Best Car Reviews - 2017 Jeep Renegade 2WD

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Introduction

The 2017 Jeep Renegade 2WD is a small front-wheel-drive SUV aimed at drivers who want distinctive Jeep character in a city-friendly package. Its upright proportions, round headlights, seven-slot grille, tall cabin and available modern safety technology make it stand out from more conventional subcompact crossovers. This version combines a flex-fuel-capable 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Design and Exterior Features

The 2017 Renegade has a short, boxy body that gives it a miniaturized Jeep look rather than the smooth, car-like styling common in this class. It measures about 166.6 inches long, making parking easy, while its tall roofline helps it look and feel substantial. The basic design was largely carried over from 2016, although available HID headlamps and automatic high beams expanded the equipment list for 2017. Front-wheel-drive models do not have the off-road hardware of the Trailhawk, but they retain the playful styling and useful ride height of the regular Renegade range.

Signature seven-slot grille and round headlamps create an unmistakable Jeep appearance.
Compact length and tight turning circle suit crowded urban streets and parking spaces.
Available alloy wheels, roof rails, fog lamps and contrasting exterior details add personality.
Available removable My Sky roof panels offer an open-air experience, though they reduce cargo practicality.

Interior and Comfort

The Renegade’s upright shape pays off inside with generous headroom and a wide, airy front cabin. The dashboard mixes rounded forms, rugged-looking trim and practical controls, while storage spaces help with daily errands. Front seats are generally supportive for commuting and highway travel, but rear-seat legroom is limited for taller adults. Cargo space measures about 18.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and roughly 50.8 cubic feet with them folded.

Five-passenger cabin with particularly good front-seat headroom.
60/40-split folding rear seat and available fold-flat front passenger seat improve versatility.
Cloth upholstery is standard on many trims, while higher trims add upgraded trim and available leather seating surfaces.
Available heated front seats, heated steering wheel, remote start and dual-pane or removable roof options improve convenience.

Performance and Handling

This 2017 Jeep Renegade 2WD uses a 2.4-liter Tigershark MultiAir2 four-cylinder engine with flex-fuel capability on front-wheel-drive versions. It produces 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque and is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The front-wheel-drive 2.4-liter model was EPA-rated at 25 mpg combined, 22 mpg city and 31 mpg highway, equivalent to about 9.4 L/100 km combined, 10.7 L/100 km city and 7.6 L/100 km highway. The supplied consumption figure of 11.9004 L/100 km may better reflect mixed real-world use, traffic conditions or an individual vehicle. Independent testing of the heavier 2.4-liter four-wheel-drive Latitude recorded 0-60 mph in 9.4 seconds, so the front-wheel-drive version should be viewed as adequate rather than sporty.

2.4-liter four-cylinder flex-fuel engine with 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque.
Nine-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.
EPA combined economy of 25 mpg, or approximately 9.4 L/100 km.
Comfortable highway ride and manageable city dimensions, though transmission responses can occasionally feel hesitant.

Technology and Connectivity

Technology depends heavily on trim and options. Base models have a simpler audio system, while Latitude and upper trims can include the Uconnect touchscreen interface, Bluetooth, satellite radio and a rearview camera. The available 6.5-inch Uconnect system adds navigation, HD Radio and connected-services capability. Uconnect was widely regarded as one of the easier infotainment systems of its era, though it lacks the newer smartphone integration expected in many later vehicles.

Available 5.0-inch or 6.5-inch Uconnect touchscreen systems.
Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, USB input and available voice commands.
Available navigation, HD Radio, Wi-Fi hotspot capability and remote connected services.
Available nine-speaker Beats premium audio system.

Safety Features

Standard safety equipment includes antilock brakes, electronic stability control, traction control, hill-start assist, a driver knee airbag, front side airbags and side-curtain airbags. A rearview camera was standard on Latitude, Limited and Trailhawk trims and optional on Sport. Available driver-assistance equipment included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, lane-departure warning with intervention, automatic high beams, forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rated 2015-2018 Renegades built after July 2015 Good in moderate-overlap front, side and roof-strength evaluations, and Acceptable in the driver-side small-overlap front test.

Standard electronic stability control, traction control and hill-start assist.
Standard front, side and side-curtain airbag coverage, plus a driver knee airbag.
Available blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
Available forward-collision warning with automatic braking and lane-departure intervention.

Pricing and Variants

The 2017 Jeep Renegade Sport started at approximately $17,995 in the United States before destination charges and options. The lineup included Sport, Latitude, Limited and the four-wheel-drive-only Trailhawk. The 2.4-liter automatic front-wheel-drive configuration was available on Sport and Latitude and standard on Limited. Against rivals such as the Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3, Kia Soul, Nissan Juke and Chevrolet Trax, the Renegade offered stronger visual character and available Jeep-oriented features, but rivals often delivered better fuel economy, rear-seat practicality or long-term reliability confidence.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Distinctive Jeep styling in an easy-to-park small SUV format.
Tall cabin provides useful headroom and a commanding seating position.
2.4-liter engine offers adequate power for everyday driving.
Available Uconnect system is straightforward and feature-rich for its generation.
Available advanced safety equipment is strong for a 2017 subcompact SUV.

Cons

Real-world fuel use can be higher than expectations for a small front-wheel-drive SUV.
Nine-speed automatic can feel slow or indecisive during some shifts.
Rear-seat legroom is tight for taller passengers.
Base trims can feel sparsely equipped.
Used buyers should investigate service history carefully because reliability reports are mixed.

Maintenance and Common Issues

Repair-cost data estimates average annual repair and maintenance spending at about $392, although actual costs vary substantially by mileage, location, maintenance history and repair needs. Common owner-reported concerns for the 2017 Renegade generation include excessive oil consumption, engine stalling or loss of power, engine noises, electrical warning lights or battery-related issues, and occasional transmission behavior concerns. Prospective buyers should confirm that recall work has been completed, check oil level and service records, and arrange a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

Excessive oil consumption reported by some owners of the 2.4-liter engine.
Engine stalling or fuel-system-related drivability complaints.
Engine knocking or rattling reports that warrant prompt diagnosis.
Electrical faults, warning lights and battery-related concerns.
Nine-speed automatic shift-quality or transmission-related complaints.

Rating

Overall rating: 7.0/10. Design: 8.5/10 for its unmistakable, cheerful Jeep identity. Comfort: 7.0/10 for front-seat space and ride quality, offset by limited rear legroom. Performance: 6.5/10 for adequate power but occasionally awkward transmission behavior and modest economy. Technology: 7.5/10 when equipped with the larger Uconnect system and safety packages. Safety: 7.5/10 for solid crashworthiness results and the availability of advanced driver-assistance features.

User Reviews and Feedback

Owner feedback is divided. Many drivers enjoy the Renegade’s character, seating position and small-SUV practicality, while others report concerns that make maintenance history especially important on used examples. Satisfaction tends to be strongest among owners who value style, compact dimensions and regular preventative maintenance over maximum efficiency or rear-seat room.

Owners often praise the distinctive styling and fun, non-generic personality.
Many appreciate the high seating position and easy maneuverability in town.
Front-seat comfort and the tall cabin receive generally positive feedback.
Some owners dislike the nine-speed automatic’s shift behavior.
Reliability experiences vary, with oil use, electrical concerns and stalling reports being recurring themes.

Best Cars in This Category

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

Summary

The 2017 Jeep Renegade 2WD is best suited to drivers who want a compact crossover with genuine personality, a tall cabin and an available range of useful technology and safety features. Its 2.4-liter engine and automatic transmission provide reasonable everyday performance, but fuel economy and transmission refinement trail some rivals. A well-maintained example with documented oil changes, completed recalls and a clean inspection can be an appealing used small SUV for urban use, while shoppers prioritizing maximum efficiency, rear-seat space or long-term dependability should compare alternatives carefully.