First Drive: 2021 Jeep Renegade 4xe Review

The Jeep brand is synonymous with gas-guzzling V8s, with the formerly US marque historically boasting a full range of internal combustion 4x4s. But as we step into an electrified world, FCA is following suite. And while electric models slot easier into other brand line-ups – for example the Fiat 500e – an electric-assisted off-roader was always going to be tricky. But Jeep isn’t doing it by halves, and at the launch of this debut hybrid announced its intention to become the world’s greenest carmaker, without losing any of its iconic DNA. A bold statement indeed.

The Jeep Renegade 4xe is the first step towards this pledge. Jeep’s conventional 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine (with either 130PS (95kW) or 180PS (132kW) dependant on trim) drives the front wheels, while an axle-mounted 60PS (44kW) electric motor drives the rear. In turn, this motor is powered by a high-voltage, lithium-ion battery that can be partially recharged through driving or externally, including from a self-installable low power wall box.

The result is a 4x4 without a mechanical connection (read: no bulky propshaft) between the front and rear wheels, with the space instead housing the 11.4kWh, 400-volt battery. It’s an innovative solution that facilitated seamless switching between electric and hybrid during the test drive. And an environmental one too, returning a claimed 123-134mpg and emitting less than 50g/km of CO₂ in hybrid mode.

At launch, I climbed into the top Trailhawk spec, one of three trim levels to be coming to the UK – the others being Longitude and Limited – all of which feature four-wheel-drive (eAWD) and a six-speed automatic transmission.

To look at, it’s hard to distinguish the 4xe from any other Renegade. It shares the same body and spec levels, with only the subtlest of blue badges (not the disabled kind) to denote its environmentally friendly nature.  And as anyone who has laid eyes upon a Renegade will tell you, it’s very much the modern Jeep, with the iconic seven-slot grille and boxy styling, in a smaller, city-friendly package.

The Trailhawk iteration receives rugged styling details, including a (seemingly redundant) black plastic bonnet protector.

Instead of the Jekyll and Hyde clashing personalities that I had built myself up to expect, I was pleasantly surprised by the seamless nature with which the powertrains switch. Of the three powertrain modes, which are switchable via buttons next to the gearshift, Hybrid constantly shifts smoothly between combustion and electric, while E-Save preserves the battery and replenishes it as you drive.

Meanwhile, the third, entirely electric mode – useful in environmentally-conscious city centres – comes with a fairly standard range of 26 miles. It’s easy to stick it in electric and forget about it, with the motor delivering the power to the rear wheels smoothly via a single speed reduction gear. It feels refined, and floats along silently. And that range is fairly accurate too, however accelerating and hillclimbing eat miles, while you soon regain them in E-coasting mode on the way down.

The Trailhawk edition features the higher 180PS power output of the 1.3-litre turbo petrol, and with the 60PS of the electric motor made for a combined 240PS. While you could never really describe it as powerful, it can still accelerate from 0 to 62mph in 7.1 seconds, with a top speed of 124mph (81mph in fully electric). It comfortably cruises at motorway speeds, with extra power still available for overtakes. There’s a new ‘Sport’ option (alongside Auto, Snow, Sand/Mud and Rock), although it holds on to gears just a little too long for my liking. On the road, it boasts firm yet accommodating suspension and soft steering, offering a comfortable, if disengaging, ride.

Torque, meanwhile, is where the 4xe shines, with the 250Nm (185lb ft) from the electric motor combining with 270Nm (200lb ft) from the combustion engine to make for brilliant off-road ability. Impressively, 4x4 mode is available even when battery level is low, with Jeep’s ‘Powerloop’ function allowing the combustion engine to generate high-voltage current to power the rear electric motor.

The Snow, Sand/Mud and Rock modes all proved their worth on the off-road section of our drive, with 4wd low, 4wd lock and hill descent control functional rather than gimmicky. 4wd low configures the car to provide maximum levels of traction and steering capability when under low grip and off-road conditions, while the lock function permanently engages the four-wheel-drive at speeds up to 9mph. In fact, it was off-road that the 4xe impressed me most, not suffering for the additional weight of the battery, and rumbling across various obstacles with ease. This is where the Renegade will have a real advantage over its competition.

The interior trim is as expected, it does the job without much flair or finish. Some aspects feel slightly cheap and outdated, however this is soon offset by the extensive level of equipment onboard.

In terms of space, it loses more than 10-litres of the boot to the hybrid system, taking the total capacity to 320-litres – paltry compared to some of its competitors. But there remains space to fit a spare wheel under the height-adjustable boot floor.

When it comes to tech, the Renegade has always shone, and the new 4xe is no exception, inheriting all the standard goodies of the conventionally fuelled models. In the cabin, there’s a 7-inch TFT colour display navigation with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s also adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, blind spot assist, a reversing camera and full LED lights at both ends of the car. There’s an App, too, through which countless functions can be accessed remotely.

Interestingly, the 4xe shuns an alternator, instead featuring an integrated module, which is responsible for charging both the high-voltage and conventional 12V batteries. Through a fast charger, the high voltage battery can charge to 80 per cent in one hour and 100 per cent in 100 minutes.

As a first, tentative step into hybrid territory, Jeep has done itself proud with the new Renegade 4xe. While it’s not going to set the world of plug-in hybrid SUVs alight, it’s a fine proposition if you’re looking for a genuinely off-road capable, environmental-friendly SUV. It’s attractive and well-equipped as standard, although it costs accordingly, with the model starting from £32,600.