It has a masculine touch. In the Catalan Pyrenees, where I am, they embrace American culture. People take line dancing classes, play country music and go shopping in western outfits. They like to drive a 4×4 pickup or something else that can take a beating. The Jeep Renegade fits well into this image. I note that quite a few of the small SUVs are rolling down here.
Spaghetti Western?
But the Renegade is no longer American. The drive system in "my" car, - 1,6 liter Multijet turbodiesel with 120 HP, originates from Fiat. The same engine is used in models such as the new Fiat Tipo, Fiat 500 L, Alfa-Romeo Giulietta, Suzuki Vitara and SX4 Cross. The manual gearbox was optimally adapted to the engine's torque curve. You can clearly feel the turbo lag in the engine. It feels unusual, because in newer turbodiesel engines this is almost eliminated. With a little intermediate throttle between the gears, it still went quickly, - and the 6-speed gearbox was quick to work with.
When Fiat bought Chrysler, they saw the opportunity to adapt some of the models to European customers. "My" Renegade is such a car. In a cheap version, with a small turbodiesel, manual transmission and front-wheel drive, it is adapted to European wallets. But Fiat has by no means gotten rid of all American characteristics. The steering, for example, felt light and dead – with no sense of what the wheels are doing. When I calmly steered us out of Barcelona Airport, it felt as if the car had thrown a thought in the road. Had it not been for the air pressure reading in the instruments, I would have thought that the air pressure in the tires was too low.
On tour!
From our French base, the week's Sunday trip went to Cadaqués , a small fishing village at the northern end of the Spanish Costa Brava coast. The city is famous because Salvador Dali's summer residence is located there. But if you want to visit this attraction, you probably have to book a long time in advance. Without Salvador Dali, Cadaqués is a picturesque fishing village a fascinating drive away. The car trip is part of the experience.
To get to Cadaqués, you have to drive over the mountain, either from the south, from Roses, or from the north, from the coastal towns Llanca og Equatorial. It is very beautiful over the mountain now in autumn. On the way over, we saw small rain clouds passing quickly over the mountain tops in between the rain showers. It was funny, because down by the coast the sunlight was constantly shining through the clouds.
A bouncy ride
"It's quite bouncy in the back seat" it came from my adult daughter. Not so much because of the design of the back seat, but because of how the car handled the bumps and turns over the mountain. It doesn't swallow the bumps as well as European competitors, and it leans quite a bit in the turns. The last time I drove here was in a Renault Captur. It took the road better. Still, the Renegade felt completely safe. There is a long suspension travel, and I reckoned there was little risk of any of the wheels lifting off the road.
Paella on the quay
There are no public parking facilities in the city itself. Visitors must park in the car parks just outside. Without significant motor traffic, it is possible to sit almost completely outside on the edge of the quay. By the way, the paella tasted delicious to the sound of the waves and the salty sea air. The Mediterranean doesn't smell like the Atlantic. There is no rotting seaweed and kelp. Only clean, fresh and good scents.
Image-creating
I have now driven around "my" Renegade for 7 days on several trips and errands. It's a fun car – not just to look at, but also to drive. Even if it doesn't measure up to SUVs from, for example, the Volkswagen group, there is something about the car that makes it fun. I like looking over the tall front end and the oversized A-pillars. I also notice that the car gets goodwill all over.
It makes me smile and feel good. Not in the sense that there is any penis extender, or anything like that. On the contrary. On paper, Rengade is only a small SUV, but still towers over the road. Not in an aggressive way, but in a friendly – slightly nerdy way. I don't know where I got that from, but I imagine Jeeps are now favored by accountants and office rats who want to look a little rougher than they er. It is, of course, about image-building, something Jeep has understood for a long time.
Conclusion
I like diversity on the road. That's why I like older, classic cars - even if they're not politically correct. The Jeep Renegade stands out. Not only do I want to own a Renegade, but also to see more of them on the road.
The chassis does not measure up to European competitors on narrow, winding mountain roads. Some of the differences can be explained by different preferences between American and European car buyers, - some can also be explained by the fact that Jeep is actually Jeep and consequently can behave as the.
The powertrain from Fiat Chrysler is world class in terms of delivering performance and fuel economy. Measured on a full-to-full tank, my average consumption was 0,56 litres/mile. The comfort in the car is good. I found a right upright sitting position that suited me well. The interior is well designed, without being flashy or giving any premium feeling. The soundstage is alright, and the space conditions are good, given the fact that the car is only 4,24 meters long. It feels much bigger when you are sitting inside the car.
Last but not least, I would like to emphasize the "smile factor". Sometimes the traffic feels grey, literally. It's not just the colors that are grey. The fact that all the cars look so similar reinforces this impression. Jeep Renegade with Fiat drivetrain shows that you can drive economically in cars that look different - that break the monotony. At least it brings a smile to my face and maybe one or two of the other gray motorists too?
Facts
Measurements and dimensions
Length/width/height in cm: 424, 181, 168
Wheelbase in cm: 257
Luggage volume in litres: 351
– with the rear seats folded down: 1297
Tank volume in litres: 48
Engine and drivetrain
Engine: 1,6 Multijet Turbodiesel Commonrail Start & stop
HP: 120 at 3750 rpm
Max. torque in Nm: 320 between approx. 1750-2250 revolutions
The rpm range is based on driving experiences with "my" car.
Gearbox: Manual 6-speed
Wheel drive: 4×2 - Front wheel drive
consumption
Mixed driving - factory figure: 0,46 litres/mile
Actual consumption - mixed driving: 0,56 litres/mile
The measurement is based on filling the tank full-to-full.
CO2 g/km according to Europcar: 127
About this car
Rental car through www.Europcar.es
Mileage: 33
Prices
Jeep Renegade Longitude is not sold in Norway with the 1,6 Multijet engine. According to the website jeep.no starts cheapest Jeep Renegade from NOK 461 (300 MAir 1,4×4 Automatic). For the 4 model year, a mild facelift has been made, among other things, of the unpainted plastic panels at the bottom of the front and rear, as well as an upgrade of the infotainment system and dashboard. The biggest changes are under the hood in the form of new downsized engines. The smallest at 2019 ccm.
Pictures of the Jeep Renegade
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