2015 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk Tested: Let the Playtime Begin

So there it was, the moment of truth. With the key in one hand and the other with a clenched fist, I was making my way towards that orange boxy shape.

Exterior

First of all, seeing the car in the flesh doesn't change your first impressions on the exterior design: in other words, if you hated it, I'm afraid there's nothing I can tell you to change your mind. It's just one of those designs that split public reaction in two and there's nothing anybody can do about it now. Which fills my heart with joy, as I'm one of those who think it looks great.

Still, if you're not into right angles, squared wheel arches and funny faces, you might still appreciate some of Renegade's finer details. There are little gems spread all over, such as the Jeep logo on the taillights' glass or the red trailing hook. It's not much, but I don't know, for some people it's the details that count.

Cabin

On the inside, however, there are a lot more of them. But don't let that distract you from the nicely crafted cabin, with quality fabrics and soft plastic. It's a bit too dark in here, though, with everything either black or dark gray, except for some red details and the tan headlining. All in all, the overall atmosphere is a positive one helped a lot by the interior's roominess, especially on the vertical axis.

Drive

The oomph comes from a 2.0-liter diesel engine chuffing out 170 hp that are then sent to all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission. The power is decent, but the engine itself is slightly noisier than a modern diesel unit should be, even though it sometimes suits Renegade's character.

However, the handling is surprisingly good for a car this tall and with such high ground clearance. Steering is OK and body roll won't make the little ones puke even if you prefer to drive faster than the norm.

Comfort

There's tons of room, but the chairs are rather hard and they push you into a hunch-backed position. That being said, longer journeys aren't something to be afraid of.

Everything else

For more on the new 2015 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk, you can read our full review, but the main idea is this: it's a car to have fun with. Buying it for any other reason means buying it for the wrong reason. It's basically the off-road equivalent of, say, a Mazda MX-5.