Jeep Renegade 4xe Trailhawk 2020 UK review

Опубликованно 30.09.2020 01:10

What is it?

This is Jeep’s first plug-in hybrid. And, much as traditionalists might argue that plug-in hybrid power has about as much of a place in a Jeep as a rudder does on a writing desk, we can all appreciate why it exists.

Jeep’s European sales have hit triple-digit percentage growth several times over the past 10 years; but now, if it wants to maintain that growth and consolidate its position on our side of the pond, it must at once drive the carbon emissions of its fleet of new cars down - and quickly - while driving its penetration of the fleet car market up. What's it like?

The Renegade was already the kind of car you have to be at least a little bit irrationally attracted to in order to justify owning one, and that’s all the truer when you stick a ?36,000 price tag on one. It’s   a chirpy, cheery, bold-looking car that you might very well develop an affection for. But out in the real world, it doesn’t really bear flattering comparison with the much more practical and quite plainly better-built and better-appointed SUVs that you might choose to spend your own money on. Should I buy one?

The Jeep Renegade 4xe might be one of the more likeable plug-in hybrid options on the fast-developing compact SUV scene, but it certainly drives like what it is: Jeep’s very first effort at handling the complexity of a PHEV driving experience, and making it work in a car with some off-roading credibility as well as good on-road performance and drivability.  

It is not a triumph - although, if you’re predisposed to it and you have a use for its 4x4 capability, it needn’t strike you as a particular failure either. It’s small but surprisingly tough; comfy and pleasant enough around town, but strained and a bit underwhelming out of it; disappointing for space and material quality, but neither so beyond the bounds of daily usability if you were minded to indulge it.

For the price, it really ought to be better in a number of ways - but judged against its PHEV peers, perhaps it has the charm to do well in any case.

Категория: Краш-тесты