[Tony Chen]

Jimny is quite popular among Chinese off-roaders. It's small yet have good off-road ability, While tiny size makes it easier to move around in crowded urban area. And the KEY POINT: CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP!

But not good for family use, and, it's really too old.



Suzuki 2016 Vitara has always been compared with Renegade in China, It's cheaper and looks more "normal". But Suzuki seller is really hard to find in China.

 

[BU1tj2]

My nearest jeep dealer also has the franchise for Suzuki, Subaru and Isuzu so the showroom is a great place to compare Awd/4wd vehicles and I had a good look at both Vitara and Jimny whilst I was thinking about the Renegade. The Jimny is just too small for my requirements just now but I did compare the Vitara against the Renegade but the whole interior quality felt WAY below that of the Renegade. And although the Vitara price was keen I felt that the Renegade was a far more premium vehicle and justified the extra cost and I'm generally happy with my choice. My Renegade feels like a solidly built little SUV, and I would only change one or two things about it to earn my full trust/respect but if Jeep made a Jimny/new CJ maybe i'd forgo the luxury.......

I drove a Jimny in The far east and it is more jeep like than the Renegade because of it's ruggedness and most specially the "simplicity" of it.

SIMPLICITY and RUGGEDNESS is how the jeep's concept during the war and now here comes the tech. the transfer case now becomes a PTU which is a function parallel to an actuator energized by a push button switch. still gear operated but takes away the art of simple and rugged concept. Now the car does all the thinking (if you notice I call it a car not a JEEP). Drivers now relies on the sensors and dash board flash etc.

Jeeps (except the wranglers) became the "city boys toy".

 

[Spitfire]

I bought my Renegade to replace my 10 year old Suzuki Grand Vitara (now, 11 yo). The Suzuki has developed some issues, but offroad I'm pretty sure my GV would eat the Renegade for breakfast. Then again, it has a mechanical limited slip transfer case and proper front & rear driveshafts...it does, however, use a lot of fuel in comparison and definitely has a "truck-like" feel to it. Mine is the base model, so it doesn't have low range--but then again, neither does my Renegade (and higher trims of the GV do have a proper low range transfer case).

 

[BU1tj2]

I bought my Renegade to replace my 10 year old Suzuki Grand Vitara (now, 11 yo). The Suzuki has developed some issues, but offroad I'm pretty sure my GV would eat the Renegade for breakfast. Then again, it has a mechanical limited slip transfer case and proper front & rear driveshafts...it does, however, use a lot of fuel in comparison and definitely has a "truck-like" feel to it. Mine is the base model, so it doesn't have low range--but then again, neither does my Renegade (and higher trims of the GV do have a proper low range transfer case).

I will not dare to off road my renegade again. It is not designed for it.

 

[Spitfire]

I will not dare to off road my renegade again. It is not designed for it.

Well, that's kinda the thing, right? Now, I'm not an off-roader at all; I want 4WD for winter driving and the odd rough (sometimes very rough) road. I'm quite happy with the Renegade--for what I need a vehicle to do, it's fine. But I gotta say, Suzuki makes some good vehicles, and they do know how to do 4WD. I remember back in the 80s when Samurais first came on the market here in Canada--we'd see them in places no other 4X4s were getting, because their small size allowed them to sneak past the obstacles.

 

[BU1tj2]

Well, that's kinda the thing, right? Now, I'm not an off-roader at all; I want 4WD for winter driving and the odd rough (sometimes very rough) road. I'm quite happy with the Renegade--for what I need a vehicle to do, it's fine. But I gotta say, Suzuki makes some good vehicles, and they do know how to do 4WD. I remember back in the 80s when Samurais first came on the market here in Canada--we'd see them in places no other 4X4s were getting, because their small size allowed them to sneak past the obstacles.

Every car I own is always fun to drive within 5 years. I sell / trade them thereafter.
The only one that lasted and still fun to drive is my CJ & TJs.

If Suzuki Jimny sells here I would buy one.

 

[cailean]

I will not dare to off road my renegade again. It is not designed for it.

Which Renegade do you have? Trailhawk? If so why would you not take it offroad?

Thanks

 

[BU1tj2]

Which Renegade do you have? Trailhawk? If so why would you not take it offroad?

Thanks

My wife, son and I are used to our wranglers for 20+ years now and when we drive my Rene' it feels like "a city boy" trying to fit into the farm.

My son doesn't even want to go off road with me on it anymore because it does not have a winch. I already bent some suspension parts with just a level 2 terrain. Scraped the underside because there is no rock slider and panels seams are so low, I messed up the plastic bumper already in 3 months of use. and the suspension and skid plates are built for cars IMO.

Level 1 (mall crawling) trail is good for my Rene' but some cars can even go through level 1. It's capable alright... of some dirt roads with few speed bumps. I use it for pavements as my DD.

 

[Mr LeRoy]

<snip> I already bent some suspension parts with just a level 2 terrain. Scraped the underside because there is no rock slider and panels seams are so low, I messed up the plastic bumper already in 3 months of use. and the suspension and skid plates are built for cars IMO. <snip>

This tale of woe has come up in a number of posts lately. It doesn't sound like the Renegade was the problem.

 

[BU1tj2]

This tale of woe has come up in a number of posts lately. It doesn't sound like the Renegade was the problem.

Yeah, I take responsibility I am a big boy, most of it is my fault. Some of it is design flaw... like the little mud flap in the front wheel.... what is that for? I ripped that first snagged away as the front wheel dropped rolled back from a mini boulder.

At times I did not have a "spotter" and can not turn around because a lot of drivers are right behind you getting their mind set, track placements specific routes, etc. so you don't have a choice but to go through. Spotters are only available on the real obstacles, not on a mini obstacle.

In off road also do not have a tow truck. And so, if you are stuck, someone will pull you if you don't have a winch. The guy who will pull you is not always positioned right straight in front of you... the tow hooks has to be both must be used at the same time? right............ I don't blame no one but me. I did it with a wimpy jeep. All I know now is that my Rene' (not anybody's) is NOT capable of off roading.

I still like mine as a DD and a trip around town on weekends is perfect for her.

 

[got2bham]

At first I thought this was about the GMC Jimmy and I was thinking who’d cross ship these two?!? ? most reviews are skewed to the one they favor the most or who paid the most. Drive them both then you decide. We clearly are in favor of the Renegade hence the forum.

 

[got2bham]

^shop haha. Not ship

 

[Nev]

The Jimny is a good cheap small off-roader.
The Fiat Cross Panda would be the FCA
alternative.

Both brilliant little things, but
I wouldn't want to do a 500 mile highway
slog in either.