Jeep Unveils Tiny Renegade SUV

The Jeep Renegade SUV introduced at the Geneva auto show on Tuesday will go on sale in Europe this autumn and in the U.S. next year.

The entry-level SUV from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV has been designed for global markets. It will ride on the same stretched chassis that will carry Fiat's upcoming B-segment 500X crossover. Both vehicles will be produced at Fiat's factory in Melfi, Italy.

The Renegade, which replaces the Jeep Compass and Patriot SUVs, is about 7 inches shorter than those models. Styled to resemble the larger Jeep Wrangler, the front-drive SUV offers 17-inch tires, hill-descent control, a 20:1 crawl ratio for off-road work, the ability to ford 19 inches of water and a towing capacity of 1,500 kg (3,300 lbs). Four-wheel drive and removable roof panels are optional.

Fiat will build the Renegade with 16 powertrain combinations created from a menu of four Fiat MultiAir gasoline engines, two MultiJet II diesels, a 7-speed automatic transmission, two manual gearboxes and a dual-clutch transmission.

The SUV provides a Uconnect Access built-in cellular system that enables operators to call emergency services at the push of a button. Extended features include touchscreen radio controls, a 7-inch color instrument display and the ability to receive and read text messages aloud.