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2015 Jeep Renegade Sport 4x4 Quick Spin [w/video]

Which is the most entertaining Jeep Renegade you can get? While one might make an argument for the Trailhawk model and its accompanying off-road hardware and consequential go-anywhere ability, that car comes with one glaring flaw – its 2.4-liter engine and nine-speed automatic transmission just aren't very entertaining. Instead, I submit the turbocharged, 1.4-liter base engine and its accompanying six-speed manual, a position that was reinforced after a recent stint behind the wheel of a very basic Sport 4x4. Not only do you get a fair amount of the Trailhawk's off-road ability – the Selec-Terrain system and a 4WD Lock mode are standard, but you'll be without the 20:1 crawl ratio and Rock off-road mode – you'll also enjoy a more dynamically interesting powertrain. Read on to see why the force-induced Renegade might just be the way to go. Driving Notes My first date with the Renegade was on the mostly empty, winding roads of northern California. There, the 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-four with 160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque felt fine – with no traffic and few stoplights along the drive route, it was easy to keep the engine on boil. But this engine isn't as enjoyable in day-to-day suburban traffic. Power arrives suddenly – peak torque comes between 2,500 and 4,000 rpm – and if you don't use it, you lose it. There's not much oomph in the higher end of the rev range. With such a peaky powerband, it's easy to get caught flat-footed if you're not paying attention. Thankfully the manual transmission makes it simple to stay engaged and in the correct gear. The stick-shift is enjoyable to use, with a firm clutch that's easy to modulate and shift action that isn't sloppy or vague. The 1.4-liter engine sounds good. Turn down the stereo, stomp on the throttle, and you'll be treated to a delicious turbo whistle and a smooth exhaust note. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I want Mopar to offer the Fiat 500 Abarth's exhaust on the Renegade. It'd be fun. If you do prefer the stereo, know that the Renegade's standard four-speaker unit is weak. Base models don't offer Bluetooth or satellite radio, but you can add both of those luxuries, two extra speakers, and a five-inch touchscreen for just $695. Not a bad bargain. The Koni frequency selective dampers do an excellent job of managing both small, frequent imperfections (like freeway expansion joints), and the bigger potholes that still haven't been fixed after the havoc of Detroit's winter.

FCA recalls over 200k Jeep Cherokees for windshield wiper static

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is issuing a recall for over 200,000 versions of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee due to a problem with static buildup disabling the windshield wipers. FCA has identified 158,671 units in the United States. Another 18,366 vehicles are estimated to be affected in Canada, a further 3,582 in Mexico, and 26,049 outside of North America. The problem, according to the first statement below, results from static building up if the wipers are operated in dry conditions. The static could mess with the wipers' control module, rendering them disabled. To fix the problem, dealers will be instructed to install a ground strap to the module. In parallel, FCA is also offering incentives to the owners of certain trucks that were subject to recall but for which remedies were not immediately available. To encourage those owners to bring their older vehicles in for the required service, the automaker will disperse $100 prepaid cards for use at their discretion. The program is offered to owners of certain model year Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Liberty, Chrysler Aspen, and Dodge Durango sport-utility vehicles, as well as certain Dodge Dakota and Ram trucks. Owners of the affected Grand Cherokees will have the option instead to take a $1,000 consideration toward the purchase of a new vehicle or for parts and service. The offers are only being extended under certain specific criteria, though. So if you think that could be you, you'll want to read through the conditions in the second announcement below. STATEMENT: CONTROL MODULE August 31, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - FCA US LLC is recalling an estimated 158,671 SUVs in the U.S. to help protect their control modules from static buildup that may potentially disable the vehicles' windshield wipers. An investigation by FCA US discovered static buildup may occur if the vehicles' windshield wipers are activated during dry conditions. Significant static buildup may affect a control module that powers the wipers. The Company is unaware of any related injuries or accidents. Affected are model-year 2014 Jeep Cherokee SUVs. An estimated 18,366 vehicles will be recalled in Canada, as will an estimated 3,582 in Mexico and 26,049 outside the NAFTA region. Dealers will install a ground strap to the control module to eliminate the potential for static buildup. Customers will be advised when they may schedule service, which will be performed at no cost.

UAW papers reveal release dates for new Dodge, Jeep and Ram models

Documents published by the United Auto Workers union reveal key information about some of the products Dodge, Jeep and Ram will release during the early 2020s. All three brands will try to capitalize on the growing demand for trucks and SUVs in the United States. The agreement between the UAW and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) outlines what the period between 2019 and 2023 will look like from an employee's vantage point. The $4.5 billion factory the automaker is building in Detroit will begin manufacturing a three-row Jeep model in 2020, and it will add the next-generation Grand Cherokee to its roster the following year, according to CarScoops. The new Grand Cherokee will also roll out of the Jefferson North facility that makes the current model scheduled to retire shortly before its successor arrives. The Dodge Durango will continue to be built there, and the UAW papers mention a mild-hybrid variant of the SUV due out before the end of 2020. Two body-on-frame Jeep models tentatively scheduled to revive the heritage-laced Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer nameplates will break cover in 2021. They will be built alongside Ram pickups at the Warren Truck plant, and odds are the three models will share several components under the sheetmetal. Adding the two Jeep models is expected to create 1,400 jobs, FCA predicted. Speaking of Ram, the high-performance TRX model (pictured) aimed at the Ford F-150 Raptor's jugular is penciled in for a 2020 launch. The concept that previewed the model made its debut in 2016, so it's reasonable to assume it will have changed considerably by the time it reaches showrooms. It will be based on the newest variant of the 1500, not on the last-generation model still sold as the Classic. What won't change is the supercharged, 6.2-liter Hellcat V8 between its fenders. The plug-in hybrid Wrangler remains on track for a 2020 launch. The Cherokee will continue to come out of Belvedere Assembly in Illinois, but the UAW's documents mention "fresh models / features" off of its unibody platform. Whether that means new trim levels or additional body styles remains to be seen, but it sounds like something new and Cherokee-related is around the corner. The ancient Dodge Journey shares at least one thing with the beater you drove in high school: a four-speed automatic transmission. The gearbox is finally on its way out, according to the UAW, and the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that powers the entry-level model isn't long for this world, either.