I have been looking around pondering an upgrade and I really want something tough and comfortable for snowboarding missions this winter.
I must say I like the look and sound of these bad boys. Might have to get saving to get one by this snow season though!

Full Write Up Here

ON SALE: March 2015
BASE PRICE: $18,990
DRIVETRAIN: 1.4-liter, 160-hp, 184 lb-ft turbocharged I4; FWD, six-speed manual
OUTPUT: 160 hp, 184 lb-ft
CURB WEIGHT: 3,044 lbs
0-60 MPH: 9.6 seconds (est)
FUEL ECONOMY: 26/34/29 (est)
(EPA City/Hwy/Combined)



JEEP'S SMALLEST SUV PROVES ITSELF IN THE SNOWPOCALYPSE-GRIPPED NORTH

What is it?

The Renegade is Jeep's new baby SUV, set to go on sale this month with a variety of trim levels and a choice of powertrains. Designed to attract new buyers to the Jeep brand, the Renegade is also attempting to appeal to the core Jeep audience with its mix of off-road skills and everyday commuting comfort. (Just don't expect it to be a rock-crawler ready to take on Moab's most brutal, boulder-strewn trails.)

The Renegade is also Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' first new vehicle to make use of the new Small-Wide 4x4 architecture, which will be shared with the Fiat 500X once that mini-ute arrives in stores. Offered in 4x2 and 4x4 forms, the Renegade is designed to offer off-road versatility with the range-topping Trailhawk version. Base trim levels are meant to provide a mix of fun on-road performance and greater versatility when the terrain or weather calls for it.

The Renegade will be offered with a choice of two engines, each one paired with its own transmission. The junior engine in the range will be the 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo unit producing 160 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, to be paired with a six-speed manual transmission. The senior engine will be a 2.4-liter Tigershark producing 180 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque. The latter engine will be paired exclusively with a nine-speed automatic that has already made appearances in the Chrysler and Jeep range. Unlike in a handful of other FCA vehicles, it won't be controlled by a rotary knob, but rather by a traditional gear shifter located on the transmission tunnel.

Even though it'll be the smallest offering from Jeep, that doesn't mean the Renegade skimps on technology: It's composed of 70 percent high-strength steel for greater structural stiffness, and its Koni frequency-selective damping front and rear strut system allows the Renegade to handle more nimbly in the corners while shrugging off imperfections in the road surface.

Full Write Up Here

I have seen the write-ups and do have some concerns as to their overall utility. The design does lend itself to many applications where 4x4 capability is needed.

However, it is ground clearance challenged and providing an adequate lift for larger tires would be difficult.

Couple that with the small engine, you now have a power limitation. I haven't found anything definitive on low end torque but due to other engines that size, I would expect higher torque at the upper end of the power band rather than the low end. Not a good situation where slow speed is required.

Overall, it is an upgrade from former models of similar design - the Patriot...

I think I'd be going for one of these if I never intended to leave a road and head for the outback. The clearance is Ok for almost anything most folks would ever drive over. Using as purchased it is prolly a great little vehicle.
Big Jim