2022 Jeep Renegade

Eager to prove that a Jeep is still a Jeep, no matter how small, the Detroit manufacturer has gone full retro with the subcompact Jeep Renegade crossover. Sharing a platform with its corporate sibling, the Fiat 500X, the Renegade packs cutesy styling in a box-shaped package but also caters to those with a sense of adventure by offering all-wheel-drive and a 'Trail-Rated' badge. That means serious business in the world of Jeep, and no other subcompact is this capable off-road, but while the ability to conquer the unknown and one of the best infotainment interfaces in the industry bode well for the rugged Renegade, a nine-speed automatic gearbox as the only transmission choice is a serious downer. Paired to either a 180-horsepower naturally aspirated 2.4-liter or 177-hp 1.3-liter turbo motor, the powertrain options are glaring faults. In a segment jam-packed with the Kia Seltos, Hyundai Kona, and Honda HR-V, can bold styling overcome substandard hardware? Following our comprehensive Renegade review, we're not so sure it can.

The Renegade's cheeky, retro appearance stands out in this segment. The seven-slot grille is immediately recognizable as purely Jeep, while the rounded headlamps and trapezoidal wheel arches surrounded by plastic cladding give it a purposeful air. The base model gets 16-inch black-style steel wheels, but up to 19-inch alloys are available on upper trims. Daytime running lamps and power-adjustable mirrors are standard across the range, with features like automatic headlamps, cornering front fog lamps, and rain-sensing wipers becoming available as you cycle through the trim levels. A power dual-pane sunroof is available, as is a removable sunroof for that authentic open-air Jeep experience.

The subcompact Jeep Renegade SUV measures 66.5 inches in height, 79.6 inches in width (including the side mirrors), and 166.6 inches in length. The wheelbase is 101.2 inches long. This makes the Jeep a little bigger than the Subaru Crosstrek, but shorter than the Jeep Cherokee. Curb weight ranges from 3,056 pounds for base Sport 2WD to 3,532 lbs for the Trailhawk 4WD.

The Renegade is a solid off-roader with ground clearance maxing out at 8.7 inches for the lifted Trailhawk 4x4; the 4x2's is 6.7 inches. The SUV's approach angle varies between 17.9 inches (for the 4x2) to 30.5 inches (for the Trailhawk 4x4), while the breakover angle is between 21.2 (4x2) and 25.7 inches (Trailhawk 4x4). The departure angle starts at 29.7 inches for the 4x2 and goes up to 34.3 inches for the Trailhawk 4x4.

Eleven colors made up the Renegade's color palette last year, but they have been reduced to seven this year. All trims have access to all the shades this year. There are conservative shades like the no-cost Alpine White, as well as $245 hues like Black, Sting-Gray, and Slate Blue. The only visually arresting hues are Bikini and Colorado Red. Four colors - Glacier, Granite Crystal, Omaha Orange, and Jetset Blue - have been discontinued. The Renegade has extensive black body cladding which works quite well when offset against the more adventurous color choices.

The Renegade isn't a particularly potent SUV. The less expensive versions used to make use of a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, but that engine has been dropped this year. The only engine choice is now a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-pot with 177 hp and 210 lb-ft. The base Sport is front-wheel drive by default with the 4x4 drivetrain available as an option, but all the other trims are 4x4 exclusively and are among the most rugged and capable subcompacts around.

The 0-60 mph sprint takes a leisurely nine seconds, so if you want an SUV with more of an on-road bias, the Renegade's sluggish performance will disappoint. The Jeep is more in its element off-road, where available gear such as hill-descent control and the Active Drive Low 4x4 system (with low range - a segment-exclusive) affords a crawl ratio of 21:1. The Selec-Terrain system features driving modes for Snow, Mud, Rock, and Snow, and the Jeep's wading depth of 19 inches will prove useful in off-road excursions. If you want to tow, go for the 4x4 with a maximum towing capacity of 2,000 lbs - Jeep says that towing isn't recommended for FWD model.

There is only one four-cylinder engine to choose from within the Renegade range this year: a 1.3-liter turbo. This turbocharged motor has peak outputs of 177 hp and 210 lb-ft. The sole transmission is a nine-speed automatic.

The turbocharged engine has good torque, but is held back by arguably the worst implementation of an automatic gearbox the year 2022 has on offer. Shifts are ill-timed, the 'box constantly hunts for gears and never settles on an appropriate one, and even manual shift prompts don't help as the transmission simply ignores them. What's more, nine gears are of no use when eighth and ninth are never actually engaged, not even while cruising at highway speeds with minimal throttle inputs. A manual would no doubt improve the experience, but as things stand, the powertrain is simply infuriating.

The Renegade deserves props as the only subcompact SUV on the market with genuine off-road chops. The Trailhawk, with a low-range transfer case, multiple off-road modes, and stubbly all-terrain tires, is a genuinely capable machine for getting into the great outdoors, and if you're on a subcompact budget with Wrangler-sized ambitions, it's the only crossover worth looking at. But, subcompact crossovers are almost never taken off-road. In fact, their domain is city streets and, at most, grass curbs at little Timmy's soccer match.

In the environment where these cars are likely to be driven the most, the Renegade is woefully underequipped. Not only is noise problematic due to the boxy proportions and upright windscreen, but the driving dynamics are severely flawed. Look past the handicapped powertrain and you're met with lifeless steering that's vague in both feedback and responses and suspension that mixes the wrong aspects of spring and damper configurations. The springs are soft - ideal for comfort, but the dampers fail to mitigate most corrugations. Ultimately, the Renegade is a car that ends up lurching in the corners while failing to be truly comfortable.

The brakes are soft, but ultimately still do the job set out for them, but the overall experience is one found lacking in many aspects. The stop-start system is flawed, too, and we regularly found ourselves attempting to pull away only for the engine to not start up and the car to roll back towards traffic behind us. It's not ideal.

Perhaps if the Renegade engine was exceptionally frugal, we could forgive it for the lack of firepower. This isn't the case, though, with distinctly average gas mileage. The most fuel-efficient EPA-rated numbers in the range are for the 1.3-liter turbo in 2WD guise, which returns 24/32/27 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles. Opting for the 4x4 drivetrain will see those numbers dip to 23/29/26 mpg. The range's worst consumption figures are 22/27/24 mpg for the off-road-focused Trailhawk with 4x4. With a 12.7-gallon gas tank, the thriftiest model should be able to manage a combined cruising range of about 343 miles. For perspective, the 2.0-liter Subaru Crosstrek automatic returns up to 28/33/30 mpg. In real-world testing, our FWD tester was unable to match the claimed figures, achieving closer to 24 mpg combined. We blame the frustrating automatic gearbox for this, though, as we regularly had to resort to ham-fisted throttle inputs to yield the desired results.

Like the exterior, the Renegade's cabin has enough unusual shapes and touches to keep things interesting, such as the sturdy grab handle ahead of the front passenger. The materials are about average for the class, which means a mix of soft-touch plastics and some harder edges dotted around the interior. Generally, there is a decent amount of space on offer, the only issue being rear legroom for taller passengers. Dual-zone automatic climate control is standard across the lineup. The upholstery ranges from simple cloth at the lower end of the range to premium leather for the most expensive versions. The infotainment system is 8.4 inches in size on all trims this year.

For those who never venture into the rear of the cabin, the Renegade feels absolutely massive. The upright dash and windscreen design paired with the deep glasshouse gives the impression that this is a much larger vehicle, with an abundance of shoulder room and frontal head- and legroom measurements of up to 41.1 inches (without the sunroof) and 41.2 inches respectively. But the seats lack support, and when the soft suspension is factored in, occupants may be looking for more assistance when roads get rough. Sadly, hopping into the rear of the cabin results in an altogether different experience, and while the broad-opening doors make ingress and egress easy, the capacious front half of the cabin means that rear occupants are left with just 35.1 inches of legroom. Headroom is more than ample at 40.5 inches, but the seating position in the back is awkward and impractical, and not comfortable on long journeys. Nevertheless, the width of the cabin means seating five in total is a fairly achievable target.

Material quality inside the Renegade is generally on par for the subcompact segment, but it's not at all what one might consider to be high quality. A mix of hard and soft-touch plastics is present, with the harder plastics generally given a satin finish borrowed from the larger Cherokee, albeit available in a range of colors so you can match the center console to your exterior paint choice on certain trims.

In terms of upholstery finishes, the Sport starts off with cloth available in black, with Latitude models boasting similar fabric but with the addition of a Ski Gray color option. The top-of-the-line Trailhawk retains cloth in black, but with Ruby Red stitching, and it features a topographic map design to highlight its adventurous nature. It can be upgraded to premium leather with Ruby Red stitching as well. From the Limited, it's all leather, with the choice between black and Ski Gray. Further sub-models get their own specific trimmings, like the Altitude Package's black cloth or leather seats with Ski Gray accent stitching.

With the rear seats in their normal position, the Renegade has 18.5 cubic feet of cargo space. This would be good for a sedan, but in an SUV, it's only average. It's much the same story when folding down the rear seats, which frees up an unremarkable 50.8 cubes. Lower trims have a 60/40-split rear seat, while only higher-spec models get a more practical 40/20/40-split rear seat design. Not helping matters is the cargo hold's narrow width and high floor, but fortunately, the aperture is broad and square, which makes loading large items easier than the limited space might suggest.

In the cabin, storage for small items is a bit better, with well-sized door bins and a practical center console. A locking glovebox, seatback pockets (on higher trims), and cupholders that are a decent size round out the storage solutions.

More functional than opulent, the entry-level Renegade gets features like cruise control, push-button ignition, halogen headlights, power-adjustable and heated mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, two 12-volt auxiliary power outlets, a six-way manually-adjustable driver's seat, and a manually tilting/telescoping steering wheel with integrated audio controls. The pricier trims have increased availability of features, more standard equipment, or both, with amenities such as a heated steering wheel, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Jeep equipped more standard safety gear last year like lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The rear backup camera includes helpful active grid lines.

The Renegade's infotainment makes use of one available system on all trims this year - an 8.4-inch touchscreen display running Uconnect 4C NAV, replacing the seven-inch system on low-line trims used last year. It includes Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, an AM/FM radio, HD Radio, GPS navigation, and SiriusXM Traffic Plus with a comprehensive five-year trial subscription. All models get a rather tinny six-speaker sound system by default but a nine-speaker Kenwood premium sound system is available on upper trims. The Uconnect system is generally one of the best to quickly fathom.

J.D. Power gave this SUV an overall rating of 77 out of a possible 100; the 2022 Jeep Renegade rating for quality and reliability specifically came to 80/100. At the time of writing, there have been no recalls for the 2022 Renegade according to the NHTSA and last year's models were recall-free as well. However, the 2020 model was recalled twice; once for a fractured right rear brake caliper that can fail, and in another instance for a rearview camera image that can distract the driver by lingering on the display.

Jeep's basic warranty runs for three years or a mileage of 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Also included is a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, roadside assistance for five years or 60,000 miles, and five-year rust-through coverage regardless of miles covered.

The 2022 Jeep Renegade safety reviews have returned good but not perfect results. The Renegade missed out on a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, scoring four stars instead. The side barrier and side pole ratings were a bit of a mixed bag, with five stars for the front seats but three for the rear. At the IIHS, the 2021 Renegade attained Good crashworthiness scores in most categories besides the small overlap front passenger-side test, for which it only managed an Acceptable rating, and the side crash test, which garnered only a Marginal rating. Disappointingly, the headlights were rated as Acceptable at best and Poor for cheaper models with halogen headlights.

Before ticking off any options, the new Renegade SUV ships with seven airbags, all-speed traction control, electronic stability control, electronic roll mitigation, hill-start assist, a rearview camera with active grid lines, trailer-sway control, and a tire-pressure monitoring system. Hill-descent control is standard on the off-road-focused Trailhawk.

Fortunately, even the cheapest Renegade at least gets some basic driver-assist technologies fitted as standard. These include blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, full-speed forward-collision warning with active braking (on all models besides the Trailhawk), lane-departure warning, and lane-keep assist. Rear park assist and adaptive cruise control are available optionally.

The Renegade does several things right in the subcompact segment, with commanding visibility, unforgettable styling, and a standard infotainment system that buyers will love. It also boasts unique bragging rights as the only subcompact crossover with genuine off-road ability, and in Trailhawk guise, it's genuinely capable. But most buyers won't even consider the Trailhawk, and on-road, the Renegade is far from the best possible crossover for sale.

The default engine option is underpowered and uncompetitive in the fuel economy stakes, and the nine-speed transmission does it no favors. It's the weakest link of an altogether poor chain, but the overly soft suspension and vague steering are also low points. Cabin space is also limited in terms of both the rear passengers and cargo volume, and while subcompacts aren't traditionally full-on family vehicles, they do need to be highly practical. The long and short of it is that unless you're looking at the Trailhawk, the rest of the line-up is simply unremarkable.

The Renegade range kicks off with the Sport trim at $22,495 with 2WD or for $1,600 more - $24,095 - with 4WD. This is the only trim available with 2WD; the rest are all 4WD by default. Next is the Latitude at $26,695, the Altitude at $27,690, the Red Edition at $28,185, and the Limited at $29,995. The more capable Trailhawk retails for the same $29,995. The price of the new Jeep Renegade excludes taxes, licensing, registration, and Jeep's destination fee of $1,595. Fully loaded, the Jeep Renegade will cost over $35,000 with all the extras.

The 2022 Jeep Renegade lineup comprises six individual trims this year, down from last years nine. They are Sport, Latitude, Altitude, Red Edition, Limited, and Trailhawk. The erstwhile 2.4-liter engine has been dropped and the only engine now standard on every trim is a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 177 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard on the Sport and 4WD optional; all the other trims are 4WD by default.

The Renegade Sport comes as standard with styled 16-inch steel wheels, front-wheel drive (4WD is optional), halogen headlights with timed auto-off, a black grille and door handles, black bumpers, and powered and heated exterior door mirrors. Inside, it gets cloth upholstery, dual-zone climate control, a 3.5-inch monochrome driver-information display, cruise control, a six-way manually adjustable driver's seat, a 60/40-split rear seat, a manually tilting/telescoping steering column, and a urethane steering wheel. The Uconnect 4C NAV infotainment system has an 8.4-inch touchscreen, navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, HD Radio, and a six-speaker audio system. Standard safety features include seven airbags, stability control, hill-start assist, a backup camera, trailer-sway damping, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-departure warning.

The Latitude trim adds 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic on/off headlights, front fog lights with a cornering function, roof rails, and color-coded exterior mirrors and door handles. Inside, it gains a color seven-inch driver-information display, a leatherette-trimmed steering wheel, illuminated sunvisor mirrors, and premium cloth upholstery.

The Altitude can be seen as a separate trim, but is actually only a Latitude with an optional package for around $1,000 more, which contains blacked-out exterior styling elements, badging, and valances, gloss-black 18-inch alloy wheels, and a choice of black deluxe cloth or leather upholstery with Ski Gray stitching, as well as a black headliner.

The Red Edition is based on the Latitude trim as well and is subject to late availability. It has been launched in support of Bono's (RED) organization and for every one sold, Jeep is donating money for pandemic relief efforts. This model will have its own unique styling features, but it will be limited to appearance and trim changes and little else - it is only $495 more expensive than that Latitude on which it is based.

The Limited trim gets 18-inch alloy wheels and, for 2022, model-specific new mirror caps, fog lights, and front grille, and turn signals integrated into its rear-view mirrors. It also receives leather upholstery, heated front seats, and eight-way electrically adjustable driver's seat, a 40/20/40-split rear seat, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, remote engine start, a 120-volt AC power outlet, and a heated and leather-trimmed steering wheel.

The Trailhawk is the tough, go-anywhere model and comes as standard with Jeep's Active Drive Low full-time 4WD Selec-Terrain system with a 21:1 crawl ratio, five traction settings, skid plates, and all-season on/off-road tires.

On the base Sport, the Sport Appearance Group costs $1,095 and adds 17-inch alloy wheels, black side roof rails and other extras for a more enticing look.

Moving up to the Latitude avails the $1,395 Convenience Group that includes a power driver's seat, front-seat and steering-wheel heating, a 115-volt power outlet, a 40/20/40-split rear seat, rain-sensing wipers, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, and several other features.

Higher up in the range, the Limited can be upgraded with the Luxury Group II for $1,595, adding adaptive cruise control, front/rear parking sensors, and more. Via the Sun/Sound Group for $2,095, a power sunroof and nine-speaker Kenwood premium sound system can be equipped. The Trailhawk offers similar upgrades at slightly varying prices

It's our opinion that in the subcompact segment, there are much better alternatives out there than the Renegade, particularly if you'll never stray beyond a gravel path. That's why unless you're considering a Trailhawk, we wouldn't even bother. The Trailhawk is ideal, though, as the only Trail Rated model in the range, equipped with different front and rear bumpers for improved off-road capabilities. It also gets a 4x4 drivetrain with a low-range transfer case and better ground clearance. It looks rugged and behaves the part, but just like the Wrangler, the off-road focus comes at the further expense of on-road comfort.

The larger Compass starts off at $25,240, $2,745 more than the base Jeep Renegade Sport. The two models also share a platform and the nine-speed automatic transmission (although 4x2 Compass models use a six-speed auto), but the Compass uses a lackluster 2.4-liter naturally aspirated engine. The major difference (besides their respective appearances) comes down to overall size, with the Compass measuring 173 inches in length, a full 6.4 inches longer than the Renegade. As you may imagine, this contributes to the Compass having more interior space and a larger trunk (27.2 cubic feet as opposed to the Renegade's 18.5). The heavier Compass is, however, saddled with the poor 2.4-liter engine and can't be had with the Renegade's turbocharged unit. If you need more space, the Compass is a better option, but the Renegade's unique design and (slightly) better turbocharged engine are advantages in its favor.

It's quite easy to separate these two competitors. Where the Jeep is much more suited to off-roading with an available 4x4 drivetrain on every trim, the Kia Soul is only offered with front-wheel-drive. Starting at just $19,190, the new Soul looks cooler than ever, but it also rides with more smoothness and composure than the rugged Renegade. You can have the Kia with a 201-hp turbocharged engine that endows it with far superior performance to the Jeep's powertrain, again driving home the message that the Korean is much better suited to the school run and even longer trips. The Soul's specs include a CVT and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, outclassing the Renegade's sub-par automatic. Throw in the Kia's extra interior space and its larger cargo area, and it's the clear winner here - unless, of course, you need to go off-road.