2023 Jeep Renegade review
The Jeep Renegade was the smallest model in the brand’s lineup, and while it didn’t have the off-road prowess of its Wrangler sibling, the compact SUV could still handle an off-pavement adventure. Looking the part of a “baby Jeep,” the Renegade had a traditional SUV shape with squared-off lines, rugged styling, and up to 8.7 inches of ground clearance. Considering the Renegade was never completely redesigned during its short production cycle, the interior styling held up well. The Renegade also had one of the more intuitive infotainment systems on the market, as well as a suite of advanced driver-assist features.
Explore the evolution of the Jeep Renegade
Get our expert take on used Jeep Renegade models, or view year-by-year changes.
First generation Jeep Renegade
The Jeep Renegade was a significant departure for the legendary brand when it arrived in 2015. Not only was it the smallest SUV in the lineup as Jeep’s first subcompact crossover, but it also shared a platform with the Fiat 500X. Slightly wider than the Jeep Cherokee, the Renegade had seating for up to five and reasonable cargo space, although the rear seat was a bit cramped for adults. Jeep updated the interior in 2018 with more storage and an upgraded Uconnect® infotainment system presented on available seven- or 8.4-inch touchscreen displays.
Jeep offered two engine options in the Renegade at its launch–a 1.4-liter turbo and a 2.4-liter, both four-cylinder engines. In 2019, the smaller engine was replaced by a new 1.3-liter turbo, and in 2022 the 2.4-liter engine was discontinued altogether. Four-wheel-drive versions had selectable drive modes for different terrains, and the Trailhawk had low-speed off-road gearing. It may not have been as capable as the iconic Wrangler, but the Renegade was a competent off-roader, especially compared to its crossover competition.
Model highlights
First subcompact crossover from Jeep
Selectable modes for different terrains
Available 8.4-inch display screen (added in 2018)
Four-wheel drive standard (2023)
Android Auto™/Apple CarPlay® available (added in 2018)
Changes by year
Latest generation from 2015 - 2023
2023 Jeep Renegade
Highlights
All-wheel drive standard on every trim
Sport trim discontinued
New Upland Edition package
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2022 Jeep Renegade
2021 Jeep Renegade
Highlights
More standard advanced driver-assist features
Islander Edition, Jeepster Edition, and 80th Anniversary Edition added
Limited trim only offered with all-wheel drive
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2020 Jeep Renegade
2019 Jeep Renegade
Highlights
Refreshed exterior styling
Larger 2.4-liter engine became standard
New 1.3-liter turbo engine available
Manual transmission discontinued
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2018 Jeep Renegade
Highlights
Updated infotainment options with available seven- and 8.4-inch screens
Available Android Auto™/Apple CarPlay®
Five-inch touchscreen standard with rearview camera
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2017 Jeep Renegade
2016 Jeep Renegade
2015 Jeep Renegade
Reliability
RepairPal gave the Jeep Renegade an overall reliability rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Excellent. This rating ranks Jeep Renegade 4th out of 8 among Subcompact SUVs.
RepairPal reports that the average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Jeep Renegade is $471, compared to an average of $442 for Subcompact SUVs and $591 for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
According to RepairPal, Jeep Renegade owners bring their vehicles into a repair shop for unscheduled repairs an average of 0.6 times per year, compared to an average of 0.7 times for Subcompact SUVs and 1.3 times for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
RepairPal reported that the probability of a repair being a severe or major issue is 9% for the Jeep Renegade, compared to an average of 12% for Subcompact SUVs and 14% for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
Perry Stern has been writing about cars for almost 30 years and has been an enthusiast for much longer than that. Contributing to multiple automotive publications, Perry drives almost every new car on the market, ranging from base-level Kias to exotic high-performance Lamborghinis. But his favorite is still the 2006 Mazda Miata parked in his garage.
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