Best Car Reviews - 2017 Jeep Renegade 2WD

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Introduction

The 2017 Jeep Renegade 2WD is a characterful small SUV aimed at drivers who want an upright seating position, compact city dimensions and unmistakable Jeep styling without the cost or complexity of four-wheel drive. This front-wheel-drive version pairs a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a six-speed manual transmission, making it one of the more engaging Renegade combinations. Its boxy proportions, practical five-door body and distinctive round-headlamp design help it stand apart from more conventional subcompact crossovers.

Design and Exterior Features

The Renegade has a short, square-shouldered shape that looks more like a scaled-down traditional Jeep than a typical rounded crossover. It measures about 4.23 metres long, making it easy to park, while its tall roofline helps it retain a useful cabin. Round headlights, the seven-slot grille, trapezoidal wheel arches and X-shaped tail-light details create a recognisable design. The 2017 model was not a major redesign; it retained the first-generation Renegade’s rugged visual identity and trim-specific appearance packages.

Signature seven-slot grille and round headlamps.
Compact 4.23-metre overall length for urban use.
Roof rails and alloy wheels were available depending on trim and options.
Wide-opening rear hatch and practical five-door layout.
Distinctive X-pattern rear lamp styling.

Interior and Comfort

The cabin is upright and functional, with a high driving position, chunky controls and Jeep-inspired design touches. The layout is easy to understand, although interior plastics are harder and less polished than those in some Japanese and Korean rivals. Front-seat space is generally good for the class, and the tall roof benefits headroom. Rear-seat and cargo space are adequate rather than class-leading, so the Renegade is best for small families, couples and urban drivers rather than frequent five-adult journeys.

Five-seat cabin with a commanding driving position.
60/40 split-folding rear seat for added load flexibility.
Available heated front seats and heated steering wheel.
Available power-adjustable driver’s seat.
Practical storage spaces and large, simple controls.

Performance and Handling

This 2WD manual configuration uses Jeep’s 1.4-litre turbocharged MultiAir inline-four engine, producing 160 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. Power goes to the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox. The turbo engine provides useful low-speed response and the manual transmission gives the Renegade more driver involvement than the nine-speed automatic versions. Handling is secure and easygoing rather than sporty, with a tall-body feel in faster corners. The supplied fuel-consumption figure is 11.4 L/100 km; official North American combined estimates for the 1.4-litre manual configuration were substantially lower under laboratory testing, so real-world results will vary sharply with traffic, driving style, weather and tyre condition.

1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
160 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque.
Six-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive.
Electric power steering and independent-style strut suspension layout.
More engaging powertrain character than automatic Renegade versions.

Technology and Connectivity

Technology depended heavily on trim and option packages. Available Uconnect systems included touchscreen infotainment, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, voice-command functions and navigation on selected versions. Higher trims could add a larger touchscreen, premium audio, remote-start-related convenience features and a rear-view camera. The interface was relatively straightforward for its era, although its screen size, graphics and smartphone integration are dated beside newer small SUVs.

Available Uconnect touchscreen infotainment systems.
Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio streaming.
Available navigation and voice-command functions.
Available rear-view camera.
Available premium audio and convenience packages.

Safety Features

Standard safety equipment included electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes, multiple airbags and tyre-pressure monitoring. Available driver-assistance equipment included forward-collision warning with mitigation, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection and lane-departure warning. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave 2015–2018 Renegades built after July 2015 Good ratings in the moderate-overlap frontal, side-impact and roof-strength tests, while the driver-side small-overlap result was Acceptable. Headlight performance was rated Poor in the tested configuration, so buyers should check the lighting equipment on the specific vehicle.

Four-wheel anti-lock braking system.
Electronic stability control and traction-management functions.
Multiple airbags and tyre-pressure monitoring.
Available forward-collision warning with mitigation.
Available blind-spot monitoring and lane-departure warning.

Pricing and Variants

When new, the 2017 Renegade Sport 4x2 started at about US$17,995 before destination charges and options. The range included Sport, Latitude, Limited, Trailhawk, Altitude and Deserthawk variants, although the off-road-focused Trailhawk used four-wheel drive and an automatic transmission rather than this 2WD manual layout. Rivals included the Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3, Nissan Juke, Kia Soul and Chevrolet Trax. The Jeep’s appeal was its style and available capability, while several rivals offered stronger perceived reliability, more refined cabins or better cargo packaging.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Distinctive Jeep styling in a compact footprint.
Turbocharged manual-transmission version is relatively engaging to drive.
High seating position and good front-seat headroom.
Useful available safety and infotainment equipment.
Easy to park and manoeuvre in urban areas.

Cons

Fuel use can be high in real-world urban driving.
Hard interior plastics trail the best rivals.
Rear-seat and cargo room are only average for the class.
Ride and wind noise can feel less refined than newer competitors.
Reliability history and recall checks deserve careful attention on used examples.

Maintenance and Common Issues

A published independent estimate places average annual repair and maintenance cost for a 2017 Renegade at about US$392, but actual costs depend on mileage, location, service history and repair needs. Before purchase, confirm that recalls have been completed and obtain a pre-purchase inspection. Frequently reported concerns for the model or its generation include engine stalling or rough running, oil-consumption concerns, battery or electrical-system faults, brake-related complaints, and fuel-system issues. Some fuel-pump recall concerns applied specifically to certain 2017–2018 2.4-litre flex-fuel 4x2 vehicles, not automatically to this 1.4-litre manual model.

Rating

Overall rating: 7.0/10. Design: 8.5/10. Comfort: 7.0/10. Performance: 7.0/10. Technology: 7.0/10. Safety: 7.0/10. The 2017 Jeep Renegade 2WD earns its score through personality, useful available equipment and a lively manual turbo powertrain, but loses ground to more polished competitors on efficiency, cabin quality and long-term ownership confidence.

User Reviews and Feedback

Owner feedback commonly describes the Renegade as charming, practical and enjoyable at city speeds, especially with the manual transmission. Sentiment is more mixed on fuel economy, interior refinement and dependability. A well-maintained example with documented servicing and completed recalls is especially important when shopping used.

Owners often like the upright seating position and distinctive appearance.
The manual turbo version is generally appreciated for its more involved driving experience.
Many drivers find its compact dimensions convenient in city traffic and parking spaces.
Some owners report fuel economy that varies widely from official test figures.
Electrical, engine and fuel-system history are common inspection priorities for used buyers.

Best Cars in This Category

2017 Honda HR-V
2017 Mazda CX-3
2017 Kia Soul
2017 Nissan Juke
2017 Chevrolet Trax

Summary

The 2017 Jeep Renegade 2WD is best suited to buyers who value personality, a tall seating position and compact-SUV practicality more than maximum cargo room or the lowest ownership risk. The 1.4-litre turbocharged engine and six-speed manual transmission give this front-wheel-drive version an appealingly hands-on character. It can be a good-value used small SUV when priced correctly, carefully inspected and supported by a complete maintenance and recall record.