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| With Shay Kalik for scale, one can see the Renegade only looks that small. |
WHEN Jeep launched the Renegade in 2015, CEO and MD of Chrysler and Jeep in South Africa stressed this was not just a Fiat 500 in blue collar clothing.
While built in Italy on a platform shared with the Fiat 500, Jeep’s engineers designed the smallest car to extend Jeep’s brand domination in the city. Hence even the 4x2 version has 17 cm of road clearance, making it a high rider over potholes.
Apart from the ride height, Wheels’ team of testers were most impressed with the design that managed to make a large car look so small.
Yet inside, the Renegade’s back bench comfortably seats three people and the 351-litre boot fits all the luggage they want to take to King Shaka airport. The tiny 1,4 mill under the hood can struggle a bit with a full load, this car does weigh in at 1 320 kg when empty after all, but with a normal compliment of passengers, it will reward the driver around a curvy road with a planted suspension, especially with the optional 18-inch Granite Chrys wheels.
Eight models are on sale, three of which are all-wheel drive. The sweet spot goes to the 1.4L T 4x4 Limited, which retails for just over half a “metre” (that’s kasi for a million, don’t you know?) and Jeep assures while Dodge is leaving SA, the Jeep brand will continue to be sold and serviced.
The dealer in Maritzburg is also ready to do trade-ins for dads looking for a cute but big family car.
