[TheBucket]

I'm looking at the Jeep Renegade Sport because I need something inexpensive (relatively) to drive on really bad roads and through mountains. Do any of you know about the engine? Will the standard engine do the trick? Or would I need an option for a more powerful engine. Is there even such an animal? Thanks very much.

 

[bwbike]

You get two choices (only). The 1.4L turbo engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Or, the 2.4L engine mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission.

I have the 2.4L engine (only engine available in the Trailhawk). I find it quite peppy for what it is. Certainly it isn't a powerhouse engine, but moves the car quite well.

 

[dontpanic13]

The base engine should be fine and I have not read any complaints. However, it really comes down to what type of transmission you need. The 1.4L Turbo is paired with a 6 speed manual trans and the 2.4L is paired with a 9 speed auto trans. There is no way to get the 2.4L engine with a manual transmission. I would think that it would be better to get a 4x4 1.4L Turbo rather than a 2x4 2.4L.

 

[TheBucket]

Thanks so much for replying. I hope I'm asking the right question in asking about the engine. Is this jeep good for bad roads (ruts, mud, puddles) and climbing steep hills?

 

[TheBucket]

I'm new at this so I want to be sure I understand. The manual transition would be better?

 

[R3N3GAD3]

The base 1.4L/Manual combo has a little more torque than the 2.4L/Auto. But the 2.4L/Auto has a little more horsepower than the 1.4L/Manual. But both should suit your needs.

 

[Malcolm02]

Thanks so much for replying. I hope I'm asking the right question in asking about the engine. Is this jeep good for bad roads (ruts, mud, puddles) and climbing steep hills?

Being able to cope with bad roads isn't so much to do with the engine, it's about having 4 wheel drive, good ground clearance and proper tires. The basic Renegade with 4WD is quite capable and the Trailhawk version adds a number of goodies for off-road situations. There are quite a lot of YouTube videos on the subject if you care to do a search.

 

[TheBucket]

Thanks for these responses. You told me just want I needed to know.

 

[hoodoo]

I have the Latitude 1.4 Turbo with manual transmission and I can tell you I'm very happy with the power output. We live at a ski resort so our drive from town is all up hill for about 9 miles. The Renegade has plenty of power to go up the mountain road, even fully loaded with 4 of us. Soon as it hits between 2500 and 3500 RPM you can really feel the turbo boost in HP and Torque! Very fun to drive!