Renegade renaissance

Jeep is the iconic American brand best known for its ruggedness. So it may come as a surprise that its latest model, the Renegade, despite a name that hints at wild rebelliousness, also has qualities like good design and driveability.

Inspired by the tough-as-nails Wrangler off-roader SUV, the Renegade incorporates the brand's trademark grille and headlights, plus other classic Jeep styling cues, into a smaller, city-friendly package that more importantly, also includes a downsized engine.

The result is a compact crossover with a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine which drives the front wheels through a six-speed dual clutch transm…