1,750 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A

2.4-liter inline-4
180 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
175 lb-ft of torque @ 3,900 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/31 mpg (2WD), 21/29 mpg (4WD)