2019 Renegade: Great Fuel Economy, More Gears, New Turbo
Paired with the 1.3-liter motor and other fuel-saving tech, the updated Renegade may pull in 32 mpg on the highway, Motor Trend reports.
The Jeep Renegade has performed its role as an entry-level Jeep quite well since its debut in 2015. Designed as a replacement for the divisive Compass and Patriot soft-roaders (though the Compass lives on to this day as a better version of itself), the Renegade has served as the gateway drug to the Jeep universe, where Wranglers crawl over boulders, and Grand Cherokees continue to define American off-road luxury.
And now, it’s time for the little Jeep crossover that could to receive a minor makeover. Motor Trend reports the 2019 Renegade for the U.S. market has an all-new powertrain setup guaranteed to offset the big power (and big fuel-burning) of the Grand Cherokee, though some sacrifices were made for this year’s upgrade.
Coming to the Renegade’s engine bay for 2019 is the new 1.3-liter Global Small Engine turbo-four. The new mill pumps out 177 horses and 200 lb-ft of torque, and replaces the 1.4-liter turbo-four that had been the standard engine. The new 1.3-liter engine, though, is an upgrade for Sport and Latitude Renegades (standard on Limited and Trailhawk models), as the naturally aspirated 2.4-liter inline-four (with the same output of 180 horses and 175 lb-ft of torque as before) is now standard in the lower trim levels.
Alas, shifting your own is no longer an option on the 2019 Renegade. Instead, a nine-speed automatic ferries the power to the front or all corners. Paired with the 1.3-liter and other fuel-saving technologies, the updated Renegade is expected to pull in 32 mpg on the highway. And though it has turbo power, the new powerplant won’t have much accelerating power; Motor Trend expects a nine-second run from zero to 60 mph.
The Renegade Trailhawk will continue to kill it on the trail in 2019, though. Whether it’s 19 inches of water, an improved Active Drive Low gear crawl ratio of 21:1, lots of ground clearance, or a new throttle map designed for the 1.3-liter that allows the Trailhawk to gently climb over tall boulders with ease, the Renegade continues to earn its Trail Rated badge.
Pricing for the 2019 Renegade is expected to fall in the $20,000 to $27,000 range, depending on what trims and options are chosen.
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