Whoa, slow down, pump the brakes. Isn’t the 2021 Jeep Renegade a good SUV? We have to investigate this matter. The Jeep Renegade didn’t land on this list of the best small SUVs, and we’re getting to the bottom of it? 

Is the 2021 Jeep Renegade a good SUV? 

Of course, the 2021 Jeep Renegade is an extremely capable SUV for off-roading. It’s great in the snow, agile, and fun. However, it didn’t land on the Auto Blog list of best small SUVs. A total of 11 options made their list, like the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, and Toyota RAV 4. 

No surprises there, right? But the Jeep Renegade should be able to compete with those options. It has an MSRP of $22,850, making it pretty affordable compared to rivals. However, it has a lackluster fuel economy. 

It only gets an EPA estimated 23 mpg in the city and up to 29 mpg on the highway. Maybe if we had the hybrid Jeep Renegade 4xe here in America, it would be more popular. But let’s go a little deeper. 

How does the Jeep Renegade perform? 

The 2021 Jeep Renegade has two engines. The base engine is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder option with 180 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque. You can upgrade to the 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder option for 177 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque. It can tow up to 2,000 lbs. 

Both engines are paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. According to Edmunds, the Renegade accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in about 9.3-seconds with the turbo engine. This is below average for its class. 

However, the Renegade can zip past cars on the highway without any issues. It also has excellent handling and stable around corners. It’s nimble and easy park. Edmunds mentioned that the brakes feel mushy, but we never had a problem stopping. 

The ride can be a little bumpy, but the Renegade is set up for off-roading, so that’s not surprising. The larger 19-inch wheels may be a contributing factor too. Smaller wheels might be more comfortable. There is wind and road noise at higher speeds.

Jeep Renegade features 

According to Car and Driver, the Jeep Renegade is open and spacious for taller adults in the front, but the backseat is a little tight. There are 18.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, but the cargo floor is low. Also, there are up to 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space in total. You can stack a lot in there with the seats folded flat. 

You can get a seven or eight-inch infotainment system that comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It’s easy to use and fast. There are USB ports in the front and rear with two 12-volt outlets. 

Standard safety features include forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. 

Edmunds noted that the 2021 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk model is where this tiny SUV shines. It has off-roading abilities that no other model in the class can match. However, maybe shoppers want more practical options for their daily commutes instead of off-roaders.