[Jeepers]

I think that a lot of people have been wondering just how off-road capable the Jeep Renegade will end up being. It won't be the most capable ever, but it should be able to do enough to live up to its Jeep name. Here's what Jeep's chief engineer had to say about the Renegade's capabilities.

Jeep aims to make all their vehicles the most capable in their respective segment. For the Jeep Renegade that is the B and C segments. Indeed, the Renegade is more capable than its B and C segment rivals, like the Kia Soul, Toyota RAV4, and Nissan Juke. Let me help quantify that for you a bit more.

The Jeep Wrangler has a trail rating of 10. The Grand Cherokee has a trail rating of 8, the Cherokee has a 6, and the Renegade has a 4. The Renegade's competitors, according to Jeep's chief engineer, would all have trail ratings that are less. The Juke would get a 2 or less. The Hyundai Tucson, a 1.5, and the Ford Escape might be able to eek out a 3.

What do these numbers mean for real life experience though? Well the Renegade should be able to get you through mud, snow or sand with relative ease. At MOAB, the Renegade would be able to take on the Fins and Things trail, but maybe not the more difficult ****'s Revenge. The Renegade should also be able to swim through up to 19-inches of water, which is standard for all Jeop models.

Dins and Things Trail

****'s Revenge Trail

So the Jeep Renegade may not be able to take on the most difficult off-road trails, but it will be able to take on some of the easier ones. It also is going to be able to get you around in the snow, sand, or mud. It's not a hardcore off-roader; I'd call it more of a casual off-roader.

 

[jumpcage]

So the Jeep Renegade may not be able to take on the most difficult off-road trails, but it will be able to take on some of the easier ones. It also is going to be able to get you around in the snow, sand, or mud. It's not a hardcore off-roader; I'd call it more of a casual off-roader.

The casual weekend off roader

 

[Jeepers]

I mean when you look at the ****'s Revenge trail in that picture you can see that it isn't going to be a doable trail for many vehicles. You can only expect so much from a car that is the size of the Renegade. Things like ground clearance come into play and you can't expect the Renegade to be that far off the ground.

 

[tony]

I have to say I wasn't expecting this but it's great to see that the Renegade at the end of the day is still a real Jeep. What they need to do is get people on off-road courses even if it's some virtual thing that can be hauled around in some 18 wheeler.

 

[SubVet]

Yeah what we need is some videos! Didn't they do a "Cherokee Effect" video series or something for the Cherokee?

I think they need to pop out a couple more videos on youtube to show that it has some real chops to put the haters to rest. I know it will handle everything I plan on using it for, but it would be nice to see them pushing it to its limit on video.

I'm sure there will be videos eventually. I just hope it's prior to launch.

 

[Willy]

Yea absolutely and again we come back to the point that no one shopping the Renegade should expect it to be a Wrangler. If the Renegade was a Wrangler it would be a Wrangler, If the renegade was a Wranger whats the point in having a Renegade? If the Renegade as a Wrangler they would both er be superfluous. If the Renegade was a Wrangler it would not be expected as the volume model.

See what I'm getting at here....

 

[4x4]

what is that blue car up there?

 

[Rivmage]

what is that blue car up there?

Kinda looks like a Subaru Forester to me...

Scott

 

[snokat]

Will it even have the chops of a Patriot, IMO as small as you can go off-road in a Jeep package. We pounded my wife's MK for almost 7 years before it was time for a newer Jeep. My only fear with it was drowning it, and water was what was to blame for the wiring harness' early demise and subsequent trade for her new KL.
Hope I can fit in this offering when the time comes for a test drive.
Still leaning towards a JK next year.

 

[NERenegade]

I checked the Jeep site to get a better idea of the new 4x4 systems. These are listed for the Cherokee, but should be the same in the Renegade.

Active Drive I only has high range:

It's good to have a Jeep® 4x4 system—just in case. Life's unpredictable, so when you come upon unexpected obstacles, the full-time Jeep® Active Drive I 4x4 system will see you through. Whether raging rain, slippery mud, heavy snow or squirrelly gravel roads, this sophisticated system actively monitors wheel slip and automatically applies torque when needed. Simple, smart and supremely effective.
When to use:

High range:All road surfaces, including wet or snow-covered pavement, sand or gravel.

and it appears that Active Drive II has a low range:

The full-time, active Jeep® Active Drive II 4x4 system has superb all-weather capability, especially when combined with the Selec-Terrain® traction system. The two-speed Jeep Active Drive II 4x4 system with torque management and low range automatically disconnects the rear axle when not needed for increased efficiency.
When to use:

High range:All road surfaces, including wet or snow-covered pavement, sand or gravel.Low range:Conditions requiring added low-speed power, technical driving and situations when added torque is helpful (e.g. pulling a boat trailer out of water).Active Drive Lock:


The full-time, active Jeep® Active Drive Lock 4x4 system has the capability to take Cherokee Trailhawk® on amazing adventures. The system features a disconnecting rear 4WD axle that automatically engages when more traction is needed. The two-speed system features low range and locking rear axle for true off-road capability.
When to use:

High range:All road surfaces, including wet or snow-covered pavement, sand or gravel.Low range:Conditions requiring added low-speed power, technical driving, and situations when added torque is helpful (e.g. pulling a boat trailer out of water).

 

[bunburry]

Will it even have the chops of a Patriot, IMO as small as you can go off-road in a Jeep package. We pounded my wife's MK for almost 7 years before it was time for a newer Jeep. My only fear with it was drowning it, and water was what was to blame for the wiring harness' early demise and subsequent trade for her new KL.
Hope I can fit in this offering when the time comes for a test drive.
Still leaning towards a JK next year.

http://www.jeeprenegadeforum.com/fo...etition/3058-renegade-vs-patriot-compass.html

This is from Phil Jansen

We said we've got to be better than what we currently offer in our Jeep Patriot and Jeep Compass off-road packages.

Starting with basic dimensions, the approach angle on the Renegade is right around 30 degrees. The prior approach angle on Patriot was around 29 degrees. So, we've got a little more on approach. On departure, we're right around 34 degrees and Patriot/Compass was 34 or 33 depending on fascia. Breakover is 25 degrees [Renegade] and was 24 degrees [Patriot/Compass]. We're within 6mm on overall ground clearance on both vehicles.

Renegade has 20:1 crawl vs Patriots 19:1
Renegade has 16% more low down torque

 

[tony]

Kinda looks like a Subaru Forester to me...

Scott

I zoomed into the picture to see it's a VW Touareg.

 

[Jeepers]

It will be interesting to see some reviews that put the Jeep Renegade to the test and see if it lives up to what Jeep says it can do. How long do you think we will have to wait before something like that comes out online?

 

[tony]

It will be interesting to see some reviews that put the Jeep Renegade to the test and see if it lives up to what Jeep says it can do. How long do you think we will have to wait before something like that comes out online?

I imagine that they have plans to make press vehicles available, they should, a new vehicle like this needs that sort of exposure, if they do, we could see it happen within the next few months.