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The smallest American Jeep model underwent a nip and tuck for the 2019 model year, and its parent company decided to take the bandages off at the Wednesday’s Turin Motor Show. Only natural, given its Italian architecture.
While Jeep’s Renegade currently serves as the first rung in a tall (and soon to be taller) ladder, there’s a smaller sibling planned for overseas markets. Here, we can expect its entry-level status to remain intact. So, what does 2019 hold for the little ute? A greater attempt at visual brawn, for one, plus three new engines.
These diminutive three-and four-cylinders could be for European customers only. There’s a turbo 1.0-liter three-cylinder making 120 horsepower, a 150-horse 1.3-liter four-cylinder, and a 180 hp version of that same engine.
Jeep hasn’t said if either the turbo 1.4-liter MultiAir four-cylinder or naturally aspirated 2.4-liter Tigershark engine found in North American models will stand aside for the coming model year, but apparently there’ll be word on that later this month. The two American mills offer fairly similar torque outputs (184 lb-ft for the turbo, 175 for the Tigershark), but go about delivering it in different ways. A six-speed manual or nine-speed automatic are the transmission choices for the existing model.
The most noticeable changes to the 2019 model involve the front bumper, now completely reformed and boasting a larger lower air intake, side vents, and foglights moved further inboard. Renegade’s characteristic grille gains wider slats, flanked by headlamps that mimic its brawnier Wrangler sibling. An LED ring circling the headlamp provides daytime illumination.
Out back, the only noticeable changes are a pair of revised taillights (where “X” still marks the spot), and a visible handle for liftgate operation.
Renegade sales slipped slightly in the U.S. in 2017 after hitting a high water mark the year before — it’s first full year on the market. Over the first five months of 2018, sales fell 4 percent compared to the same period in 2017. With the exception of the Grand Cherokee, which posted a year-to-date volume loss of 5 percent, all other Jeep vehicles saw generous sales increases this year.
[Images: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]
Judging by the stance of this thing and what look to be 40 series tires, I’m guessing that this isn’t “Trail Rated”.
Well, it’s certainly not the Trailhawk. That said, I like it so far. Would like to know a whole lot more (like if it’s going to be the core model for a Comanche pickup.)
It says there on the back – LIMITED
Why is one of the rear marker lights red while the other is clear?
Euro model, so red is rear fog light white is reverse light. Center of taillight cluster where reverse light is in US model is amber turn signal.
Yes, typical Euro setup (one rear fog and one backup). The only negative is only one backup light.
Turin? I guess prior to the show the new Renegade was shrouded in mystery.
I see what you’ve done there. Good one.
May we all pray to whatever you pray to that the 3cylinder engines stay in Europe.
Theyre all terrible. BMW. Ford. Volkswagen. I can’t imagine a FCA one would be any good either.
I have no idea what you’re basing that on. 3-cylinders are infinitely better sounding, more characterful than the most boring, droning engines there are: the 4-pots.
The 3-cylinder engines I’ve had a chance to test and experience have been excellent, especially the engine masters of the world BMW (jointly with Fiat/Ferrari people) made the new 3-cylinder engine a lot better in every way than their 4-cylinder engine. It’s basically a 6-cylinder engine cut in half, and it has more in common characteristically to the 6-cylinder than the 4-cylinder. It’s more free-revving and responsive. There is only one major challenge with 3-pots which is one type of vibration (decreased to a low-ish level through engineering the engine itself), but that is actually well solved with well designed engine mounts.
It’s actually a shame that all the new 3-cylinder engines have their sounds dampened to much, since they sound really nice.
Car Lighting:
Rear turn signals should be amber.
Side repeater lights should be on all cars.
Rear fogs should be standard.
But- lazy fat stupid american wouldnt use them/want them/understand them and therefore- no desire for them.
Hell- notice how many nimrods have their headlights OFF in rain.
It is the automakers resisting change, not customer preference. Not because Americans are too lazy fat stupid to use them but because every regulation you just said is slightly more expensive to implement than the current ones.
“Rear fogs should be standard”
Based on the Audis I see running around blinding everyone behind them, I think they should be banned. Or maybe you need a special license to have one.
What the hell are rear fog lights used for anyway? You’d only want them when in reverse and, in reverse, shoudn’t be going fast enough to need them.
Rear fogs are like riding your brakes… tail lamps intended to be visible through fog at greater than normal distances. They’re a good idea because of how many people who speed even through fog and crash into a slower car before ever realizing it was there. In dense fog, I’ve taking to turning on my hazard flashers in fog to create more light on my tail and use the strobing effect to make them more noticeable to approaching cars (vs steady-state which may not become noticeable until far too late.)
It’s not that they’re there to help you see better, they’re there to help others see YOU better.
Used for heavy fog or rain so people on the highway can see you from afar (behind you). I hate when I see people here in the states use their hazards in heavy rain so people can see them on the highway.
Rear fogs should be made standard and a DOT requirement.
Maybe someday, LGC, but until then, at least the hazards manage to catch the eye.
advance, no they should not. i used them exactly once in my Audi, coming down a mountain on dense fog. Once in the city though [Baltimore, of all places], someone at a traffic light told me I was riding my brakes all the way. Heh.
BMW North America literally disabled the E90’s rear fogs, but the hardware and software is all in place. All you have to do is take out the stupid headlight switch assembly apart and cutoff the plastic bits that literally stop you from pressing the existing (if unmarked) rear fog light button. I did it and I have two rear fogs now. Even the dash light indicator works.
I believe DRL (daylight running lamps) have or are becoming mandatory for all new vehicles. Your ‘headlights off in rain’ is exactly why.
The problem is that people are under the habit of, ‘If I can see you, you can see me,’ totally ignoring the fact that so many of today’s cars and trucks practically vanish in specific lighting conditions. The old DRLs used the regular headlamps at low output which made the matter worse as these drivers could see the road at dusk and totally forget that they don’t have tail-lamps lighted, which caused numerous rear-end collisions. Worse, with today’s automatic headlamps, if the driver forgets to put them in automatic mode after manually turning them off under other conditions; the driver will forget to turn them on, expecting them to turn on by themselves.
Drivers have become too used to all the conveniences and automation in their lives.
“Hell- notice how many nimrods have their headlights OFF in rain.”
Yeah, one of my pet peeves. The other morning on the way to work (Dallas area) I went through a thunderstorm. Rain coming down in sheets (had to slow down to 30, in a 45) and gray outside. Still plenty of peeps driving without lights. I didn’t dare change lanes for a while, for fear of running into someone without any lights on. Morons.
Duke
Yeah. Scary . These people are mentally maxed out driving a car.
Brain not engaged in 1st gear although involved in an enterprise (driving) that can cause DEATH.
Perhaps one step up from a Feral human. Idiots.
@redapple: “These people are mentally maxed out driving a car.”
Driving a car is tough enough. All of the autonomous car accidents we’re reading about are a constant reminder. Then, people add stuff like talking and texting while driving…
It’s been proven repeatedly that even the smallest distraction while driving can cause fatal accidents. I can’t tell you how many times I see people driving like they’ve drank a case of beer and then see their head pop up – they were on the phone.
I’m a fan of small, light cars, but I can understand why so many people have taken to S/CUVs; at least you stand a chance of surviving the impact.
Besides distractions, there are issues these days with basic driving technique, especially as it pertains to seating position. I see so many clowns, and you have to be a clown, either driving with an exaggerated “gangster lean” or reclined way too far. Emergency maneuvers are pretty much out the window at that point.
@Sub-600: That’s a good one. My wife’s torso is somewhat longer than her legs, I’m the opposite. This results in lots of fights over the seat back& steering wheel angle. I like to be upright with my arms slightly bent at the elbows, she likes a more laid-back position.
Drives me crazy to drive after she does.
Why not the simplest of relays that automatically turns on the lights when you start the wipers?
Would clearly add at least 10c to the MSRP…
It’s all computerized nowadays. Has to be in the programming. However, do you want your lights turning on every time you wash the windshield with the on-board system? Usually, if it’s dark enough to rain hard enough to mandate the wipers, then the lights should be on anyway, and that’s how the FCA system seems to work; lights turn on long before it actually starts raining.
I was mildly surprised to see scores of Renegades and Compasses during a recent trip to Geneva. One would think the Swiss had higher standards.
The Swiss have interesting car taste – I found amusing that in a parking lot there was some sort of Ferrari type super car. The kids didn’t care – they were clustered around the type of old Camero that we send to the crusher. I liked those kids.
The Swiss-*Germans* have higher standards.
@EChid: That’ll start a flame war…
Moving the fog lights in does help with the trick of looking bigger.The low stance and ground effects make it look like a Trackhawk edition, though.
FIAT with a $$$$ badge.
I wonder if these come standard as lemons too.
rear fogs = > extra bright tail light.
Visible in heavy rain /snow.
I see a car every once in awhile (usually an Audi) with the rear fog on, and I wonder if they know what it is, and if other drivers know.
Doubling down on ugly.
I don’t know if that will be offered on the cars, but I love the blue paint on this car.
Remember a while back when Fiat did the “urbana” versions of the 500L? That what this reminds me of.
I could rock that.
Looks absolutely fantastic. Awesome job, this thing will print money.
I was tempted to buy one of these at one point. The 4×4/stick shift/turbo engine combo being available was an appeal. Then I test drove one in that configuration and it had this weird side to side wobble in the drivetrain when accelerating in 1st/2nd gear, almost like a CV joint was sticking or something. Not sure what it was. I had an old car at one point where the prior owner had replaced a CV axle shaft with a cheap aftermarket unit, and it had the same shimmy (salvage yard OEM axle swapped in, wobble gone). A new car shouldn’t have that odd wobble, so I passed.
I still like the concept of the Renegade, and if it was screwed together by Toyota instead of FCA, I’d probably be tempted again.
What is up with the one in the pic…are those solid rubber tires pressed on the wheels? There can’t actually be room for air in there…
I see the goats have invaded headlights with all the Jeeps. Is there not a better way to create projector headlights (or are those HIDs) in a round casing than shoehorning a box in the center?
I don’t know what I think of the car having never driven it. It carries the small SUV proportions slightly better than its competitors, to my eyes anyway, but appears to be trying too hard to be a mini-Wrangler. Visually I don’t understand it.
But for some reason I like it here and don’t like in wrangler. I think, its like sunglasses. Certain shape for certain head. Here it fits. But in Wrangler its wrong head.
The Ecosport is ugly? This thing slapped ugly and had a baby with its mama. Blech.
Ecosport IS ugly
Those headlights remind me of a goat’s eyes…