The Jeep® Renegade Gets A Load Of New Standard Goodies For 2022!

The Jeep® Renegade returns to the North American lineup with some impressive upgrades for the 2022 model year. Although the Renegade is currently the smallest vehicle in the Jeep portfolio, it continues to be a global superstar for the brand. North Americans on the other hand have overlooked and underrated the Renegade for the seven years it has been in production. But as the Renegade enters its eighth year, we think North Americans will be pleasantly surprised.

The biggest news for 2022, is that the turbocharged 1.3-liter inline-four-cylinder that is part of the Global Small Engine family is now the standard and only powerplant across the board for the U.S. and Canada markets. Yes, the dreaded 2.4-liter Tigershark inline-four-cylinder is GONE! Instead of ditching the Tigershark for the “GSE-T4” in the Renegade’s bigger sibling the Compass (which received a major update for 2022), the smaller Renegade is the only one that gets the better engine for standard equipment. 

The GSE-T4 engine made its debut in the 2019 Jeep Renegade and answered the issues that everyone had with the Tigershark. Originally offered in the Trailhawk and Limited models, the GSE-T4 became available in the mid-level Latitude model as an option last year. 

The GSE-T4 delivers 177 horsepower matching the horsepower of the Tigershark engine, but also has 210 ft.-lb. of torque. That is 38 ft.-lb. of torque more than the Tigershark and available at 2,150 rpm lower in the powerband.

Each Renegade comes standard with a 948TE 9-speed automatic transmission, no matter if it’s a front-wheel-drive (4×2) or four-wheel-drive (4×4) configuration.

Speaking of the 4×2 model, you will only be able to get a Renegade in 4×2 configuration in the Sport trim. That’s right, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk models now come standard with 4×4.

Another feature that should make customers happy, is that Jeep has taken its beloved 8.4-inch Uconnect 4C infotainment touchscreen with navigation standard on all models. Yes, you can get a Renegade Sport, no matter how basic with an 8.4-inch touchscreen. 

Jeep has also added a premium cabin air filter on all trim levels, helping to make sure that the air in the cabin is as clean as possible from dust, pollen, and other airborne material. It will prove to be quite useful for those who suffer from allergies or other respiratory problems.

For those who like the darker appearance of Jeep models, the Altitude package is back for 2022. The updated Altitude package is based on the popular Latitude trim and includes the following equipment…

• Gloss Black Accents –
  • Badging
  • Grille Rings
  • Rear Valence
  • Headlight and Turn Signals Bezels
  • Exterior Mirrors with Integrated Turn Signals
  • Interior Accents
• 18-Inch Gloss Black Aluminum Wheels
• Black Headliner
• Deluxe Cloth or Leather-Trimmed Seats with Ski Gray Accent Stitching

For those who prefer the more luxurious side of the Renegade, the Limited model now gets several new unique exterior treatments. A new unique front grille, fog lamps, mirror caps, rear valance, and a set of 18-inch aluminum wheels are all part of the changes for the 2022 model year.

So it looks like the 2022 model year will be a good one for the Renegade, depending on if you can get one. Since the North American Renegade is manufactured in Italy, it will depend on the number of semiconductor chips that are in circulation in Europe for Stellantis that will dictate how many Renegades will be shipped to North America. 

While the 2022 Jeep Compass has gained a lot of attention because of its updated handsome looks and sporty new interior, the well-equipped Renegade with a better powertrain might be a strong selling point to look at both vehicles before buying.