Introduced in 2014, the Jeep Renegade was received with some skepticism, mostly for being based on a Fiat platform and for being built outside the United States. But the company's smallest SUV yet became a popular choice in its first three years on the market, with nearly 250,000 units sold in the U.S. and more than 470,000 examples delivered worldwide. The Renegade is close to receiving its mid-cycle update in 2018, but until that happens, Jeep gave the mini SUV a makeover for the Moab Easter Safari. It's called the B-Ute and is equipped for the ultimate off-road adventure.

Fitted with a series of Jeep Performance Parts, the B-Ute would slot above the Trailhawk model in the lineup if it were to become a production model. It has more rugged features, bespoke interior parts, and enhanced off-roading capability thanks to a lift kit and larger wheels and tires. The name itself is a bit weird, as it combines the letter "B" with the term used for utility vehicles in Australian. Read together, and it would seem like Jeep wanted to call this SUV "beauty." And it's certainly not! But hey, it was built to tackle rough terrain and not win beauty contests, so it doesn't really matter.

Continue reading to learn more about the Jeep B-Ute.

What makes the Jeep B-Ute special

If you're familiar with the Jeep Renegade, it won't take you long to notice why the B-Ute is different. The 17-inch wheels wrapped in off-road tires and the Jeep Performance Parts roof rack are obvious giveaways. But the B-Ute also sports a unique front fascia with a more rugged bumper. The foglamps in the corners are gone, while the vent in the middle is thinner. The entire bumper is actually smaller in order to help the B-Ute climb rocks easier.

The grille remains unchanged, but the chrome on the vertical slats was blacked-out, a feature we've seen on the Renegade Trailhawk. The SUV also gained a new engine hood with heat extractors and beefed-up fender flares. A modified rear bumper, a "B-Ute" badge, and Jeep Performance Parts rock rails round out the vehicle's bespoke exterior.

The cabin gets a few interesting extras too, starting with the custom-trimmed seats with Mineral inserts. There's also a Carbonite finish on the gear shifter, spears, and A/C vent surrounds, and Piano Black trim. Jeep also added all-weather floor mats from Mopar and a MOLLE system on the back of the front seats. The latter is an acronym for Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment and define the current generation of load-bearing equipment and backpacks used by a number of NATO armed forces.

Under-the-skin upgrades are limited to just a 1.5-inch lift kit, but it's enough to turn the Renegade into a more capable off-road vehicle, especially when combined with the BF Goodrich T/A Baja Champion tires. Power comes from a 2.4-liter Tigershark engine, which generates 180 horsepower. The output is identical to the standard model, but it's more than enough to move this little crossover around. Just like in the regular Renegade, it mates to a nine-speed automatic transmission.

References

Read our full review on the 2017 Jeep Renegade.

Read more Jeep news.