The Jeep Renegade Made Jeep a Six-Figure Player in Europe, Then Time Caught Up With It
Both reviews acknowledge the same history: launched in 2014, the Renegade turned Jeep into a genuine 100,000-plus-a-year seller in Europe within two years — a genuinely important car for the brand that's now showing its age against sharper, more modern rivals.
A Genuine Sales Success, Ageing in Public
Few small SUVs can claim to have transformed their maker's European fortunes this dramatically. Reviewers keep crediting the Renegade with exactly that, while being equally candid about how far the class has moved on since.
Specs at a Glance
| Body style | Small SUV |
|---|---|
| Engines | 1.5L e-Hybrid mild-hybrid, 1.3L 4xe plug-in hybrid (187bhp or 236bhp) |
| 4xe electric range | Limited, small 11.4kWh battery |
| On sale since | 2015, facelifted 2018, 2024 and 2026 |
| Related to | The discontinued Fiat 500X (shared Melfi, Italy factory) |
Full Review Summary
What Car?
What Car? found the Renegade leans over noticeably more in corners than the Ford Puma or its own Jeep Avenger sibling, with light, imprecise steering that can leave you unsure whether you've turned in enough for a bend. They rated the ride as more forgiving over bumps than the firmer Puma, though found sharper edges trip it up, and flagged persistent wind noise from the upright windscreen and large door mirrors at motorway speeds.
Autocar
Autocar's road test found the Trailhawk version's near-30-degree approach and departure angles genuinely useful off-road, though measured only 5% more ground clearance than a Toyota RAV4 PHEV and a disappointing 1,150kg towing capacity. They praised the electric rear axle's ability to keep the chassis composed through gentle cornering, but rated the lightness and elasticity of the steering as a bigger complaint among testers than any single dynamic shortcoming, making the car harder to place accurately than it should be.
Strengths
- Genuine off-road capability in Trailhawk form
- Distinctive, characterful Jeep styling and heritage details
- Generous headroom in both rows
- More forgiving ride than some sportier rivals over bumps
Weak points
- Light, imprecise steering that lacks genuine confidence
- Noticeable wind noise at motorway speeds
- Modest towing capacity for the class
- Ageing platform now trailing sharper, more modern rivals
Who It Actually Suits
Buyers who want genuine Jeep character and off-road ability in a small SUV and are willing to accept it's no longer class-leading on dynamics or refinement. Worth cross-shopping directly against the Ford Puma or Lexus LBX if on-road polish matters more to you.