Jeep->ke40 had a handful of vehicles at the North American International Auto Show->ke222 this year, including a couple modified Renegades. Those who favor the rugged side of Jeep vehicles took an appreciation with the Renegade Off-Road equipped by Mopar. Its lifted suspension, Trailhawk-spec 4WD system, and exterior upgrades made it ready for the trail. However, Jeep didn’t forget about the folks living in more urban areas where the streets aren’t always strewn with rocks and mud. This Renegade Urban Jeep shows the more city-friendly side of Jeep.
The Renegade->ke4827 Urban still gets similar exterior upgrades as the Renegade Off-Road. A bespoke orange accent color graces the wheel inserts, roof rack, side mirrors, grille rings, and taillight accent trim. The vehicle also comes with a Mopar-sourced trailer hitch and bike rack.
The Jeep’s mechanicals are all untouched – left just like every Limited trim level that rolls off the factory line. The 4WD system still offers plenty of capabilities to hit weekend trails and muddy passes, yet still gives a tamer ride for weekday drives around town.
Click past the jump to read more about the Jeep Renegade Urban Mopar-equipped.
2015 Jeep Renegade Urban Mopar-equipped
- Make: Array
- Model: 2015 Jeep Renegade Urban Mopar-equipped
- Engine/Motor: inline-4
- Horsepower: 184
- Torque: 177
- Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
- [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Exterior
Much of the upgrades on the Renegade Urban are found on the outside. The rugged Anvil color is accented by a unique Omaha orange color on the wheels, roof rack, grille rings, side mirror caps, and taillight trim. The orange color certainly adds brightness to the otherwise dark theme the Renegade has.
Mopar used the Renegade Urban to show off some of its accessory lineup, including the trailer hitch and bike rack that’s able to hold two bikes of nearly any size.
Interior
Standard Renegade shown
Jeep took a similar approach with the Renegade Urban’s interior as it did the Renegade Off-Road’s. Katzkin leather dresses up the seats while the same Omaha orange accents grace the HVAC bezels, speaker grilles, and center console. Carpeted floormats for the first and second rows, along with a matching carpeted cargo mat keep things looking nice. The doorsills are decorated with the Jeep logo for the finishing touch.
Drivetrain
Since Jeep engineers started with a Renegade in Limited trim, the vehicle automatically comes with the upgraded 2.4-liter Tigershark four-cylinder engine backed with the nine-speed automatic transmission. The MultiAir engine is sourced from Fiat and produces 184 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 177 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm.
Getting the power to all four wheels is Jeep’s Active Drive 4WD system. The system offers the added capability of 4WD when its needed and reduced fuel consumption when its not. On solid, non-slippery surfaces, the system defaults into FWD mode, disconnecting the rear axle. When the going gets tough, the computer instantaneously engages the rear driveshaft, sending power to where it’s needed. Active Drive doesn’t offer a low range like the Renegade’s optional Active Drive Low system, so more technical off-roading should be left to the Renegade Trailhawk.
Prices
Like the Renegade Off-Road concept, pricing isn’t available as these are just concept vehicles. Minus the added parts, a Jeep Renegade Limited starts at $24,795.
Competition
Fiat 500X
The Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500X are actually corporate cousins that share the same underpinnings and many mechanical systems. Included in that is the 2.4-liter Tigershark four-cylinder. Though the two vehicles are similar underneath, they are targeted towards two different crowds, with the Jeep going for the more outdoorsy, adventurous types.
Official pricing for the 500X hasn’t been announced, but expect it to start in the low $20,000 mark.
Mini Countryman
Another soft-roading ute is the Countryman from Mini. All-wheel-drive gives the tall wagon more grip on slippery surfaces, though no one will mistake it for a rock-crawling machine. Under the hood lies a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder mated to an optional manual transmission. Sprints to 60 mph come in roughly 7.5 seconds on its way to a top speed of 135 mph, making the Mini the sportiest of the bunch.
Conclusion
The Jeep Renegade Urban is an interesting take on the basic Renegade crossover. The exterior and interior adornments help dress it up while the added Mopar bits give it added functionality. Thankfully the Mopar catalog will be full of add-on items for the Renegade, giving customers the ability to make their Jeep their own.