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Jeep Renegade Tackles Big Sand Dunes, Proves It's a Proper Offroader

Since the B-segment crossover buzz started with the launch of the Nissan Juke in 2011, there was one critical element missing from the mix. That's at least one model able to hold its own on tarmac and in off-road situations as well. Some variants of the Juke may be all-wheel drive, but they're not quite up to the job of handling anything over soft-roading duties.
Jeep Renegade Trailhawk 1 photo
Photo: screenshot from Youtube
Don't even mention the Renault Captur and the suite of two-wheel drive only crossovers made to grab a slice of the Juke dominance over the segment. Still, help for those that need more capability from a chic car such as this fret no more because the best brand in the off-road biz has listened to your very needs.

The long-awaited solution comes in the form of the Jeep Renegade, the American and more capable brother of the recently launched Fiat 500X. There are multiple variants to choose from: basic front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive prowess, punchy gasoline power or economical diesel-fed engines and a choice of four transmissions options: two manual boxes and two smooth-shifting automatic units.

However, the most capable Renegade from the Jeep stable is a variant dubbed the Trailhawk. Pretty cool name with a testosterone-laden ring to it. Compared to other Renegades, the Trailhawk comes with an Active Drive Low AWD system that has a Rock mode, as well as 17-inch rims wearing chunky rubber.

To boot, it also adds a few more centimeters of ride height, skid plates and new bumpers front and rear to improve the small Jeep's approach and departure angles. In order to demonstrate the Renegade's capabilities, some Jeep officials took the Trailhawk sand surfing on the dunes of Silver Lake.

Play the video below to see the lil' bugger hold its own through the sand like it's some sort of bedouin.

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About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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