When you consider the platform this SUV rides on, the exact same one as the Fiat 500X, you might not be excited about the possibilities, but you really should be. The Jeep Renegade is a small SUV, but it’s one that offers you the ground clearance you need than the Jeep capabilities you’re looking for so that you can head off road with confidence and capability. This Jeep is larger on the inside than the Mazda CX-3 and offers you more off road equipment than the Honda HR-V to be the right choice in this segment of the market.

When you want an SUV that’s both small in stature and affordable the Renegade fits the bill. This vehicle is also one you can upgrade however you want with a long list of great optional equipment to give you the ride you want to enjoy. For 2017 the Renegade adds Keyless Go on all trim levels adds passive entry to the Limited trims and brings in HID headlights and automatic high beams for the Advanced Safety package. These additions give you a vehicle that’s better equipped than ever to be the one you want to drive on and off the road.

Most of the time you think of the Wrangler when you think of Jeep, and that may be the poster vehicle for the brand, but the ride you enjoy in the Renegade is more like a sedan and less like a Wrangler. You get to enjoy the expert handling, the improved performance and a quiet cabin that all make for an enjoyable experience driving this SUV. When you do want to heave out on the trails, this SUV is perfect for the ride, giving you the ability to tackle the ride to your favorite spot in the wilderness.

Looking at the equipment you have and the options you can add you will see the Renegade offer you four trim levels to choose from. These trims are Sport, Latitude, Limited and Trailhawk. The base model gives you a USB port, an audio system, a six-way adjustable driver’s seat, power windows and door locks and sixteen-inch wheels. Unfortunately air conditioning is an option on the base trim as is Bluetooth connectivity, making the Latitude a more attractive place to start your shopping. With the Latitude you add the air and Bluetooth along with a five-inch touchscreen for the Uconnect infotainment system, a rearview camera and fog lights.

Moving up to the optional features list we find that 4WD is an option on all trims except Trailhawk. Other options you can add vary based on the trim level with the ability to add blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, leather upholstery, a navigation system, heated seats, a heated steering wheel, a 506-watt Beats audio system with nine speakers, the My Sky removable roof system, rain sensing windshield wipers, dual zone automatic climate control and rear parking assistance features. The 4WD models can have a terrain select system added to optimize the traction for snow, sand much and rocks.

There are two engines you can choose from in the Renegade to have the power or efficiency you want. At the Sport and Latitude models the engine used is a 1.4-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine that produces 160 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine is only attached to one transmission, a six-speed manual which certainly keeps the price down and gives you the familiar Jeep feeling while driving. This powertrain gives you 24 city/31 hwy mpg in the 2WD and 4WD models making it an easy choice to add 4WD to this powertrain.

The larger and more powerful engine is a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine which brings in 180 horsepower and 175 lb.-ft. of torque and is the standard engine used for the Limited and Trailhawk models. This engine is attached to a nine-speed automatic transmission as its only choice and this combination is good for a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds. This powertrain still returns good fuel mileage at 22 city/31 hwy mpg for the 2WD models and 21 city/29 hwy mpg for the 4WD versions, giving you a great choice for the drive you want of the Renegade.