[skills]

Hey all, I have a question for you Jeep people!

I am new to the "suv" game.. have driven cars cars since I have been driving. How do I go about picking the Renegade trim? Do I want to spend an extra 6k on the Trailhawk, or will the AWD sport model do just fine?

A little background... I previously drove an awd turbo car (Lancer Ralliart Sportback) and loved it, until someone drove into me and totaled it. I would take that thing on (light) trails/gravel/sand roads and haul ass. After that was totaled, I went the other direction completely and got an FR-S. This car is a lot of fun. But, can't fit a full grocery run in it, and it's definitely a one trick pony as expected. Snow is definitely Fun, but I wouldn't say safe.

Now I have my eyes on the Renegade. I am a mountain biker, and am "outdoorsy," but live in an urban/suburban area. I hope to take multi-day camping an biking trips in the mountains, as I have in the past.

Will the cheaper base model with 4WD do the trick? Or is the Trailhawk better to have than not?

Thanks!

 

[andrew_l_s]

Welcome to the forum! Ralliart Sportback, man is that a cool car, it's a shame yours got totaled :/
Anyways, the main differences with the Trailhawk are more ground clearance, better approach/departure angles, and crawl ratio first gear. If you plan on doing somewhat hardcore off-roading, then it's probably your best bet. But if you're tackling dirt/gravel mountain roads with the occasional mud and ruts then a base model should be fine - it's probably more capable then your average Joe would take advantage of.

If you can afford the Trailhawk and like the look of it, I'd go for it if I were you. It's arguably the baddest looking small suv on the market right now, the most capable too. I'd recommend pricing out the different trims with options you like and see where things come out.

Hope this helps some with your decision!

 

[Eric5273]

I'm struggling with a similar decision. After reading a lot and playing with the Jeep configurator, I think I'm going to save the extra $3-4k and go with a 4WD Latitude with the 6-speed manual. I think I'll have more fun driving it, and it is about 300 lbs lighter which should make it much better on road. What I may do is change the tires out for something similar to what comes on the Trailhawk. After some research I found that you can get the General Grabber AT2 in the exact size that comes on the 6-speed manual Latitude, and that's rated as an even better AT tire than the Goodyears that come on the Trailhawk. They are also supposed to be extremely good in winter weather.

I think the extra items you get with the Trailhawk are mostly going to be useful for very extreme off roading. I do admit that I love the more rugged look of the Trailhawk, but while red tow hooks look cool, I can't see ever actually having a need for them. As for the more sophisticated 4WD system, I don't need a "rock" mode. And as far as ground clearance, 8.7" compared to 7.9" is not going to make a big difference unless you are going on very uneven surfaces (like rock crawling).

I still have until next year to decide though (that's when the lease on my current car ends). I think I'm going to have to test drive both the manual and auto versions of the Renegade. If I like the manual, then I'll go with the Latitude. If I end up liking the auto with the larger engine better, then it makes the decision more difficult as the price difference becomes much closer.

 

[bluefan]

For me it's no question I'm grabbing the Trailhawk. The slightly higher ground clearance, approach and departure angle plus the skid plate is the main reason. I do the occasional rough road to reach deep camp sites and fishing spots, but it's mainly because of my cities harsh winter and roads. There's always holes, chunks of ice and snow/ice banks all over the place. My old hatchback did not take too kindly after a couple years. Current ride, CX-5 GT, is doing a nice job but lacks the creature comfort I'm looking for and the above mentioned.

 

[bwbike]

The Lattitude is all I need. And I can't get a manual transmission in the TrailHawk version so that's out. I will get the 4x4 configuration (why not?). I don't intend to take the car off-road, but the Lattitue (or the Sport) will be capable enough for those that do (up to a point).

 

[Leonidasthesnake]

The Lattitude is all I need. And I can't get a manual transmission in the TrailHawk version so that's out. I will get the 4x4 configuration (why not?). I don't intend to take the car off-road, but the Lattitue (or the Sport) will be capable enough for those that do (up to a point).

actually i think its an easy answer if you get to the point where you want AWD and the auto. You might as well get the trailhawk.

 

[General Principle]

actually i think its an easy answer if you get to the point where you want AWD and the auto. You might as well get the trailhawk.

Could you clarify this? I don't think I get it...

 

[kj11]

Could you clarify this? I don't think I get it...

The Latitude with auto and 4WD is going to start at $25,690. The Trailhawk comes standard with auto and 4WD for $26,990.

For the extra $1,300 for get the bigger wheels, 7" TFT display, Premium cloth (what the difference is between that and the regular I don't know), and of course the advanced off road capabilities. Just seems like you're getting more bang for the buck on the Trailhawk....

 

[teddyfirehouse]

Hey, fellow mountain biker here, also "outdoorsy" but in an urban area. I'm going for the Trailhawk not only for the looks, but because I know how I get with my gear, whether it be bikes or snowboards, if I undershoot the capabilities I always regret it. Even though I've never done any off-roading or overlanding, I have a strong feeling I'll get the urge to explore that more once I have a capable vehicle, and if I didn't get the Trailhawk I'd probably look at some trail and regret not being able to take it on. I don't ever wanna get out there and look at something and be like "**** if only I'd gotten the Trailhawk". Just my 2 cents!

 

[Tombinator]

What you can't get on the Trailhawk is some of the advanced technology features, like forward collision warning and lane holding. The reason is that the radar and other things used to make those work is in the same place as the red tow hooks.

I'm struggling with that as I like the looks and color choices of the Trailhawk but really want those tech features. I've not had anything like that in my current Jeep (wrangler unlimited), but really want them in my new vehicle. My wife's car has some of them, and I've gotten spoiled.

So if you want all the tech, then the Trailhawk is out for you...

 

[bwbike]

actually i think its an easy answer if you get to the point where you want AWD and the auto. You might as well get the trailhawk.

I won't buy one with an automatic transmission. I want a manual. If I buy a Lattitude now (March/April) and they come out with a 2016 TrailHawk with a manual transmission, I may trade then.

 

[skills]

thanks for the replies everyone. I don't really want the tech options, so that doesn't concern me so much. My current car is the base model FR-S... as basic as a new car gets! RWD, 6MT no fancy extra computers.

I do wish the Trailhawk came with a manual. That's the biggest downside for me... But, I'm not sure if I would not get it because of that. Does anyone know if you can auto-stick the 9speed?

Teddyfirehouse- I completely agree with you. When I get something, I also tend to push it to its limits and beyond. I raced downhill with cross country bikes... and took the Ralliart off-roading and rallying... I imagine, like you, I would want to push the renegade pretty hard.

Yeah... A trailhawk makes sense....

 

[Eric5273]

I think with a few modifications (some nice AT tires, maybe some skid plates from mopar), the Latitude could be very off road worthy. Obviously the increased ground clearance and approach angle cannot be replicated in the Latitude, but I don't think you really would need the extra clearance unless you are doing some really fancy rock crawling.

The Latitude should be fine on most off road trails, and on pavement it should be quite a bit better than the Trailhawk as it weighs 300 lbs less, has the manual transmission, and a more road worthy suspension so the handling on road will much be better. One of the reviews I read of the sport with the manual transmission said that it felt a little bit like a "hot hatch".

 

[raypla]

Hey, fellow mountain biker here, also "outdoorsy" but in an urban area. I'm going for the Trailhawk not only for the looks, but because I know how I get with my gear, whether it be bikes or snowboards, if I undershoot the capabilities I always regret it. Even though I've never done any off-roading or overlanding, I have a strong feeling I'll get the urge to explore that more once I have a capable vehicle, and if I didn't get the Trailhawk I'd probably look at some trail and regret not being able to take it on. I don't ever wanna get out there and look at something and be like "**** if only I'd gotten the Trailhawk". Just my 2 cents!

I wouldn't be scared to get a Latitude because it's not capable, and it won't limit you if this thing is half as capable as my XJ in stock trim, look out. I still can't believe the places and things that thing went through, or didn't These new 4x systems with the BLD is going to be capable, as I'd much rather added traction vs. articulation.

BLD woulda helped, just sayin........