2017 Jeep Renegade

By Mauricio Lezcano / carsntravel.com / Photos FCA Media

For 2017, two new Jeep Renegade models will make their debut, the Renegade Deserthawk limited-edition and the Renegade Altitude, featuring unique blacked-out exterior, providing customers with two new and unique special editions for the most capable small SUV on the market.

Jeep Renegade Deserthawk
The Jeep Renegade Deserthawk takes the Renegade Trailhawk’s rugged appearance and best-in-class capability a step further with exclusive features and functionality inspired by the desert an extreme location where the legendary capability of Jeep vehicles is best expressed.

Available in Alpine White, Anvil, Black or Deserthawk-exclusive Mojave Sand, the Jeep Renegade Deserthawk features fully painted 17-inch black wheels, exclusive hood and rear body panel decals, rock rails and Trailer Tow Group. Inside, the Renegade Deserthawk features an exclusive interior with black leather seats, Light Frost stitching and accents, all-weather floor mats and cargo tray mat.

The Jeep Renegade Deserthawk, like the Renegade Trailhawk, delivers best-in-class Trail Rated 4×4 capability with standard Jeep Active Drive Low with 20:1 crawl ratio; Selec-Terrain system with exclusive Rock mode; 8.7 inches of ground clearance; skid plates; signature red front and rear tow hooks; up to 8.1 inches of wheel articulation; Hill-descent Control; up to 19 inches of water fording; and up to 2,000-lb. towing capacity. The Renegade Deserthawk comes standard with a 2.4-liter Tigershark engine with MultiAir2 paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission, ParkView rear backup camera and 7-inch full-color thin-film transistor cluster display.

Jeep Renegade Altitude
Joining the other Altitude models across the Jeep lineup, the 2017 Jeep Renegade Altitude features a unique “blacked-out” look with a distinct, aggressive flair. Available in all exterior colors, the Jeep Renegade Altitude features 18-inch Gloss Black wheels with Gloss Black accents around the exterior, including the front and rear badges, grille rings and tail lamp rings.

Inside, the Renegade special edition’s blacked-out theme continues with a black interior, black premium cloth seats and High Gloss Black finishes. Metal Diamond accents are found throughout on key touch points, such as the shifter knob and door handles.

The Jeep Renegade Altitude, based on the Renegade Latitude model, is available with either a 2.4-liter Tigershark engine with MultiAir2 paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission, or a 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine with a six-speed manual transmission. The Renegade Altitude comes with a variety of standard features, including ParkSense rear backup camera and Keyless Go.

Expanding the brand’s open-air freedom that originated with the legendary 1941 Willys MB Jeep, the Jeep Renegade offers two class-exclusive My Sky open-air roof systems. With a manual removable, or premium power tilt/slide with removable feature, the innovative My Sky roof-panel systems quickly bring the outdoors inside. Designed for convenience, the honeycomb fiberglass polyurethane roof panels are lightweight and stow neatly in the rear cargo area. For added design detail, both My Sky roof systems feature a debossed X stamped into the roof that exude strength and play on the brand’s utilitarian history.

Performance
Efficiency and refinement also are hallmarks of FCA US 16-valve, 2.4-liter Tigershark I-4 engine with the MultiAir2 electro-hydraulic fully variable valve-lift system. The high-tech engine produces 180 horsepower, 175 lb.-ft. of torque and is paired exclusively to the segment’s first nine-speed automatic transmission on 4×2 and 4×4 models.

The 2.4-liter engine’s MultiAir technology uses a column of oil in place of the traditional mechanical link between the camshaft and intake valves to maximize intake manifold pressure and significantly reduce pumping losses. MultiAir2 takes the innovation further by simultaneously controlling both valve opening and closing events to more effectively manage combustion quality and compression ratio, all to improve fuel economy and performance.

Summary
The Jeep Renegade delivers a unique combination of best-in-class, off-road capability, open-air freedom and convenience, a segment-first nine-speed automatic transmission that contributes to outstanding on-road and off-road driving dynamics, two fuel-efficient engines, world-class refinement and a host of innovative safety and advanced technology offerings.

EPA fuel economy estimates are 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. The base manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $23,495.00 for the 2017 Renegade Altitude 4X4, the one I drove included the Customer Preferred Package 27L ($695.00), Advance Technology Group ($995.00), Passive Entry Keyless N Go Package, ($205.00), Safety and Security Group ($695.00), 6.5 Inch Navigation Group with Uconnect ($1,395.00), My Sky Power Retractable / Removable Panels, ($1,495.00), the 2.4-Liter I4 MultiAir Engine, and it came in at $32,195.00, which includes a $1,095.00 destination charge.
mlezcano@cansntravel.com

Posted in CAR REVIEWS, Jeep.

Emilio Lezcano

Journalist - Editor - Photographer
Professional Race Car Driver

Comments are closed.