The New 2015 Jeep Renegade - an insult or true Jeep?

Originally this blog is meant to share the enthusiasm for Jeep and off road action. However there is one topic that pops up the news when you hear Jeep these days, which is not received well by us fanatics and off road fans

It´s name is Jeep Renegade.

What´s all the fuss about?
As a Jeep fan the Renegade started by instantly becoming the materialisation of the biggest fear of many Jeep fans since Fiat has taken over.

It´s the fear that Fiat will only use the Jeep name and brand to sell their own vehicles. The first look of the Renegade already shocked most enthusiast as the design is not necessarily typical for Jeep.

Anyway you can always discuss and argue about the design.

As a big Jeep fan I share and understand the worries and fears but I am also a realist.For me the most important are two main factors.

Quality & Capability

As long as these two factors are maintained the Jeep Heritage lives on.


We will only really know in a couple of years if the quality has remained the same in the new 2015 Jeep Renegade. 

Jeep and the Chrysler group like to brag about the new Jeep Renegade and are trying to prove that it is just as tough as the other Jeep models.


After watching the new commercials and videos like the one below there is a pro and con factor about this new model.




Let´s start with the Con.
What you see in the video above is NOT what a Jeep Fan would call going off road. It is more something like going shopping with your wife and kids. The Renegade has a very soft and mellow design and this is reflected onto it´s capabilities in this video. What you see here is also possible with any Crossover or Sedan.

If I was Jeep I would show the Renegade in massive action like no other in itś class.


Anyway there is more to it than meets the eye. The Pro.

Obviously when Jeep (and Fiat) came up with the idea for the new Jeep Renegade they didn´t have the whole blood off-road raging Jeep fanatics in mind who´s main interest is to either drive a wrangler or a Jeep that is already 25+ years old.
Clearly the Renegade is targeted at people who are not yet off road enthusiasts and / or are not too comfortable with the idea of driving through a small lakes, mud wholes or up sand dunes.

I believe that the new Jeep Renegade is a great starter model for people who would like the comfort of a modern crossover or sedan but at the same time know that they have the most off road capable vehicle in their Class.

I am not expecting the Renegade to have the capability like the wrangler but as long as it rules it´s class and the high quality matches the usual Jeep standard, then this is the little sister the wrangler has always wanted.

One last word.

For all the Jeep enthusiast our there I have one question for you.

Imagine a person that is close to you and that wants a cute vehicle with slight 4x4 capabilities.

What would you rather see that person driving?

THIS?

OR THIS?