2019 Jeep Renegade: What’s new?

CHELSEA, Mich. — The Jeep Renegade is now about 4 years into its lifecycle. Thus it makes sense it is the Fiat Chrysler Automobile vehicle that gets the most significant update for 2019.

The compact utility vehicle gets a minor refresh to the exterior that includes a new front fascia, grille surround and aluminum wheel designs.

Other exterior updates include three new paint colors and a new LED lighting group that includes LED headlamps, daytime running lights, cornering fog lamps and tail lamps.

The bigger news, however, is the Renegade gets a new 1.3-liter turbocharged I-4 engine that delivers 177 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque.

This replaces the previous base 1.4-liter, I-4 MultiAir turbocharged engine that delivers 160 horsepower.

We had the opportunity to take the Renegade for a quick turn on a handling course, and while the engine experiences a little bit of turbo lag, it is smoother and faster than the 1.4-liter engine.

The 2019 Renegade also seems a bit quieter all around.

Renegade gets some tech updates as well, including new instrument cluster graphics that look a little less cutesy, and the addition of available features such as adaptive cruise control, front parking sensors and Parallel/Perpendicular Park Assist Plus.

As a carryover from the previous model years, Renegade retains the four-trim structure (Sport, Latitude, Trailhawk and Limited) and will be available in both 4X2 and 4X4 configurations. The up-level 2.4-liter MultiAir2 TigerShark, 4-cylinder engine also remains unchanged.

The 2019 Renegade won’t look much different from the previous model year, but the mild refresh adds a little refinement and maturity to a generally cute compact SUV.

Pricing hasn’t been announced for 2019, but the current Renegade starts at $19,890.