[Jeepers]

Jeep has begun to advertise the Jeep Renegade with a new commercial. The commercial is decidedly youthful and rebellious. The main message of the commercial is to "Do something!" And by that I think Jeep means that you should do something adventurous, but also that the Jeep Renegade is capable of taking you anywhere you need to go in order to do whatever you choose to do.

The more exciting part of the commercial is actually seeing the Jeep Renegade in action on some off-road trails. It's not as though the Renegade is climbing up any cliff faces, but it looks more than capable of driving over dirt and gravel with some swoopy hills as well. The Renegade is even shown driving through a snowy white mountainous area. Not sure where that is, but I would guess Alaska, or maybe Sweden.

The commercial further shows the Renegade driving on city streets. I think this is a good move as the whole commercial shows how versatile the Renegade is. It is comfortable on the street and off the road. It also shows a lot of young people, having fun, so all-in-all Jeep has done an excellent job of representing the Jeep brand and defining the Renegade for consumers.

Obviously Jeep is going to show the Renegade in shots where it appears to be very off-road capable, but do you believe that the Renegade is capable simply from seeing these shots in this latest commercial. Watch this video and also the few other examples of the Renegade going off-road that are around, and let me know what you think of the Renegade's supposed off-road capability.

 

[tony]

Them showing it out in the wild on off-road terrain should help people see that it's still a real jeep seeing how it's the smallest one yet but still capable enough.

 

[Jeepers]

I that is going to be a big focus in advertising the Renegade, convincing people that it is a true Jeep that can handle off-roading. People are understandably skeptical.

 

[RenegadeWest]

Them showing it out in the wild on off-road terrain should help people see that it's still a real jeep seeing how it's the smallest one yet but still capable enough.

I that is going to be a big focus in advertising the Renegade, convincing people that it is a true Jeep that can handle off-roading. People are understandably skeptical.

It's very nice to see a Renegade in action. Some what of a confidence builder. A real Jeep and real unpaved roads. The one scene where it goes from the paved road to the dirt seemed to handle well and transition from one to another the way you would expect a Jeep to do it. DUH, it is a Jeep. Yes it's not climbing any major hills or rocks, but looked quite capable of taking on snow, sand and dirt, with some hills. It makes me wish I could go out and test drive one today.

 

[SubVet]

I'm going to withhold judgement until I really see it in action in perhaps a TFL Car video or another real world review, hopefully with some off road action. The commercial is nice but i want MOAR!!!

 

[timsvtgen1]

I'm going to withhold judgement until I really see it in action in perhaps a TFL Car video or another real world review, hopefully with some off road action. The commercial is nice but i want MOAR!!!

FWIW, this is a video of a Trailhawk Cherokee navigating Hells revenge in Utah ... given the dimensions (ground clearance, approach, departure etc.) it may, or may not give some insight. If not... its at least fun to watch..certainly holds its own!
http://youtu.be/DyJBr9O-u8g

 

[Jeepers]

Do you think we will get some reviews of the Renegade before it actually comes out, or will reviews only start coming out after the Renegade has already been put on sale? I am really itching to watch a review of the renegade to see some reviewers really put it to the test on some trails.

 

[Rivmage]

I wouldn't be surprised if some of the reviewers in Europe haven't already gotten a vehicle to review. I bet the first Europe reviews will be out in the next 2 to 3 months. I expect American reviews to start about November.

Scott

 

[bunburry]

The thing about the Euro reviews is they may not satisfy our desires. We all want to know if Renegade is a REAL jeep, can it handle X and Y, what about Z? I just feel like Europe may not have the same concerns as us nor be as attached to the brands lineage.

 

[raz-0]

How is this video any different than the jeep italy video that's been out for a while?

 

[Jeepers]

The thing about the Euro reviews is they may not satisfy our desires. We all want to know if Renegade is a REAL jeep, can it handle X and Y, what about Z? I just feel like Europe may not have the same concerns as us nor be as attached to the brands lineage.

That is an interesting point, and I think you may be right. European reviews should give us a different perspective though. Maybe that other perspective will be valuable to us.

 

[raz-0]

That is an interesting point, and I think you may be right. European reviews should give us a different perspective though. Maybe that other perspective will be valuable to us.

If you think you are seeing a mini wrangler, then no the reviews probably won't help. For a butt-load of interested buyers, they will help more. The big problem will probably be that price and fuel economy are two major issues for any vehicle, and the european market won't really tell us much that will matter here on those counts either.

 

[dieselenthusiast]

The big problem will probably be that price and fuel economy are two major issues for any vehicle.

I agree. And the video didn't say "best in class in fuel economy". I'm really starting to wonder what the EPA rating will be for highway.

 

[raz-0]

I agree. And the video didn't say "best in class in fuel economy". I'm really starting to wonder what the EPA rating will be for highway.

Fiat PR ramblings mentioned it getting 32mpg in every trim. with a 9 speed, a NA 4 banger, and reasonably selected tires, that shouldn't be that too hard to do.

 

[dieselenthusiast]

Fiat PR ramblings mentioned it getting 32mpg in every trim. with a 9 speed, a NA 4 banger, and reasonably selected tires, that shouldn't be that too hard to do.

For being close to August, I'm surprised that we haven't found out more. 32 mpg is a lower number than what I had hoped for. I'm not sure if the North American 2014 Renegade is going to be worth it to me. I was hoping for 36+ mpg with a diesel engine and a higher towing rating. The Ram 1500 ecodiesel is a full-sized pickup and is rated for 28 mpg. Real-world driving shows people getting 30 mpg. And the Renegade can only do 32? Nah, Jeep needs to offer a diesel in the North American market to get my attention.

 

[tony]

For being close to August, I'm surprised that we haven't found out more. 32 mpg is a lower number than what I had hoped for. I'm not sure if the North American 2014 Renegade is going to be worth it to me. I was hoping for 36+ mpg with a diesel engine and a higher towing rating. The Ram 1500 ecodiesel is a full-sized pickup and is rated for 28 mpg. Real-world driving shows people getting 30 mpg. And the Renegade can only do 32? Nah, Jeep needs to offer a diesel in the North American market to get my attention.

That's what i was thinking too, I expected that by now we would see just about everything that we would want to know about the renegade, even lengthy reviews from automotive publications.

 

[raz-0]

That's what i was thinking too, I expected that by now we would see just about everything that we would want to know about the renegade, even lengthy reviews from automotive publications.

Why would you expect that. We are looking at a late MY15 release scheduled for north America. Why would you spend the money on coverage that you would just have to do again closer to release? The best news in the world will be old and unexciting by then. Any bad news will be turned into the end of days by online commenters.

As for the numbers, the better numbers are going to be 2wd, and I'll take a guess now that they will be in the 36-38mpg range for the 1.4l engine. Unlike the 1500, parasitic losses from 4wd are going to be a greater portion of the maximum engine output, and thus hurt mileage more.

Doing a quick search, I see a lot of 1500 diesel drivers getting 28mpg and less, and a very few getting 30 or more. Lots getting 28 highway though, which actually surprises me these days. I'm not used to manufacturers claims being less than a small bag of lies.

 

[dieselenthusiast]

We are looking at a late MY15 release scheduled for north America. .

I thought I had read that they will be on the lots by the end of November?

Lots getting 28 highway though, which actually surprises me these days. I'm not used to manufacturers claims being less than a small bag of lies.

Those are EPA numbers, not manufacturer claims, correct?

 

[Rivmage]

I thought I had read that they will be on the lots by the end of November?




Those are EPA numbers, not manufacturer claims, correct?

I've read December to January release for the Renegade.

MPG are EPA numbers.

Scott

 

[CalTom]

Those are EPA numbers, not manufacturer claims, correct?

EPA estimates are somewhat of a misconception. Manufactures test for their own fuel mileage, the EPA only spot checks 10% of the claims. That is why you see the below links for Fuel Economy Claims lawsuits.


Fuel Economy Estimates
How are fuel economy ratings determined?

EPA estimates are based on laboratory tests conducted by manufacturers according to federal regulations. EPA re-tests about 10% of vehicle models to confirm manufacturer's results. For more detailed information, visit our page on How Vehicles Are Tested.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/info.shtml


EPA Investigation Prompts Carmaker to Correct Inflated Mileage Claims
http://www.epa.gov/fueleconomy/labelchange.htm

Hyundai - False Advertising of Miles Per Gallon (MPG)
http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/case/hyundai-false-advertising-miles-gallon-mpg

Ford Sued Over Fuel Economy Claims
http://autos.aol.com/article/ford-sued-over-fuel-economy-claims/