The Jeep Renegade is best beginner 4x4 for when a smaller SUV is needed for a mixture of city and mild off-road driving. For those in northern areas, especially for winter and heavy rain conditions, it can be a capable road worthy Jeep for the daily commute.

Jeep Renegade - The Starter 4x4

While the new Jeep Renegade won't be going head to head with a JK Wrangler, or have the cabin space of it's larger cousin the Grand Cherokee, it's a good Jeep for first time buyers who want to dip their toes in the water as far as having a vehicle that's good on the highway as well as off-road (for mild trailing). It's a good vehicle to start 4x4 training, and learn to gradually get the confidence you need when off the grid. Most trailing is done slowly in any Jeep, so even though the ground clearance isn't the best on a Renegade, that doesn't mean you can't get some good off-road driving practice. You'll definitely pick up some pointers and get a feel for progress on a trail. As with most smaller SUVs, it's compact, and uses a 4-cylinder to get you around (the 2.4L in this case). That's more than enough to get you some good gas mileage on your weekly commute, and keep some spare change in your pocket. And of course, this is a modern SUV with optional Bluetooth and a touchscreen radio interface. But it's still a 4WD vehicle, and on weekends (or bad weather) you get the best of both worlds. More traction, better control, and added safety to get your family back home where you want them to be. We loved seeing the Renegade taking on a steep hill in a crossover competition from this post (the other vehicles underperform starting at around 12 minutes). Watch the official Jeep off-road test below:
For Jeepers who want to expand their stable with a smaller more day to day Jeep, the Renegade is a good choice. But don't let the size or the mediocre look fool you. Once in 4WD, the Renegade can get the job done with dependable traction, despite any nasty weather or questionable road conditions. For many folks, the Renegade will be their first Jeep, but it probably won't be their last one for a lifetime of adventures.

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