2021 Jeep Renegade

The Limited trim is available as only a four-wheel-drive version. Many optional driver aids are standard now across all the trims. It is not built to go fast but instead, it delivers tons of off-road capabilities owing to its stellar four-wheel-drive system. Remember it is a product from the Jeep. Moreover, the pricing starts from $22,850 and goes all the way up to $29,525 which is still the most affordable Jeep. It rivals the likes of cars like Ford Escape, Honda HR-V, and Hyundai Kona.

As standard, it comes in one trim with a base price of $22,850 which is quite a bargain. The Jeep Renegade has a wide array of convenience features. There are two engines on offer such as a 2.4 liter inline 4 refined engine and a 1.3-liter intercooled turbocharged engine Priced at $22,850 it is one of the most affordable cars in the segment. As standard, some of the standout features include Adaptive cruise control, Blind-spot monitoring, Proximity key, Telescopic steering wheel, and Touchscreen Display with U Connect 3 with FM, CD compatibility.

Which Trim should you buy?

As you can see, the Jeep Renegade offers a wide range of trims to choose from. The mid-trim Latitude offers you the best bits from the Top trim and still, it is very affordable. It offers all the essential features one could expect from a mid-size crossover SUV. But if you love doing off-road adventures, then opting for the Trailhawk trim is the best way to make a buying decision.

The Jeep Renegade houses two engine options such as a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline 4 engine that is capable of pushing out 180 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque and a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine that churns out 177 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque. It is mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. . All the power is sent to the road via a Front Wheel Drive or an All-wheel-drive system. 

Although being one of the most powerful cars in its segment, in the acceleration test, the Renegade hits 60 mph in 8.7 seconds which is the slowest in the segment. However, it has a top speed of 122 mph which is pretty impressive. The engine, in fact, gets strong at high revs and it is best to work with light throttle inputs to drive along in an unfused way. The engine provides a linear flow of torque that eases you forward.

In comparison, The Jeep Renegade underperforms when compared to some of its rivals only by a small margin. The Ford Escape engine is more powerful and more capable in terms of power and acceleration. It produces 181 hp and 190 lb-ft of torque which is the highest in the segment with a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 7.7 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 16.6 seconds. On the other hand, the most sluggish car out there is the Hyundai Kona which manages to hit 60 mph in 9.2 seconds and the top speed of all the cars has not been officially released.

2021 Jeep Renegade Braking performance:

Braking performance is another important factor that also decides the overall performance of the car. The Jeep Renegade is geared up with a 12 inches rotor in the front and 11 inches rotor in the rear. All four wheels come with ABS to deliver spot-on braking in any road conditions. Moreover, it also gets traction control for even more brakeforce precision. It also weighs 3210 lbs which is a decent weight if not the best. For 2021, the Jeep Renegade comes with an automatic emergency braking standard across all the trims which is a plus point for its braking performance.

In comparison, the Hyundai Kona offers the biggest rear rotor measuring 11.2 inches, the front rotor on the other hand measures 12 inches which is the size of the Renegade. The car with the smallest brakes happens to be the Honda HR-V measuring a tad lesser than the Hyundai Kona and Jeep Renegade. Considering the weight to the brake size ratio, the Hyundai Kona seems to deliver top-notch braking performance as it is the lightest of the bunch weighing only 3084 lbs. However, the 60-0 mph test is not specified officially.

Fuel economy matters the most in a car because a car with good fuel economy would let you cover long journeys without issues thereby reducing the money you spend on refueling. However, the Jeep Renegade fails to offer the best in class fuel economy. It offers seemingly subpar fuel economy. The Renegade offers 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highways. When combined it puts out a fuel economy of 24 mpg which is not adequate when compared to its rivals. Moreover, it also has the smallest tank of 12.7 gallons which would let the car traverse 267 miles in the city and 368 miles while cruising on the highway.

Comparing the competition, All three cars except for Renegade seem to do well in the fuel economy test. Surprisingly, all three cars have the same combined fuel economy of 28 mpg. when it comes to range. While the Honda HR-V is the one capable of covering a bit more distance. It can traverse 409 miles on the highway. While the Hyundai Kona is capable of traveling a distance of 343 miles in the city and 396 miles on the highway.

The interior is pretty much quaint by today’s standards. The base trim offers quite a lot of basic features. There are hard plastics all over the cabin with some soft materials here and there but well-appointed in this case. The center infotainment screen is perfectly placed. There is a grab handle present on the passenger side to give the passengers support while driving off-road. 

The seat is wrapped in cloth trim but nicely finished. As the trim gets higher, the features also get higher and more premium. But it truly pegs back when it comes to cargo capacity as it offers the least cargo capacity volume in its class which measures 18.5 cubic feet. The Jeep Renegade offers the highest headroom owing to its Boxy-shaped design.

In comparison, both cars have the same seating capacity of 5 passengers but the Ford Escape seems to be a little more spacious and comfortable to spend time inside the cabin. The Ford Escape has the highest front row shoulder room of 57.6 which in turn gives solid support to the shoulders but loses to Renegade in terms of headroom measuring 40 in the front and 39.3 inches in the rear respectively. 

On the other hand, the car with the least cargo space is the Renegade which offers 18.5 cubic feet. Furthermore, the Hyundai Kona and Honda HR-V provide a cargo capacity of 33.5 inches and 23.2 inches each. Some other standout interior features are mentioned below

• Tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel
• Six-speaker sound system
• Height-adjustable driver's seat
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• 60-40 Folding Bench Front Facing Fold Forward Seatback Rear Seat
• Leatherette Gear Shifter Material

How intuitive is the 2021 Jeep Renegade’s infotainment system?

 The infotainment on the other hand is certainly packed hefty right from the base trim. It is equipped with an extensive list of modern features. As standard, it comes with a 7-inch touch screen that is very sensitive and nice to use. It also has 6 speakers, Smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Primary monitor touchscreen, Steering Wheel Controls, and incorporates Uconnect interface for better convenience and ease to use. The higher-end gets an 8.4-inch high-definition screen that comes in handy.

Some other infotainment features include:

• Optional SiriusXM Traffic Plus Real-Time Traffic Display
• Speed Compensated Volume Control
• Clock
• External Memory Control
• Streaming Audio

The Jeep Renegade is the most distinctive-looking cross-over in its class due to its retro design language. It gets the traditional Jeep grille with seven separate partitions. The round headlights have the classic touch integrated with LED lights and the taillights are square-shaped which resembles the Jeep Wrangler. Moreover, There are a lot of color options to choose from. 

There are some unique color schemes too. It boasts 17-inch alloy wheels which give it an upright stance to tackle any kind of terrain. After all, it is what the Jeep Renegade is built to do. Moreover, it appears to be one of the shortest cars in its division measuring a length of 166.6 inches, a width of 74.2 inches. Moreover, it sports a ground clearance of 8 inches which is the highest in its segment.

Among the competition, the Ford Escape weighs 3474 lbs which is the heaviest in the competition. While the Ford Escape is the longest car in the segment with a length of 181.3 inches. The Renegade is the widest car in the segment with a width of 74.2 inches. On the other hand, the Hyundai Kona seems to be the shortest car in the segment with a length of 164 inches. The Honda HR-V and Hyundai Kona have the same ground clearance of 6.7 inches. Some exterior features worth mentioning are:

• Lip spoiler
• Optional black grille with metal accents
• Optional cornering lights
• Rain detecting variable intermittent wipers

Safety is the prime factor in every car and offers a wholesome deal in terms of safety. The Jeep Renegade procures 4 stars out of five in NHTSA and scores an overall ‘Good rating in all the fronts except for small overlap front and headlights where it scores mediocre ratings. As standard, it comes with Blind Spot Detection Blind Spot, Forward collision warning with active braking, lane departure warning with lane-keeping assist and Trailer sway damping. Some other features that you get in higher trims are:

• Selec-Terrain w/Rock mode ABS,
• Parkview Back-Up Camera,
• Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
• and optional Cross Path Detection.

2021 Jeep Renegade vs 2021 Ford Escape:

The Ford Escape is a veteran in its class and has undergone a lot of changes and makeovers since its debut. It is also clearly the winner in terms of performance and practicality. Moreover, it beats the Renegade when it comes to fuel economy but loses to the Renegade in the off-roading part. Ford’s SYNC infotainment system is world-class and it is much better than its rivals.

2021 Jeep Renegade vs 2021 Honda HR-V:

The Honda HR-V is another tough competitor that boasts a stylish design with sharp headlights and stunning looks and looks a tad better looking than the Renegade but it lacks behind when it comes to interior spacing and comfort. It also houses a less powerful engine than the Jeep Renegade which in turn affects its acceleration. However, the fuel efficiency is on the plus side as it offers great mileage and leaves the Renegade to dust.

2021 Jeep Renegade vs 2021 Hyundai Kona:

The Hyundai Kona looks like it has come from the future and looks outlandish but stunning in every angle and surpasses the Renegade on multiple fronts such as Fuel economy and Braking performance but the Renegade uses a much more practical interior and cabin and offers good front and rear row space. The Renegade offers a powerful engine as well. The Kona is also not capable as the Renegade as it was built to rip off-roading trails apart.

The Jeep Renegade is an all-rounder package that offers a great amount of practicality and versatility in its class. The party piece of this vehicle is the All-wheel drive system which is celebrated for its capability by the Jeep Purists. Despite having a traditional jeep look, it manages to retain its own style and holds a strong position in the crossover market. It is the best off-roading vehicle of the lot too. 

On the downside, it takes a huge hit when it comes to fuel economy. Apart from that, it is a very desirable car and won the hearts of a lot of people. If you want a family car that you can take to drop your kids off at school but also quench your thirst for off-roading adventures. Well, it is the perfect balance of both, and you can definitely go for it without a second thought.