2021 Jeep Renegade review
Jeep Renegade highlights
Customer rating
Pros
- Great off-road ability with available 4WD
- Styling stands out from other subcompact SUVs
- Lots of standard tech features
Cons
- Small cargo area
- Lots of road noise during highway driving
Mileage (EPA estimate)
21 city, 27 highway, 24 combined
Pricing for current inventory
(no current inventory)
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Power and style in a petite package
Are you looking for a subcompact SUV that stands out? If so, the 2021 Jeep Renegade is a strong contender. The Renegade lives up to its rebellious name even as a type of vehicle that is, usually, about as tame as you can get—a subcompact crossover SUV. The 2021 Jeep Renegade is practical, fits five people and has enough cargo space to get by on a beach day or quick overnight trip. You'll find plenty of standard driver-assist and technology features too. But the Renegade is more than just a commuter car. It's a fun option for weekend warriors, adventure seekers and busy families alike. With the available four-wheel drive, the Renegade is a force to be reckoned with where the pavement ends. Yet if you're spending more time in the city than the mountains at this stage of your life, that's ok too. With unique styling and body shape, the 2021 Jeep Renegade will look just as good chauffeuring the kids around or rolling up to a Friday night concert as it will scaling rocky paths and splashing through mud puddles. While we currently do not have many 2021 Jeep Renegades on our lots, we look forward to selling more in the future. If you love the 2021 model, you should also consider prior model years of the Jeep Renegade with similar features.
All Jeep Renegade years
What is new for the 2021 Jeep Renegade?
- The Renegade is available in a variety of new trims, including the 80th Anniversary, Freedom Edition, and Islander.
- The Altitude, High Altitude, North Edition, and Orange Edition trims have been discontinued for 2021.
- Renegade trims have been upgraded with Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Monitor, and Panoramic Sunroof as standard equipment this year.
- The Upland trim now comes with Satellite Radio Ready as standard equipment.
- The Trailhawk trim now comes with Power Seat(s), Remote Start, Heated Steering Wheel, Front Seat Heaters, Smart Key, and Navigation System as standard equipment.
2021 Jeep Renegade trims
Sport:
Standard front-wheel drive, available 4WD, standard 180-hp 2.4L four-cylinder, available 177-hp 1.3L turbocharged four-cylinder, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, driver assist features, 16-inch wheel, and more
Jeepster:
Adds remote start, proximity keyless entry, and 19-inch wheels
Latitude:
Sport features plus an additional USB port, 17-inch wheels, adds package options that open accessories like a sunroof, leather seats, and heated front seats
Upland:
Sports features plus standard 4WD, tow hooks, front skid plate, higher ground clearance
80th Anniversary Edition:
Adds 8.4-inch touch screen, navigation, HD radio, turbocharged engine for no additional cost
Islander:
Adds unique paint color options
Limited:
Standard turbo engine and 4WD, Leather, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, remote start, navigation, rain-sensing windshield wipers
Trailhawk:
Loses standard leather seats (they're an available option), adds higher-riding suspension, skid plates, tow hooks, and a lower gear ratio
Jeep Renegade photos
5 reasons to buy the 2021 Jeep Renegade
1. Off-road capabilities
Jeeps are designed for off-roading, and the 2021 Jeep Renegade is no exception. It's the smallest Jeep, but it has plenty of bells and whistles. The optional four-wheel drive comes with an advanced traction control system to keep a grip on even the slickest surfaces. Although it's small, the Renegade has more than eight inches of ground clearance to help traverse rocky paths. For more prowess, choose the Trailhawk trim, which comes with tow-hooks, higher-riding suspension, skid plates, and a lower gear ratio.
2. Towing power
Subcompact SUVs aren't known for their towing power, but the 2021 Jeep Renegade can move small trailers, jet skis, and motorcycles without a problem. With four-wheel drive and a tow package, the 2021 Renegade can tow up to 2,000 pounds when properly equipped.
3. Tech at the ready
You don't want to waste time fiddling with your tech connections when you're setting out for a trip. So you'll appreciate that the 2021 Jeep Renegade comes standard with Apple CarPlay®, Android Auto™ and Bluetooth® connectivity. You'll also have a seven-inch touchscreen and at least one USB port, with one additional on higher trims.
4. City-sized
If you're a city dweller or commute into the city for work, having a large SUV might not be the most practical car. But the 2021 Jeep Renegade is small enough that parking and driving in traffic are simple. Plus, the Renegade has great handling for those moments when you have to pull out a three-point turn.
5. Jeep styling
If you feel like the subcompact SUV options blend together, choosing the 2021 Jeep Renegade will help you stand out. This SUV is unmistakably a Jeep. It comes standard with Jeep's seven-slot grille and round headlights and with its overall boxy, angular design, you will never lose it in a parking lot.
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Ratings & reliability
RepairPal gave the Jeep Renegade an overall reliability rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Excellent. This rating ranks Jeep Renegade 4th out of 8 among Subcompact SUVs.
View RepairPal's full rating of the Jeep RenegadeJeep Renegade features and specs
Islander 2WD 4D Sport Utility
Standard Features
- ABS Brakes
- Air Conditioning
- Alloy Wheels
- AM/FM Stereo
- Android Auto
- Apple CarPlay
- Automatic Transmission
- Auxiliary Audio Input
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Bluetooth Technology
- Cloth Seats
- Cruise Control
- Lane Departure Warning
- Overhead Airbags
- Panoramic Sunroof
- Power Locks
- Power Mirrors
- Power Windows
- Rear Defroster
- Rear View Camera
- Remote Start
- Satellite Radio Ready
- Side Airbags
- Smart Key
- Traction Control
- Front Seat Heaters
- Full Roof Rack
- Heated Steering Wheel
- Kenwood Audio
- Navigation System
- Power Seat(s)
- Running Boards
- Tow Hitch
Drive Wheels
Front Wheel Drive (2WD)
Engine size
2.4L
Horsepower
180
Torque (ft-lbs)
175
Engine type
Gas
Fuel capacity
12.7
Wheelbase
101.2"
Overall length
166.6"
Width
74.2"
Height
66.5"
Leg room
F 41.2"/R 35.1"
Head room
F 39.7"/R 40.5"
Front tires
P235/45TR19
Rear tires
P235/45TR19
Seating capacity
5
Transmission
Automatic
2021 Jeep Renegade FAQ
The Jeep Renegade comes standard with front-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive is available on all trims but the Limited and Trailhawk trims come standard with four-wheel drive. When you're shopping for a used Jeep Renegade, you should always confirm that the specific model you're looking at has a four-wheel drive if that feature is important to you.
The Jeep Compass is bigger than the Jeep Renegade. Both SUVs have seating for five people. But the Jeep Compass has more legroom and storage space: on the 2021 models, the Renegade has 35.1 inches of rear legroom compared to the Compass's 38.3 inches. That year, the Renegade has 18.5 cu-ft of cargo space, while the Compass has 27.2 cu-ft. If you're looking for an SUV that can fit all your friends, the Jeep Compass is probably a better option, since they'll have more space to stretch their legs.
The 2021 Jeep Renegade stands out for its four-wheel drive and off-road capabilities. If that's the most important feature to you, try shopping for other Jeep models, like the Compass. If you're just looking for a subcompact SUV, consider others in the class like the Kia Soul, Honda HR-V, Subaru Crosstrek, or Hyundai Kona.
Some 2021 Jeep Renegades are good in snow. If you live in a snowy or icy climate, you should choose a Jeep Renegade with the available four-wheel drive. These models also have advanced traction control that can give extra grip on snowy roads.
The trim levels on the Jeep Renegade were shaken up for the 2021 model. In addition, the 2021 Jeep Renegade now has more standard features, including lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring.
More about the 2021 Jeep Renegade
Color options
Interior colors:
Black
Exterior colors:
Alpine White
Bikini
Black
Colorado Red
Glacier
Granite
Jetset Blue
Omaha Orange
Slate Blue
Sting-Gray
Interior details
The 2021 Jeep Renegade comes standard with seating for five. It's available only with a black interior. Cloth seats are standard, while leather is an available option. There's one USB port standard, and one more available on higher trim levels. A seven-inch touchscreen comes standard and an 8.4-inch touchscreen is an available option. There is 18.5 cu-ft of cargo space behind the second row.
Child seat details
The 2021 Jeep Renegade comes standard with two sets of LATCH connections on the outboard rear seats. All three back seats have a rear car seat tether. However, you're unlikely to be able to fit three car seats across the small back seat of the Renegade. In addition, if you have a rear-facing car seat, it might infringe on front-seat legroom.
Performance
The 2021 Jeep Renegade has two engine options. A 180-hp 2.4L four-cylinder is standard, while a 177-hp 1.3L turbocharged four-cylinder is an available option. The Renegade comes standard with front-wheel drive, but four-wheel drive is an available option. With the standard 2.4L engine, the Renegade accelerates from zero to 60 in 9 seconds (according to the manufacturer, when new).
With the standard 2.4L engine, the 2021 Jeep Renegade gets an EPA-estimated 25 mpg combined fuel economy with front-wheel drive and 24 mpg combined fuel economy with four-wheel drive.
The Jeep Renegade has available four-wheel drive. The Trailhawk trim is the best if you're interested in off-roading. It comes with skid plates, a lower gear ratio, tow hooks and a higher-riding suspension.
Year Comparison
2015-2022 Jeep Renegade (first generation)
The Jeep Renegade debuted in the 2015 model year. Styling and power have been consistent throughout the generation. All model years have two engine options: a four-cylinder and a turbocharged four-cylinder. The horsepower of these engines has changed slightly throughout the years. In 2018, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity became available, and in 2021 they became standard.
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