The folks over at Jeep U.K. decided to demonstrate the water fording capabilities of the Jeep Renegade. But rather than wading in some lackadaisical stream, the team chose the rushing waters of the Cardiff International White Water Center. This Olympic-standard course flows 3.8 million gallons of water per hour in only 820 feet of course, with a 30-foot drop in elevation from start to finish.

Needless to say, the challenge is real.

Jeep chose to use a nearly stock Renegade Trailhawk for the challenge. Jeep and Red Bull ambassador, and snowboarding champ Aimee Fuller would do the driving. The only changes made to the Jeep->ke4468 including adding drain holes in the footwells, raising the airbag ECU by a half-inch, and mounting up a set of winter tires.

The video dramatizes what looks like an uneventful drive down the man-made rapids. The Jeep never seems to be pushed by the water or to have lost traction, alluding to its impressive off-roading abilities. Granted, driving in swift-moving water in an uncontrolled environment is about the dumbest thing anyone can do. It takes a surprisingly little amount of rushing water to sweep a vehicle – even a high-riding crossover->ke288 – off the road.

Nevertheless, the stunt is impressive to watch. It’s also impressive no other automaker has tired this before, making the Jeep Renegade the first vehicle to ever attempt the feat.

Continue reading for the full story.

Why it matters

Good publicity is a tricky thing to come by sometimes, but that’s exactly what Jeep is searching for here. Jeep is using this as a way to raise awareness for the Renegade. It’s no doubt the Renegade is popular in Europe, but sales can always be improved. The partnership with a high-profile athlete helps as well.

The Renegade might not be the most capable Jeep in the stable, but it’s far more capable the large majority of crossovers in the market today. It comes with the optional Active Drive Low 4WD system, which give the driver high- and low-range gears for trudging through mud or snow. Speaking of different terrains, the Renegade comes with Jeep’s Selec-Terrain traction system, which adjust the traction control and ABS systems for environments that include snow, sand, mud, and rock.

Jeep Renegade

Read our full review on the Jeep Renegade here.