Topic: First Drive: 2015 Jeep Renegade

[mc-ornell]

Not sure I'm getting this prcing either. And no heated seats 'til you get over 30K...that's crazy.
So the base FWD is 19,995.
$6,000 gets you the North FWD (A/C, cruise, fog lamps, auto-headlamps, hands-free communication, aluminum wheels and a 2" bigger touch screen)
or you can spend your $6,000 on 4WD, AC and cruise.
Either way it seems way too expensive. Even if 4WD added $3000 to the cost of the vehicle (most companies charge $2000-$2500 max), that means AC and Cruise cost $3000??
Or, in the first case, say AC is $2000 and cruise is $1000(doubtful), then that would mean fog lamps, auto-headlamps, hands-free + alloys and a 2" bigger touchscreen are worth another 3 grand?
Also...would much rather have heated seats than auto headlamps.
Like the styling/image but since I don't need to do any hard-core off-roading (Trail Hawk will be 31K minimum), an XV Crosstrek or HR-V will be much better equipped for much less money.

[tooscoops]

i'm sure the options and packaging will be sorted out. they have had some issues with launch items and their level of packaging/pricing...

a lot of the price increase to get the north isn't *for* the items that are included... it's to not get the sport...

like the cherokee right now... i get people who will not buy the sport because of the wheels... but no other option on that package. so they have to pay that same type of upgrade to get the north... sure they get more than just wheels, but that is all they really wanted.

in the end, don't let all the options confuse the issue... price out the renegade you want, compare it to the crosstrek you want... surprisingly, i bet they won't be drastically different in price... that's how these guys decide on the packaging. make it so comparable cars cost a comparable amount.

[Northernridge]

...interesting to consider Jeep's potential ability to charge a premium for the Renegade.

[SaskSpecV]

...interesting to consider Jeep's potential ability to charge a premium for the Renegade.

Maybe initially, when it's brand new.  But as tooscoops has said, how long before the big-time incentives start flying?  Definitely shows that Jeep is on the right track though, at least as far as sales are concerned.  But do they have the confidence to maintain that pricing long-term, without resorting to cash on the hood?

I'm surprised James didn't mention anything about the weight of the Renegade, and how it impacts driving dynamics (good or bad).

[OliverD]

I think incentives are inevitable as even the Wrangler often has $2500=-3500 on the hood.

That said, have there been significant incentives for the Cherokee yet?

[wing]

Wait the roof is NOT standard?  Are you sure?  There is a manual roof and an automatic (powered) roof.  They said the powered roof was extra, but they never gave us a breakdown of all the options which made it difficult to figure out the pricing.  They just gave us the overview, perhaps it wasn't all figured out and ready for print yet.

[Kris78]

For what its worth, the US version seems to be all options/package happy...

http://blog.caranddriver.com/2015-jeep-renegade-even-its-pricing-is-small/

[mc-ornell]

$3000 on the hood might make it more easy to take but why not price it properly in the first place?
The jump in the US from Sport to Latitude(North) is $3300, so even at an 80 cent dollar, that's $3960, not 6 grand.
All-Wheel-drive is $2000...again, at an 80 cent dollar, that translates to $2400.
So if we have to pay an extra 6 grand on the Sport to get AWD, AC and cruise and AWD costs $2400, you're telling me AC and cruise is $3600???

[blotter]

...interesting to consider Jeep's potential ability to charge a premium for the Renegade.

I think the premium comes with the higher trims, like the Cherokee.
while it's certainly not a premium vehicle, you're seeing some premium features when at the top end.

I think most sales will be somewhere in the middle ground, but I do like that they're decking out this little ute with full on available options.  (for those that want it).

Some talked about the Cherokee pricing...  well I don't know the sales breakdown (Sir-O?) but while I'm seeing plenty out there, I'm not really seeing them in the base.

[conwelpic]

just curious, in your competitors list you threw in the upcoming Honda HR-V, so why did you not include the Mazda CX-3, Fiat 500x?

Did the writers/testers  ask FCA as to why this is a 2015 version and won't be available for another couple of months when most of its immediate competitors (HR-V, CX-3, 500x) will be coming out as 2016 models.  By that time most of the 2015 model year will be over, doesn't make a lot of sense, even more so when the 2016 500x is built on the same platform at the same factory and coming out roughly the same time - weird!

[wing]

Agreed it is weird.  I actually forgot to ask when it was coming out they never told us! 

[Benhaze]

Funny I also was wondering how come the 500X was not brought in the picture. It was at the Montreal Auto Show and the presenter mentioned that the driver could determine what amount of torque goes to the rear axle. If that is true (haven't researched it yet) it is something that Jeeps are not even able to do and would make the 500X a real threat to the Renegade capability creds (ironically). But the interior of the 500X is... not for everyone.

[tooscoops]

yeah wing... on my pricing guides, it shows as an option for either roof. maybe on the top limited trim it could be standard (the website for my pricing is a pos today), but otherwise, it is an option and the power top is not even available on all trims.

oh, and cherokee has stuck with the lower finance rates and small seasonal incentives(-+500)... so pricing is still up there.

[Noto]

Based on C&D's article - it seems like the automatic transmission isn't available on the Sport or North trims...i.e. to get an automatic, you have to shell up for the Limited at $25,790USD for a FWD, and $27,790USD for 4x4.

If correct, ARE THEY INSANE?!

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Based on C&D's article - it seems like the automatic transmission isn't available on the Sport or North trims...i.e. to get an automatic, you have to shell up for the Limited at $25,790USD for a FWD, and $27,790USD for 4x4.

If correct, ARE THEY INSANE?!

The 2.4 auto is optional on the Sport and North, but standard equipment on the Limited and Trailhawk.

in base trim, which Jeep dubs “Sport,” the Renegade comes with a Fiat-derived turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine (160 horsepower, 184 lb-ft of torque) powering the front wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. Next up is the Latitude, which gets the same powertrain; in either model, if you want an automatic transmission, you’re forced to upgrade to the Renegade’s optional 2.4-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder (180 hp, 175 lb-ft of torque) with Chrysler’s ZF-designed nine-speed auto. The bigger engine and the automatic come standard on the zooty Limited and off-road-ready Trailhawk models.

[tooscoops]

yeah, there ^^^^.... what he said.

fret not.... o

[Noto]

yeah, there ^^^^.... what he said.

fret not.... o

Fret level is declining.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

yeah, there ^^^^.... what he said.

fret not.... o

Fret level is declining.

[ArticSteve]

Have the Italians completely taken over Chrysler     

[Noto]

yeah, there ^^^^.... what he said.

fret not.... o

Fret level is declining.