2015 Jeep Renegade

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 is one of our top picks.Jeep is well known for building off-road-capable SUVs like the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee. So when the company created the 2015 Renegade, a new entry-level model that's smaller than the compact Cherokee, it was bound to be different from the other entries in the growing subcompact crossover SUV class. Sure, the Renegade has unmatched off-road credentials. You almost expect that. But would you have also guessed that this Jeep is fun to drive around town and has plenty of character?The Renegade's DNA might have something to do with that. Based on the same underlying body structure that serves as the basis for the Fiat 500X (Jeep is part of the Fiat-Chrysler merger), the Renegade is indeed small. It's 15.4 inches shorter than the Cherokee, for instance. However, it's actually about an inch wider than the Cherokee, and that has a positive effect on interior space, making the Renegade wide enough for a three-passenger rear seat and adding useful cargo capacity.The Renegade is enjoyable to drive, too. It's nimble around town and easy to park, and four-wheel-drive models, especially the Trailhawk, offer best-in-class off-road capability. Buyers have a choice of two engines. We prefer the base turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder because it is smoother than the available 2.4-liter four-cylinder. Otherwise, the engines put out similar amounts of power.