The search and rescue folks refer to them as the 10 Essentials: 10 things you should always have with you whenever you venture into the wilderness.
They are, in no particular order: a light, a signalling device, a fire starter, extra clothes, a pocketknife, portable shelter, food and water, a small first aid kit, some way of non-electronic navigation, and your cellphone.
Permit me to suggest an 11th option: a Jeep. Look, this one’s even pocket sized!
Meet the Jeep Renegade, a cute-ute that’s about the size and shape of an OtterBox. A result of Fiat-Chysler’s new global manufacturing strategy, it’s got all the characteristic looks of a real Jeep, but actually shares a platform with the Fiat 500X. A soft-roader Jeep? Uh oh.
But hang on a second. This particular example is actually the Trailhawk edition. That means it’s supposed to have all the capability of a rough and tumble Wrangler, just in a smaller package suitable for the urban life.
To test out this little trucklet’s bona fides, I called up North Shore Rescue and requested an assist. Does the Renegade still qualify as an off-road essential?
Design
Well, it’s certainly as boxy as you expect any Jeep to be. Basically a square on top of another square, the Renegade resembles nothing so much as a cubist portrait of a pug. It’s like a puppy, all head and tiny paws.
To this simple shape, Jeep has affixed every possible Jeep reference in case you don’t think this littlest Jeep is Jeepy enough. If you think the preceding sentence contained the word “Jeep” too many times, just hang onto your hat.
The rear taillights are styled to look like jerry cans. The cupholders are contoured with maps of the Moab trails. The surround for the infotainment says “Since 1941.” There are even little WWII Jeeps emblazoned into the windscreen surround.
However, underneath all this show is a bit of go-anywhere capability. The Trailhawk rides higher by 20 millimetres, and gets proper skid-plating and more rugged tires.
Environment
Leaving aside the cutesy details – is that mud-spatter instead of a red line on the tachometer? – the Renegade is actually a pretty usefully sized machine. For its relatively small size, having a boxy profile gives it excellent second row room, and a useful trunk.
The removable roof panels are a neat gimmick, but as the bag for them uses up the whole floor of the trunk, I can’t imagine you’ll be popping them off regularly. Other demerits include so-so visibility, and a seating position that’s a bit tricky to get just right.
Comfort is good, however, and if you can look past the cartoonish elements, this is a pretty spacious little urban crossover. So let’s drive it up a mountain.
Performance
There are ordinarily two engine choices available for the Renegade: a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with 160 horsepower, and a 2.4-litre normally aspirated engine with 180 h.p. The Trailhawk is only available with the latter, combined with all-wheel drive and Jeep’s nine-speed automatic transmission.
On the road, the combination is just OK. This fully equipped Renegade is relatively heavy at more than 1,600 kilograms. The nine-speed automatic makes the most of the power on tap (early versions of this transmission were problematic, but the programming seems greatly improved), but this little machine isn’t the pocket-rocket a Nissan Juke is.
However, it’s a great deal more civilized for day-to-day than a Wrangler would be. And then there’s what happens when you take it off-road.
The trail up to Mount Strachan is a steep path lined with jagged rocks and cut across by streams from the spring runoff. You need special permission to drive to the top, so North Shore Rescue has come along in their fully off-road-prepped 2008 Wrangler Rubicon. It easily dispatches the ruts with heavy suspension articulation.
The Renegade, on the other hand, looks like a cartoon sidekick next to the jacked up Wrangler. However, it easily dispatches even the roughest sections, crawling over the rocks and creek beds without a moment’s hesitation.
You can credit the littlest Jeep’s proper low-range gearbox and selectable-terrain traction management system. It scrambled up rocks, through loose gravel, and even up onto a jutting outcrop for pictures. The summit of Mount Strachan arrived with not much more drama than simply driving to the grocery store.
It’s like a baby mountain goat, this thing. The size may be small and the roots Italian, but the Trailhawk version of the Renegade earns the right to call itself a Jeep.
Features
Trailhawk versions of the Renegade are already very well-equipped, though you’d expect so for the price. It’s costly, with a fully optioned car like this nearly hitting the $40,000 mark after freight.
Fuel economy figures are good for the capability exhibited, but blunted by the curb weight. Official numbers are 11.2 (litres/100 kilometres) in the city and 8.0 on the highway.
Green light
Very capable off-road; unique styling; practical interior; sense of fun.
Stop sign
A bit slow; fuel economy worse than average; visibility not great.
The checkered flag
The little Jeep that can.
Competition
Fiat 500X ($22,995): About a thousand times prettier than the ungainly 500L, the 500X is finally a Fiat for people who’ve outgrown their Cinquecento. It’s far more urban chic than its American-designed cousin, with a suspension tuned to the cut and thrust of downtown traffic.
Having said that, the Jeep’s not that much slower, and at least has a burly image. Skinny jeans or cargo pants – pick your perfect outfit.
