BUY, LEASE OR FINANCE THE JEEP RENEGADE FROM OSV: http://bit.ly/38GqiPT

The Jeep Renegade is a genuinely smart piece of product design, distilling Jeep's brand values into a smaller package while leaning on the smartest technology the Fiat Group has to offer. This improved version gets revised petrol engine technology, slightly smarter looks and enhanced connectivity. But as before, if you eat squirrel, own a bowling ball and call your first cousin your spouse, chances are you're going to hate it. Otherwise, read on.

Background
Take a respected brand, a fresh and vibrant market segment and a willingness to do something different. Then create from that a product with uncompromising looks, real capability and clever design. The result you'd get certainly wouldn't be ordinary. It wouldn't please traditionalists. No, in automotive terms, what you'd get would be something like this, the Jeep Renegade.

At its original launch here in 2015, news that this Renegade was almost entirely based on Fiat's 500X had Jeep die-hards choking on their beer. These people needed to allow for the fact that much had been done with these underpinnings in creation of a tougher, more rugged and very different product. It's certainly one that's attracted widespread interest and now accounts for over 70% of Jeep's UK sales. It's achillies heel was previously an ancient couple of petrol engines, which have now thankfully been dumped as part of the changes made to this smarter, more sophisticated facelifted model.

Driving Experience
The key news with this improved Renegade lies with the changes made beneath the bonnet. The old-tech entry-level normally aspirated 1.6-litre petrol engine of the original model has been replaced by a much more efficient 120hp 1.0-litre unit. And the old inefficient 1.4-litre 134hp MultiAir petrol 1.4 makes way for a new 1.3-litre powerplant, available in 150 and 180hp guises. Ideally, you want to try and stretch to the 1.3 because the base 1.0-litre unit doesn't really have enough pulling power to shove the Renegade along with much conviction. The automatic gearbox that goes with the lower-powered version of the 1.3-litre engine isn't especially slick-changing; the uprated 9-speed auto 'box that goes with the 178hp 1.3 is better. As before, if you're looking at a diesel, there's a 120bhp 1.6-litre Mjet unit or a 2.0-litre Mjet option with either 140 or 170bhp. You'll need the 2.0-litre Mjet diesel if you want your car with 4WD.

The car's 4x4 system hasn't changed, incorporating a rear axle disconnect system that switches seamlessly between two and four-wheel-drive for reduced energy loss when 4x4 capability isn't needed, improving fuel efficiency in the process. But the Renegade is more at home on the highway, where refinement is surprisingly good, despite the relatively bluff aerodynamics.

Design and Build
The Renegade has always sold on its styling - and it still will. There are some subtle aesthetic tweaks with this revised model but the main changes lie with the adoption of LED technology for the headlamps and tail lights. As before, the squarical profile features lovely tight overhangs and some very cool detailing. What is particularly interesting is the way the design includes some very traditional Jeep design cues but isn't afraid to twist them a bit into something resolutely modern-looking. That aspect you will either love or hate.

Cover up the badges inside the car and, yes, you would probably think you were in a Fiat product, but if you've had a look at the latest Fiat range, that's no bad thing. Jeep says that the fascia's been updated but it's difficult to see many changes apart from the improved Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system, which on top variants features a big 8.4-inch monitor. This has clear menus, sharp graphics and useful shortcut buttons, plus it comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can use apps from your smartphone (such as Google Maps and Waze) while driving. As for practicality, well it's a bit pinched in the back, but then that comes with the territory when you've got this little length to play with.

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