Jeep Renegade: The Subcompact Jeep Built Outside North America

The Jeep Renegade is a subcompact crossover that Stellantis builds under the Jeep marque. It was shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2014 and went into production in late August of that year. Built in Italy, Brazil and China, it was the first Jeep product built exclusively outside North America, and it stayed Jeep's smallest model until the Avenger arrived.

What is the Jeep Renegade?

The Renegade is a subcompact crossover that slots between the Avenger and the Compass in Jeep's range. It is based on the FCA Small Wide 4x4 platform, which Fiat and Alfa Romeo models also use. Front-wheel drive is standard, with optional four-wheel-drive systems that pair with Jeep's Selec-Terrain System.

Two four-wheel-drive setups were offered, Active Drive I and Active Drive Low. Active Drive Low was the one fitted to the off-road Trailhawk. The car also offered a My Sky dual-panel removable roof, which could be retracted like a sunroof or taken off entirely for an open-air feel similar to a Wrangler.

A small Jeep that proved a brand could build its entry model abroad and still sell it to the world.

Where is the Jeep Renegade built?

The Renegade was the first Jeep produced exclusively outside North America. Melfi in Italy assembles it under the designation BU/520, beside the closely related Fiat 500X. Goiana in Brazil builds it with the designation B1, alongside the Compass and the Fiat Toro, and Guangzhou in China builds it under the codename BQ.

The car has been sold in North American, European, Brazilian, South African, Australian, Japanese and Chinese markets. Engines and trims differed from market to market, so the same name covered several different cars.

Which trims did the Jeep Renegade offer?

In North America the Renegade came as Sport, Latitude, Altitude, Limited and Trailhawk. The Sport was the base model, with sixteen-inch black-finished steel wheels, a heater, cloth seats and a 3.5-inch monochrome instrument display. The Latitude added seventeen-inch black-accented alloy wheels, exterior-coloured mirrors and handles, and power windows.

The Limited was the top road-going trim, with leather seats, a silver-finished front grille and chrome mirrors and handles. It came with the 2.4L Tigershark inline four and a nine-speed automatic. In Europe the Latitude was called the Longitude.

The Trailhawk was the off-road trim, with red tow hooks, off-road suspension, underbody skid plates and Trail Rated badges. A Deserthawk version went further, with specific decals, interior badging, a towing package and a taller lift kit.

Inside, the Renegade offered either cloth or leather seating, a 60/40 split-folding rear bench and a front passenger seat that folds flat for extra cargo room. Five people could ride in comfort, and the standard radio was the Uconnect 5.0BT with a five-inch colour touchscreen.

Most models above the Sport offered optional extras such as passive entry with push-button start, a remote start system, a 6.5-inch touchscreen with GPS navigation by Garmin, and nine premium amplified speakers with a subwoofer. Power front bucket seats and heated front seats were also available on the higher trims.

What engines did the Jeep Renegade use?

Every Renegade used a three- or four-cylinder engine sourced from Fiat or Chrysler, depending on the market. The base North American Sport used a 1.4L MultiAir turbocharged inline four or a 2.4L MultiAir inline four, paired with a six-speed manual or a nine-speed automatic.

In Europe the line-up included a 1.0 L Turbo three-cylinder producing 120 hp, with direct injection and a Multiair system. The 1.3 L Turbo Multiair came in two outputs, 110 kW (148 hp; 150 PS) and 132 kW (177 hp; 179 PS), and it was paired with a six-speed manual, a six-speed automatic double clutch or a nine-speed ZF automatic.

For North America in 2019, the 1.3 L GSE Turbo Multiair at 132 kW (177 hp; 179 PS) replaced the 1.4 L Fire Turbo, while the 2.4 L Tigershark stayed available. South American cars used a 1.8 L E.Torq Evo gasoline engine and a 2.0 L Multijet diesel, and the Brazilian 2023 refresh brought a revised 1.3L Turbo-Flex engine known as T270.

What is the Jeep Renegade Trailhawk like off-road?

The Trailhawk is Trail Rated and uses Active Drive Low, which gives a low-range four-wheel-drive setup. It sits on a 20 mm (0.79 in) lift kit, runs 17 in (430 mm) aluminum wheels, and gets unique front and rear fascias. Skid plates protect the underside, and the red badges carry through to the front fenders.

Selec-Terrain lets the driver choose Auto, Snow, Sand, Mud or Rock modes on the four-wheel-drive Trailhawk. The Trailhawk was offered with the 2.4L Tigershark and nine-speed automatic, with a Multijet II diesel available only in Europe.

How did the Jeep Renegade change in 2019 and 2022?

The 2019 model year brought a facelift that was introduced in June 2018 for most markets. The front and rear bumpers were redesigned, new LED headlamps were inspired by the Wrangler, and the grille grew larger. The infotainment system gained Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the Latitude added a USB jack for rear passengers.

For 2022 every model received a standard U Connect 4C 8.4-inch touchscreen with SiriusXM services and integrated GPS navigation. The Jeep Active Safety Group became standard, and the Sport lost its beige interior option. The 2.4 L engine was discontinued for the US market, and nineteen-inch tyres with diamond-cut wheels became optional on the Limited.

Why did the Jeep Renegade leave the US market?

The Renegade was discontinued in the United States and Canada after the 2023 model year, following years of decreasing sales. It continued to be sold in Europe, Mexico and South America, where it remained on sale through the 2024 update cycle.

The 2024 update brought a 10.1-inch touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital display cluster and a new steering wheel borrowed from the Compass. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay became standard, and USB-A and USB-C ports were added. LED foglamps and taillamps arrived, along with new 17-inch and 18-inch alloy wheels on higher trims.

For 2024 the line-up was hybrid only, with the e-Hybrid and 4xe powertrains. All internal-combustion options were dropped for that year.

How did the Jeep Renegade fare in safety tests?

The Renegade was tested by the IIHS in 2021. In Latin NCAP testing, the most basic Latin American configuration earned five stars under the 1.0 protocol in 2015. Under the 3.0 protocol in 2023, that same basic configuration earned one star.

The 2023 test followed a protocol similar to Euro NCAP 2014. From 2022 the Jeep Active Safety Group was standard on every Renegade in the United States.

Jeep Renegade specifications at a glance