The launch of the Renegade, Jeep’s first compact SUV in Brazil, also marks the start of production at the first full manufacturing Jeep plant outside the US in Goiana, in the northeastern state of Pernambuco.
It is also the first diesel SUV to sell under the symbolic BRL100,000/US$31,000 threshold with on demand four wheel drive, centre differential lock plus a ‘virtual low range’ courtesy of the crawler first gear of the nine-speed automatic gearbox.
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Standard or optional items include parking assistant and two, detachable glass fibre composite sunroofs that can be stored in the boot (trunk).
Safety-wise, the Brazilian built Renegade is expected to be top grade because it is structurally identical to the Italian-made model. It may even feature up to seven airbags here.
Despite the BRL7bn/$2.2bn spend (local suppliers’ included) to build it in Brazil, the compact Jeep SUV is strongly competitive, especially when compared with Ford’s segment pioneering EcoSport and the newly-launched HR-V (aka Vezel in Japan).
Retail prices start from launch at BRL69,900/$21,800 for the Sport version but, within two months, there will also be a base version for BRL66,900/$20,900. the intermediate Longitude version, also front wheel drive, goes for BRL890,900/$25,200 with a six-speed automatic.
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By GlobalDataAll diesel models in this segment, by force of a local mandate, must have four wheel drive, which adds considerably to the retail price. At the top end is the Trailhawk diesel (two litres, 167bhp and an impressive 258lb ft) for BRL116,900/$36,500, but not expected to account for many sales.
Around 80% of volume is expected to be the 1.75 litre, I4, flex fuel engine, revamped to deliver a more driver friendly, low revving and flatter torque curve with some improvement in peak torque for a good 138lb ft.
Due to its robust design this version weighs 1,432kg and acceleration with the automatic gearbox is a little slow with Jeep quoting 11.5 seconds for the 0 to 100km/h sprint – it’s faster with manual transmission.
The diesel, despite weighing 250kg more, gets to 100km/h in 9.9 seconds and loafs along at under 2,000rpm in ninth gear at 120km/h (about 80mph).
When driving off road, the Renegade impresses for its ability to overcome obstacles without riding uncomfortably. In congested traffic, the rival Honda HR-V is ahead thanks to its electric parking brake with automatic accelerator pedal release.
The Renegade boot is constricted at just 9.2cu ft, less than found in some compact hatchbacks. Yet it loses by a fraction to the EcoSport (with external, tailgate mounted spare wheel) and to the Honda’s much larger 15.4 cu ft.
