As much as car firms like to cling on to their heritage as much as possible, there comes a time and a need for things to change.
Look at Jeep – a manufacturer with an entire reputation built on producing rugged 4x4s. But against the rise of the crossover market, Jeep had to adapt – introducing its quirky Renegade in 2015 as its first true baby SUV.
And now things are changing further as the first electrified version of the Renegade is introduced to the American firm’s range, and it’s a sign of where things are heading with further models planned. So does it look like a positive future for Jeep? Let’s find out.
Called “4xe” – as you can’t have anything electrified without an “e” in its name these days, it seems – this is a plug-in hybrid version of the Renegade, which is now Jeep’s most popular car in the UK by some margin. Interestingly, it’s also the first PHEV to be sold in Europe from Jeep’s parent company FCA.
The new 4xe is underpinned by a 1.3-litre petrol engine available with either 128bhp or 177bhp, with our test car using the former. Mated with a 59bhp electric motor and an 11.4kWh battery, it produces 187bhp in all. A six-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission is used.
Unlike rivals, all plug-in hybrid Renegades come with four-wheel-drive – the engine driving the front wheels and the electric motor providing power to the back. Using a 7.4kW home wallbox, a full charge will take less than two hours or around five hours through a domestic three-pin plug.
And despite our test car using the less powerful engine, performance is still brisk; it’ll hit 60mph in 7.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 113mph.
The Renegade has never been the most refined and comfortable choice, but this transition to electrification has actually improved things.
It’s at its best when running purely on battery power, which you can do by putting it in “Electric”, though even the default “Hybrid” setting does a pretty decent job of prioritising the EV power.
The transition between electric and petrol is fairly unnoticeable and smooth in normal driving, but any hint of sharp acceleration and the petrol engine becomes rather loud and unrefined, while the gearbox struggles with sudden acceleration.
Importantly for Jeep, the switch to PHEV has not impacted the Renegade’s off-road capability. In fact, it’s actually improved things.
Thanks to the big boxy shape of the Renegade it’s got a light and relatively airy cabin, which is dominated by loads of headroom wherever you’re sitting and a high driving position – helping to make it feel like a true Jeep.
The quality itself is quite average and while coming with plenty of soft-touch plastics, it lacks the finesse of rivals. That said, all 4xe versions come with an 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen and a seven-inch digital dial system, which show you all the information you could ever want.
Plug-in hybrids are never cheap things and that’s certainly true of the Renegade 4xe – prices start from £32,600.
That said, all versions come very well-equipped – including an 8.4-inch media screen, 17-inch alloy wheels and plenty of safety kit. Our Limited-spec version is the pick of the range, though, adding LED lights, larger alloy wheels and adaptive cruise control.
Jeep heralds this new Renegade 4xe as a “new era” for the brand and it’s true. You’ve got to consider just how far removed the idea of a plug-in hybrid is to a firm known for its traditional big diesel and petrol SUVs, but any hesitation from purists about compromised ability away from tarmac is likely to soon disappear upon getting behind the wheel.
Its superb off-roading ability remains the Renegade 4xe’s key asset and the powertrain itself feels well-integrated – largely being smooth and refined and more so than the standard car, in fact.
While it’s not a car that responds well to spirited driving and the interior is neither particularly practical nor upmarket, this Jeep is an interesting alternative to other plug-in crossovers and it’s worth considering for its low running costs.
A Jeep that’s cheap to run? Who knew?
