I understand this engine is not powerful enough to reach the top two gears, which to me has been shocking to discover.

I've never heard anyone on the forum complain about this engine in that way.It seems, for the most part, that if a 2.4 is going to burn oil, it would have done it by now, or is a low mileage early model. 🤞🤞🤞 The ZF automatic transmission, has many complaints.

Having said that, it's also a Jeep that looks like a brick. Without mods or tuning there is not always much power over 65MPH. Low speeds in the snow and mud, the 1.3l seems capable.

If it's in the color you like and has the equipment you want, go for it!

 

Welcome!

Yeah, there have been several concerns here on the Forum that peoples' 9-speed automatic transmissions (with the 1.3T engine) never shifts up into 8th or 9th gears.

I've got a 2021 Traihawk, with the 1.3T engine and 9-sp auto transmission. It's good off-road (nothing extreme). But it's also surprisingly good on the highway, particularly considering its brick (or toaster) shape. I can cruise at 85 MPH on the Interstate with no issues, and mine is in 8th gear at that speed (I've never seen it in 9th).

But my 2021 owner's Manual notes that the transmission is designed for various vehicles and engine configurations. And that "By design, some vehicle and drive-line combinations utilize NINTH gear only in very specific driving situations and conditions."

The Trailhawk has a different final drive ratio than other Renegades, and that my be a factor why mine reaches 8th gear. At 85 MPH, the engine RPMs are very reasonable.

Yeah, it's a tiny engine. And the 9-sp transmission is very busy on acceleration keeping the RPMs where they need to be for the turbo. And my Trailhawk doesn't have Porsche performance. But it's not supposed to.

 

I can cruise at 85 MPH on the Interstate with no issues, and mine is in 8th gear at that speed (I've never seen it in 9th).

....AND, if I can ask a stoopid question, how does one determine just in what gear the transmission is operating?
Thanks. Jim
'17 LIMITED 2.4, 9 speed

 

1.3 get the vote from me. I prefer Italian engines.

Bit I can understand in N.A. finding a reliable garage who really knows how to service them properly could be an issue.

 

1.3 get the vote from me. I prefer Italian engines.

But it's not. Made in Poland -- at least those sold here in the U.S.; and I assume everywhere else. From my sticker:

Bit I can understand in N.A. finding a reliable garage who really knows how to service them properly could be an issue.

I think the main key, beside their general competence, is that the shop (if an independent one) has subscriptions to the correct online documentation regarding how to do services and repairs.

A bigger problem for us these days seems to be parts availability particularly for these Spaghetti Jeeps, even from Jeep dealers.

 

I'm a new owner of a 2023 Trailhawk 1.3L. I have no complaints about highway performance. Better than I expected and more than I need... both during acceleration and at speed. Maybe I'd feel different if I was towing something. But like someone else said. It's not a Porsche.

 

The engines may be assembled elsewhere, but they are FPT designed.

The Avenger has a PSA unit and I'm not a fan of French engine design.

 

The engines may be assembled elsewhere, but they are FPT designed.

Oh... You meant Italian-designed... Does that count as an "Italian engine"?

 

I've driven both the 2.4 and 1.3. The 1.3l will blow the doors off the 2.4 and does deliver fairly good mileage. I average over 30 and I'm not gentle with the gas pedal.

 

LOL…

 

Regarding what? Italian-designed Polish-built engines?

 

No, the 1.3 blowing the doors off 2.4.

 

OK... So now 20JeepDan has to substantiate his claim.

And you, yours.

 

OK, let's. Which are you driving?

 

I looked it up. Apparently there really isn't a great difference, by the number, but seat of the pants says otherwise

Here's the link: 0-60 times

 

Apparently there really isn't a great difference, by the number

No difference at all, 0-60, according to that link.

But the difference may be in the shape of the power curves (not to scale):

Both end up at the same speed at the same time, but...

I imagine the turbo one would be on the left...

 

My Renegade has the 1.4 turbo, as does my 500 Abarth. In the Abarth there is a sport button which drastically changes the power delivery between 2000 and 5500rpm - but not the peak HP at 5500. Effectively non-Sport limits the peak torque in that range. This makes a huge difference in acceleration and usable power, but if you just look at the HP rating you'd assume it had little effect. When accelerating it's the area under the HP vs. rpm curve that matters, not the peak value, because the engine is sweeping though all those rpms.

These small engines with small turbos to beef up the bottom end are impressive, and I'm really not much interested in NA engines any more.

 

Also with a modern Turbo engine, a remap can achieve noticeable gains with just little else in the way of mods.

 

The easiest way to check is to pop over to AutoStick take a look then pop back. Otherwise I think an OBD app could do it, but AutoStick is way easier.

 

WELL DOUBLE-DOG-DAYUM. We've had this thing for 6 years and didn't know A/S even existed.
That's what happens when you're too lazy to read a 400 page owner's manual.

 

....AND, if I can ask a stoopid question, how does one determine just in what gear the transmission is operating? Thanks. Jim '17 LIMITED 2.4, 9 speed

 

While your driving, put your gear shifter in the manual mode, by pushing the gear shift to the left. Once that’s done, the dash will display which gear it’s currently in.

 

WEELLLL...That's too easy.
Thanks

 

move the stick left to the +/- look at the center of the gauge cluster. Move the stick to the + several times it will shift through the gears but will display on the dash

 

Welcome!

But do read through complete posts. That question was answered (several times, in fact) a year and a half ago...

I'm guilty of the same thing sometimes...

 

85 mph in a Renegade! Not me. In my honest opinion if you drive those speeds buy a BMW. You'll be happier and safer.

If you drive those speeds go to a large empty parking lot and try panic breaking at 85 mph. You'll rethink how you are driving and your need to go that fast ... In any vehicle.

But as a 2023 Trailhawk owner with a 1.3L Turbo 9 speed... I love it. I don't mash the pedal regularly but it always surprises me when I need to.

I do a 30 mile commute (60 round trip) a couple times a week so I do drive it on the highway regularly. But mostly locally. I enjoy it every time I do.

 

85 mph in a Renegade! Not me.

I take it that was in response to my comment a year and a half ago.

Like I said, I've got a 2021 Trailhawk. I don't know where you live, but here Out West (Colorado in my case), driving that fast on the Autobahn Interstate is perfectly normal. Interstate speed limits here, at least from just east of the Front Range, are 75 MPH as soon as you leave city limits:

But driving 10 or 15 MPH over that is just going with the flow of traffic -- so 85 to 90 MPH is very common out in the open.

And my Traihawk is perfectly stable at those speeds. Surprising, but true; particularly considering the aerodynamics and higher ground clearance.

That's on the Interstate, of course. I'm perfectly conservative in town.

Of course, there was this guy in Germany a few years ago, doing over 200 km/h (125 MPH) on the Munich-Nürnberg Autobahn in his 2.0 diesel Renegade...

Jeep Renegade Facelift 2.0d Acceleration Top Speed Autobahn POV Test Drive - YouTube

 

Ahhh the autobahn, I truly miss it. I was able to do 155 mph (250 kmh) in my 1984 BMW 520 i.

 

I didn't venture past about 110 MPH (180 km/h) in my 1997 U.S.-spec VW Passat with the VR6 engine. And that was only once in a while. Can't do that everywhere these days because of traffic and now speed limits...

Ever notice how, when you first try it, you immediately get tunnel-vision? Kind of scary. But then you get used to it...

 

Yeah I remember seemed to start at 125 mph. I still remember the feeling of car getting rocked by someone passing me like I was standing still.

 

Yeah I remember seemed to start at 125 mph.

My tunnel vision would start at about 110 MPH...

I still remember the feeling of car getting rocked by someone passing me like I was standing still.

You mean when you were doing only 80 MPH in the right lane? Yeah...

Quite a speed differential between Autobahn lanes. which is why they enforce really strict lane discipline...