The Jeep Renegade is a fun little SUV with more personality than its main rivals. The ride quality is a little stiff and cargo space is lackluster, but otherwise the Renegade is pretty agreeable. Give it a shot if you want a small crossover SUV with character.
Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.
Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at Edmunds in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at Edmunds and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.
Pros
Trailhawk model's excellent off-road capability
Agile handling in turns
Plenty of easy-to-use technology features
Cons
High price when optioned with nice-to-have features
Small cargo area and tight backseat legroom for adults
Boxy shape makes for lots of highway wind noise
What's new
Sport trim level has been discontinued
Upland Edition package debuts with distinct styling, four-wheel drive and rugged tires
Minor reshuffling of available features for various packages and trims
Part of the first Renegade generation introduced for 2015
Overview
The 2023 Jeep Renegade is a versatile subcompact SUV. It doesn't offer near the off-road capability of its much more famous Jeep sibling, the Wrangler, but it does outclass many of its competitors when the pavement ends and the dirt starts. The Trailhawk trim, in particular, comes with a raised suspension and all-terrain tires to help you more successfully rumble over ruts and rocks.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Jeep Renegade Latitude 4dr SUV 4WD (1.3L 4cyl Turbo 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.30 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.
This baby Jeep, though, is starting to show its age. The Renegade is in its first generation, introduced in 2015, and while we like its easy-to-use technology features, it's probably about time for a full redesign. Overall, we like the Renegade but also suggest taking a look at other highly rated competitors such as the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Mazda CX-30 and Volkswagen Taos. Subaru's Crosstrek is another solid option and rivals the Renegade for all-terrain capability. Check out our test team's Expert Rating for the full rundown of the Renegade's hits and misses.
Edmunds Expert Rating
average
7.2/10
Edmunds Rating
Our VerdictThe Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.
The Jeep Renegade is a fun little SUV with more personality than its main rivals. The ride quality is a little stiff and cargo space is lackluster, but otherwise the Renegade is pretty agreeable. Give it a shot if you want a small crossover SUV with character.
How does the Renegade drive? The Renegade doesn't do anything particularly outstanding in this category. We tested a Renegade Limited with all-wheel drive and it sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in 9.3 seconds, which is a bit slow for an SUV in this class.
Around town, the Renegade's brake pedal feels uneven and a bit mushy. In our brake testing, it needed 135 feet to stop from 60 mph. That's longer than the class average. We do like the Renegade's engine stop-start system that provides near seamless restarts in traffic. The Renegade handles surprisingly well too. It's stable and planted in corners and nimble and easy to park.
Comfort
7.0/10
How comfortable is the Renegade? The Renegade's ride is surprisingly firm. You feel more bumps and road imperfections than you might expect from a small SUV. Our fully loaded test vehicle's 19-inch wheels are likely a big factor. A Renegade with smaller wheels (and therefore more absorbent tire sidewalls) should be more comfortable.
At idle, the Renegade is fairly quiet. While we didn't notice any squeaks or rattles, there's a good bit of wind and tire noise. The turbo engine doesn't offer a particularly great exhaust note either.
The climate control system works well, and our tester's heated seats and steering wheel worked quickly on a chilly day. The seats offer enough lateral support but feel a little too stiff and offer limited adjustment. Drivers who like to sit upright might find the headrest is angled too far forward.
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How’s the interior? The Renegade's interior is open and roomy with plenty of headroom and shoulder room, even with the optional panoramic sunroof. Rear legroom, however, is tight for the class.
The square-shaped doors open wide, and the seats sit tall enough to make getting in and out easy. The thick windshield roof pillars compromise forward visibility, but the large side and rear windows, in conjunction with the big outside mirrors, make it easier to see out of the sides and back.
The Renegade has easy-to-reach knobs and buttons with clear labels. Major menus in the infotainment system are all placed along the bottom of the screen and remain visible even with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration active.
Technology
7.5/10
How’s the tech? The 8.4-inch touchscreen and its Uconnect infotainment system are among the best in this class. It features a clean, easy-to-use menu system, a high-resolution touchscreen display, and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Our test Renegade had two USB ports and two 12-volt outlets.
The Renegade offers a decent number of driver aids, such as adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and lane departure warning. They work pretty well, but only offering adaptive cruise control on the top Limited trim — where it's often included as standard equipment on rivals — is kind of lame.
Storage
6.5/10
How’s the storage? With only 18.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind its rear seats, the Renegade is near the bottom of the class. The cargo area has a boxy shape at least and the load floor is low.
Up front there's a bin in front of the gear shifter that's great for your phone or sunglasses, and the door pockets are large enough to hold smaller water bottles. The main cupholders are awkwardly placed — they're too low and too far rearward for easy access.
The 60/40-split rear seats fold flat and have anchor and tether points on both outer positions for child safety seats. Rear-facing safety seats might be tight, but most other seats should fit fine.
Fuel Economy
6.0/10
How’s the fuel economy? We tested the Renegade with the 1.3-liter engine and four-wheel drive. The EPA estimates that this configuration is good for 26 mpg in combined city/highway driving. But we fell short of that on our 115-mile evaluation route, getting just 24 mpg. That's disappointing since most other vehicles in this class either meet or exceed their EPA combined rating.
Value
6.5/10
Is the Renegade a good value? The Renegade is one of the most expensive vehicles in its class. That might be OK if you got lots of features and value for the price, but you don't. Interior build quality is fine, but there's nothing exceptional inside and it feels like you're paying a lot for the rough-and-tumble Jeep styling.
A three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty is a bit skimpy, but the powertrain coverage of five years/60,000 miles is about average for the class. The five-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance coverage is reassuring.
Wildcard
8.0/10
This is where the Renegade shines. Every trim, but especially the rough-and-tumble Trailhawk model, looks and feels cool. It's shaped like a small-scale version of the Wrangler, with exaggerated lines and features that give it both a cute and rugged appearance. While the Renegade is not especially fun to drive in most trims, the Trailhawk offers a decent amount of off-road capability that nothing else in the class can match.
Which Renegade does Edmunds recommend?
Our choice would be the Latitude trim level. While it doesn't offer the off-road prowess that the Trailhawk does, or some of the luxury features that the Limited trim does, the Latitude offers a wide variety of available options at a reasonable price.
Jeep Renegade models
The Jeep Renegade is a subcompact SUV with seating for up to five passengers. It comes in three trim levels: Latitude, Limited and Trailhawk. A turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine (177 horsepower, 210 lb-ft of torque) and nine-speed transmission are standard on all trims. All-wheel drive comes standard on the Latitude and Limited, while the Trailhawk comes standard with a four-wheel-drive system.
Latitude
This trim level includes many nice-to-haves, such as:
All-wheel drive
17-inch alloy wheels
Foglights
Keyless entry
8.4-inch infotainment touchscreen
Driver information display
Cloth upholstery
Six-speaker audio system
Rear USB ports
Smartphone connectivity
Tinted rear windows
Standard safety equipment for all trims includes:
Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)
Trailer sway damping (adjusts vehicle brakes to help control trailer movement if a trailer begins to sway)
The Latitude offers a wide selection of optional packages. These include:
Altitude package
18-inch black-painted wheels
Gloss black exterior accents
Premium cloth upholstery
Remote start
Convenience Group package
Automatic wipers and windshield wiper de-icer
Auto-dimming rearview mirror
Heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel
Power-adjustable driver's seat
Heated front seats
40/20/40-split folding rear seats
115-volt household-style power outlet
Sun and Sound Group package
Panoramic sunroof
Nine-speaker audio system with subwoofer
Premium Group
Auto-dimming rearview mirror
Lumbar adjustment for the driver's seat
Heated front seats
Heated steering wheel
Roof rails
Upland Edition
Special front and rear fascia
Hood decal
17-inch wheels with all-terrain tires
Special cloth upholstery
Ambient interior lighting
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Limited
Building off Latitude equipment, this luxe addition to the Renegade family includes:
Convenience Group package
18-inch wheels
Leather upholstery
Optional for the Limited are:
Limited Elite Group package
LED headlights
Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Renegade and the car in front)
Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)
Rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind the vehicle when parking)
Rear automatic braking (applies the brakes automatically to avoid an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)
Sun and Sound Group
Nine-speaker audio system with a subwoofer
Panoramic sunroof
High Altitude package
Only available with the Sun and Sound and Limited Elite packages
19-inch gray painted wheels
Gloss black badging and gray exterior trim
Trailhawk
Jeep positions the Trailhawk as the off-road-oriented trim. Discouragingly, it's the only Renegade not to feature the forward collision mitigation system. Otherwise it starts with Latitude's equipment and adds:
I took a test drive and I absolutely loved the vehicle. It was all black (interior and exterior) with nearly every option I wanted. The engine was responsive while the transmission was quick to shift, maybe too quick. I had to watch the acceleration while driving the first mile or two.
I took the Renegade onto the freeway and cracked open the sunroof. This particular model have the … removable panels. The car got up to speed briskly, but the sunroof, once opened, let in a lot of outside noise. If you purchase this vehicle, be advised you will be cranking up the volume on the sound system. The hood seems big, but that’s part of the Jeep experience.
The infotainment worked flawlessly, with a large 8.4 inch uConnect being easy to decipher. It has a fast response time. Seating was very comfortable, with the power leather seats making finding a perfect position easy. Looking around the interior, it felt spacious, even with the black headliner. The A/C worked well, considering I took the test drive during a record-breaking heatwave in Las Vegas.
Next, the rear seating area. I was able to sit back there with some room to spare. I’m 6’1”, and I was able to sit behind the driver’s seat with a couple inches to spare. There is plenty of headroom for everyone, front and back. So, if I ever need to sit I the rear (which would be rare, if ever), I could be reasonably comfortable.
I checked out the cargo area and found it to be more than adequate. There is a compartment under the cargo floor to store the removable sunroof panels (with a sleeve to put them in) which I found to be a great bonus. Going to Sam’s Club for a run would not be a problem for me.
Upon returning to the dealer, I took some time to look at the exterior in more detail. All the Easter eggs aside, I really like the look of the Renegade. The wheels were 19”, painted a granite color. It really gives it a polished look. Shiny and gleaming in the hot sun, it stands out quite well.
What prevented me from purchasing? The dealership. The car was discounted by “$5K”, but that was due to the rebate. They didn’t even bother to negotiate with me. While I was upside down on my current vehicle, the was no way in hell I was going to pay over thirty grand ($34K to be exact) for a Renegade that has been sitting on their lot for six months. This was even with their rebate. Jim Marsh Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge/Ram lost a customer.
I ended up finding the exact same Renegade with the exact same options at a dealer 250 miles away (Lake Elsinore Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge/Ram) for four grand less. They gave me a better rebate and took an additional $4500 discount. Oh, and I used TrueCar to get an additional thousand dollars off the price. With my less than perfect credit, I was still able to buy the Renegade for significantly less that what Jim Marsh tried to shackle me into.
I’ll be driving my new black Jeep Renegade home in the coming days. When shopping around, take your time. Do your research. Know the pros and cons of the make and model you want, read the reviews, take the car/trick for a real test drive and shop around dealers in the area. I saved over $8K off MSRP by being patient and sticking to my guns.
Thank you for reading this review and hope this was helpful.
5/5 stars, Sweet sweet Ride!
Rockbottombad,
Trailhawk 4dr SUV 4WD (1.3L 4cyl Turbo 9A)
I love this little Jeep. It is fully loaded with everything I need and then some. The gas mileage isnt the best but I dont drive a Jeep for the gas mileage I drive it for pleasure. This thing has plenty of spunk especially on the top end.... I have no issues passing slow moving vehicles. The engine has an idle that is rock solid!... it is so quite in fact that sometimes when I come to a … stop I have to wonder if the engine is still running. This things is pretty sweet off road too. Check out some of the YouTube vids out there...This is not a toy....All of the new features like lane departure , auto headlights and rain sensing wipers.. love love love them. Apple car play.... sweet.. cant say enough good things about this ride
4/5 stars, Jeep Renegade Latitude 1.3 (not Limited)
Ben,
Limited 4dr SUV 4WD (1.3L 4cyl Turbo 9A)
We chose the 2020 Jeep Renegade Latitude 4x4 due to features and lease price around 300 a month. Jeep has reduced the price quite a bit on the 2020 year. It has a lot of Latitude features like the bigger Cherokee. Have not driven it much yet, but so far we like it more, compared to my old Patriot.
Update; I have driven it the past week and it has no problems with acceleration or … transmission. It is great for either highway or city driving. It is every bit a small SUV, and this the sixth jeep we have had in our garage. Kim has the 2016 Jeep Cherokee which is far better than the Mazda CX5 she had. Overall, I give any negative reviews on this Jeep a thumbs down for bias. This jeep is fun to drive and it performs well in traffic. We don't have any passengers besides the two of us, so we don't use the back seats much. Maybe in three years we will get the model with a tow package and make a trip. I like the added altitude package in this jeep.
One thing I don't like is there is no full sized spare in many current vehicles, unless you order it or get a tow package. The tire repair kit is OK, but not for long trips where you may need a real spare.
I will be getting a full spare tire and wheel soon.
MPG may get better after more highway driving.
5/5 stars, Love my Trailhawk
Kali,
Trailhawk 4dr SUV 4WD (1.3L 4cyl Turbo 9A)
I bought this car a little over a month ago and I love it so far. It has better mileage than my last SUV and has much better and updated tech. The A/C is great and I have no problem with the handling or the speed, but it does take some getting used to. The best part is the exterior styling, the off road and 4x4 capability, Apple Car Play, and cool little Jeep easter eggs all over the … place. I have 0 complaints with the quality of the interior and there’s plenty of head and leg room up front. The cloth seats are comfortable and UConnect Infotainment system is very easy to use. Price wise I got a really good deal on it and the only cons I have are the cargo room, the confused 9 speed automatic transmission and that the Infotainment screen goes blank in extreme heat but once the interior is cooled and the screen is rebooted, then all is well. That may need to be dealt with at the Dealership soon but otherwise I love my Renegade and am really looking forward to taking it off roading and am confident come winter that my Renegade Trailhawk will get me to where I need to go.
If you're looking for a bit of off-road capability in your small crossover, the Subaru Crosstrek is a noteworthy option. With plenty of ground clearance and an highly capable all-wheel-drive system, the Crosstrek gives the Renegade some tough competition in off-road scenarios. The Subaru also outclasses the Jeep when it comes to interior quality and ride comfort.
For a bit more refined driving experience in an extra-small crossover, we recommend the Mazda CX-30. With a stylish exterior and a high-quality interior, the CX-30 feels more expensive than the price tag would lead you to believe. It might not have the same off-road chops as topped-out Renegade models, but the CX-30 is much more enjoyable to drive. Read Edmunds' long-term road test of the Mazda CX-30.
When the Volkswagen Taos was introduced in 2022, it immediately jumped to the top of its class as the Edmunds' highest-rated extra-small SUV. We were impressed with its handling and driving characteristics, as well as its easy-to-use tech interface and spacious cargo area. It has a few drawbacks like a noisy powertrain and slow shifting characteristics from the transmission, but we still prefer it to the relatively average Renegade.
The 2023 Jeep Renegade is a versatile subcompact SUV that does not offer near the off-road capability of its much more famous Jeep sibling, the Wrangler, but beats many of its competitors for wet and muddy conditions. It fetches a higher price than rivals like the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Mazda CX-30, particularly when nice-to-have features are added, but some optional packages (such as the top-of-the-line Trailhawk trim) make the Renegade uniquely Jeep.
That doesn't mean the Renegade, at any trim level, is capable of serious off-roading. The Trailhawk trim comes with a raised suspension and all-terrain tires, but it isn't intended for rock crawling or mud bogging. Still, it's a sporty vehicle that will suit many people's everyday needs.
It's also starting to show its age. The Renegade is in its first generation, introduced in 2015, and while we like its easy-to-use technology features, it's probably about time for a full refresh. It does not appear significant updates are on their way for the 2023 model year, though. Styling updates and a new touchscreen infotainment system were spotted in leaked images, but the 2023 model will largely be the same Renegade. If you liked last year's model, you're in luck. If not — well, have you taken a look at the highly rated Volkswagen Taos, Chevrolet Trailblazer or Mazda CX-30?
Edmunds says
The 2023 Jeep Renegade offers a little bit of adventure and versatility in an easy-to-use package. It isn't necessarily the most well-rounded or affordable choice for a subcompact SUV, but the Renegade holds appeal for the right buyer.
FAQ
Is the Jeep Renegade a good car?
The Edmunds experts tested the 2023 Renegade both on the road and at the track, giving it a 7.2 out of 10. Edmunds’ consumer reviews show that the 2023 Renegade gets an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 (based on 35 reviews) What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that the Renegade has 18.5 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Jeep Renegade. Learn more
What's new in the 2023 Jeep Renegade?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2023 Jeep Renegade:
Sport trim level has been discontinued
Upland Edition package debuts with distinct styling, four-wheel drive and rugged tires
Minor reshuffling of available features for various packages and trims
Part of the first Renegade generation introduced for 2015
To determine whether the Jeep Renegade is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the Renegade. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the Renegade's 4-star average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 2023 Jeep Renegade a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2023 Jeep Renegade is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2023 Renegade and gave it a 7.2 out of 10. Our consumer reviews show that the 2023 Renegade gets an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 (based on 35 reviews). Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2023 Renegade is a good car for you. Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2023 Jeep Renegade?
The least-expensive 2023 Jeep Renegade is the 2023 Jeep Renegade Latitude 4dr SUV 4WD (1.3L 4cyl Turbo 9A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $27,805.
Other versions include:
Latitude 4dr SUV 4WD (1.3L 4cyl Turbo 9A) which starts at $27,805
Upland 4dr SUV 4WD (1.3L 4cyl Turbo 9A) which starts at $28,400
Altitude 4dr SUV 4WD (1.3L 4cyl Turbo 9A) which starts at $29,300
Red Edition 4dr SUV 4WD (1.3L 4cyl Turbo 9A) which starts at $31,640
Trailhawk 4dr SUV 4WD (1.3L 4cyl Turbo 9A) which starts at $31,945
Limited 4dr SUV 4WD (1.3L 4cyl Turbo 9A) which starts at $32,845
If you're interested in the Jeep Renegade, the next question is, which Renegade model is right for you? Renegade variants include Latitude 4dr SUV 4WD (1.3L 4cyl Turbo 9A), Upland 4dr SUV 4WD (1.3L 4cyl Turbo 9A), Altitude 4dr SUV 4WD (1.3L 4cyl Turbo 9A), and Red Edition 4dr SUV 4WD (1.3L 4cyl Turbo 9A). For a full list of Renegade models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more
