New Jeep Renegade arrives: Geneva Motor Show

The new Jeep Renegade – a B-Segment SUV based on the Fiat 500L/X – has debuted at the Geneva Motor Show with proper off-road credentials.

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There’s plenty of choice if you want an compact faux SUV for the urban jungle, but the new Jeep Renegade – revealed at the Geneva Motor Show – promises to be able to do real off-road stuff as well as be a City warrior.

Reviving a historic Jeep name, the new Renegade gets styling that shouts traditional Jeep – from its boxy shape, square wheel arches and upright look – and, even though it’s based on the underpinnings of the Fiat 500L (and the soon to arrive Fiat 500X), it conspires to be all American despite its Italian roots and diminutive size.

Despite the rather retro look, the modern underpinnings borrowed from the 500L promise to be an effective basis for a compact Jeep, especially as Jeep has modified the setup to offer all independent suspension.

Engines are mounted transversely and drive the front wheels on the urban versions and all four wheels on the rugged Trailhawk 4×4 versions with two all wheel drive systems borrowed from the new Cherokee using Jeep’s Selec-Terrain system with a selection of modes for different terrain.

Engine options will be four MultiAir petrols and two MultiJet diesels with Stop-Star, a nine-speed auto option and two manual and one DDCT ‘boxes.

The interior looks to be rugged but with a modern feel and some decent quality materials, with an integrated Infotainment screen and steering wheel controls with removable, reversible and height-adjustable cargo floor panel and fold-forward front-passenger seat.

The new Jeep Renegade will start arriving in Europe before the end of 2015, but RHD markets – like the UK – will have to wait until 2015.

Jeep hasn’t revealed prices for the new Renegade yet, but it seems likely a starting point of around £15,000 would be about right.