Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
I miss the good lady wife Kathryn’s old Jeep Cherokee Sport. Coming up to seven-years-old it was in need of replacement but, to be honest, I think if the same chunky model had still been available new on the market we probably would have simply snapped one up on the spot.
But, as in life, the only guarantee is change. The new Cherokee was far grander and beyond our budget and although there was talk of a new model coming on to the scene, it was still stuck in the docks when we were making a purchasing decision.
The Jeep Renegade seems to have been stalking me ever since it landed on our shores. In my brave attempt to change my own chunky appearance by taking up running (slowly) I’ve been fighting to regain some semblance of fitness by jogging round the rugby club pitches and every morning I’ve been greeted by this cheerful chappie on display for members to marvel over.
I finally got my hands on one when I took my Dodge Charger in for a service last week and the raunchy Renegade is full of nifty Jeep touches and the top-of-the-range 4x4 trail-rated Trailhawk model offers real off-road capability with a capable nine-speed automatic, 2.4-ltr engine.
And, as another motoring scribe suggested, ‘it’s cheekily, confidently butch without being overdone’, its upright stance, trademark grille and taillights that protrude from the bodywork, immediately identify it as a relative of the Wrangler.
Another stated that the 2016 Renegade certainly isn’t the first carlike Jeep, but it’s the first one to prove that Jeep ‘styling and playfulness’ can translate successfully to a subcompact crossover. Rewarding to drive yet still practical, the Renegade was one of its top picks.
The Renegade is a SUV that’s been designed and developed in the US but is based on a heavily-adapted Fiat super-mini platform, and is being built in Italy alongside the popular 500X, with both competing in the competitive and lucrative compact crossover market.
I liked the touches of colour-coordinated Italian style in the cabin – there was even a dash of orange on the rev counter to match its bright exterior.
It boasts all the latest gadgets with touch-screen, Bluetooth, superb air-conditioning and a best-in-class towing capacity. Safety is also a key strong point, with the Jeep attaining a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating and it comes with a battery of standard electronic aids.
* The new Jeep Renegade starts from BD9,999 and my test-drive version comes at a touch under BD12,000 whilst current stocks last. Call Behbehani Bros on 17459955 for more details or call into the Sitra showroom.
