If you’re like me, then the thought of driving in the snow is terrifying. But with the 2016 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk, safely getting from point A to point B has never been so reassuring. Check out how the Jeep Renegade handles snow and ice with ease. 

The 2016 Jeep Renegade is great in the snow 

For a quick background on my driving style, I’m from a horse farm in South Carolina. Usually, half an inch of snow would shut down the city for three days, and I didn’t have to go to work or school. This made an SUV or truck without AWD or 4×4 perfectly fine. 

But upon moving to a cabin outside of Asheville, NC, at nearly 5,000 feet, the snow became something to worry about. So, before moving, I picked the 2016 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk for its capabilities. 

I got a great deal. It was about $17,500 with 45k miles on it. I picked it over the Jeep Wrangler to have a more comfortable ride for commutes, for a better fuel economy, and due to expenses. Used Jeep Wrangler models were a lot more than this Renegade. 

How the Jeep Renegade handles in snow 

Before driving in the snow, I did my homework. I learned never to be too confident, even if driving felt easy, to lightly tap the brakes over and over to come to a stop, never slam on the brakes and more. 

When there was a mix of snow and ice that added up to 13-inches, the Renegade performed as everything was fine. I didn’t feel any slips, had controlled stops, the tires felt like they had a secure grip, and more. 

In the Renegade, there is a Selec-Terrain Traction Management system. It includes an automatic driving mode that adjusts based on conditions. I could see it switch from 4×4 low, to snow, and more as needed. 

The driving modes include: 

I have used it to climb over steep rocky inclines as well and was impressed. I drive a bit more casually than others. For example, I let a guy named Jim drive in the snow, and he wanted to have some fun. 

Despite my quells to go easy, he went to play and sighed when he couldn’t get the Jeep Renegade to fishtail or slide as much as he wanted on a snow-covered gravel road.

This was a plus for me and made everything feel much safer. We drive harder on off-roading trails when the weather is better. But the point is that you can adjust the settings to suit your needs in various situations. 

But to focus on snow, when you’re driving the Renegade in snow, sleet, or ice, torque is distributed to all four tires evenly and sets the suspension to prevent spinouts. The Snow Mode also detects slippage and counteracts it accordingly. 

Renegade winter driving features 

The Jeep Renegade Trailhawk has a ground clearance of 8.7-inches, which can feel low. But the skid plates are incredibly durable and capable of clearing away debris. If you do get stuck, which I haven’t been able to do yet, you can easily be rescued thanks to the tow hooks. 

Even in temperatures as cold as -8 degrees Fahrenheit, the Renegade is very warm. The remote start feature gets it nice and toasty before you get in it. I don’t have perks like the heated seats or heated steering wheel, but I didn’t need them. 

You also don’t have to stop to enter 4×4 driving modes. You can twist the knob while in motion. This feature was pretty shocking to my parents. The Jeep Renegade offers a pretty smooth ride and a quiet cabin so you can hear any slippage if you start to slide. It feels like you’re in total control. 

Thanks to the nimble size of the Jeep Renegade, it’s easy to maneuver. You can turn around on tight trails and easily find places to pull over and park safely. One of the most common Jeep Gladiator complaints is that it’s too wide for trails, but the Renegade is an entirely different beast.