7 Things Learned While Living With a Renegade

The thing about driving a new car for a week is that it really gives you a good sense of what you do or don’t like about the vehicle.

Now, that certainly doesn’t negate my initial impressions of the Renegade after I first had a chance to drive the new Jeep. It’s just that one day behind the wheel is no comparison to a seven-day test drive when trying to gauge how a vehicle really measures up to all the buzz.

That said, here are seven things that struck me most about the Renegade, after putting in a lot more time with the compact Jeep.

People Really, Really Like the Look
Remember when Jeep first released photos of the Renegade and a lot of us thought the design was really odd? Okay, so maybe there are some who still think the design looks a little odd. But apparently a lot of people who aren’t necessarily longtime Jeep fans really like the overall styling of the Renegade. That certainly appears to be the case, judging from some of the comments I got from people while driving the vehicle.

Far Bigger Than You Think
Every carmaker’s marketing/PR campaign for a compact vehicle typically share a common pitch point: namely, that while the car or SUV might be much smaller, it’s far more spacious than you’d expect. The Renegade, however, truly lives up to that idea for both the driver and passengers alike. In fact, in many ways it feels as big as a two-door Wrangler inside, if not bigger. And that’s coming from someone who actually owns a two-door JK.

Solid On-Road Performance
If you’ve ever found yourself moving from a full or mid-size vehicle into a compact, you know that one of the biggest issues is adjusting to the way the vehicle performs. Okay, make that second, because as I noted earlier, it’s typically the size thing that concerns you first about living with a compact. The Renegade, however, addresses those performance worries much likes it does size, by far exceeding practically every expectation you’d have for a compact on the road.

MySky Sunroof is a Must-Have
Hard to imagine driving a Jeep Wrangler and not having an open air option, right? Sure, it’s been pulled off before in models like the Grand Cherokee, so it certainly doable. But the freedom to connect with nature has always been one of the most appealing features associated with owning a Jeep. In the Renegade, that theme has been packaged as the optional MySky roof, which really is a must-have for a true Jeep experience.

Love All the Tech
The fact that the compact Jeep is offered with a lot of technology features really shouldn’t come as a surprise, given that tech is pretty much standard fare for new vehicles these days – especially those aimed at a younger demo like the Renegade. Still, having features like the Lane Departure Warning system and 6.5-inch navigation system, along with the premium Beats audio system makes the Renegade a pretty cool entry into the Jeep family.

I’d Opt for the Limited
I’ve driven both the Limited and the Trailhawk and I have to say that my personal preference is the former. That’s keeping in mind that I personally think that most would get far more use out of the comfort features that come in the Limited model than the off-road capability components that come with the Trailhawk. And I suspect that’d be the case for most, regardless of how many people think they’d be inclined to venture off-road in the compact Jeep.

Pricey With Options
Although it’s definitely a bit of contradiction, given some of the preferences I’ve listed above, it’s important to note that the Renegade can be a little pricey once you start tagging on all the extras. The recent model I tested capped out at almost $32,000, which is actually more expensive than a base 2016 Wrangler Unlimited. So, at some point, it really becomes a matter of whether or not you actually need a more compact Jeep rather than something a little bigger.

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