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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.

Here's why you shouldn't try to drift a Jeep Cherokee

This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. There are many reasons why an XJ-generation (or really any other) Jeep Cherokee doesn't make for a good drift machine. It's tall, it's four-wheel-drive... it's a Jeep, okay? But someone apparently forgot to tell that to this guy. Uploaded to LiveLeak, this video shows some poor schmuck who took his Cherokee to a (mostly) empty parking lot and tried to drift it. Needless to say, things didn't go quite as he planned, but they probably went exactly as you might have expected. Thankfully, nobody appears to have been hurt. Or at least, we assume so, since the guy apparently survived to put the video up online.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk revived and leaked

We'd love to tell you all about the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk you see here. Thing is, we don't really know all that much. That's because, according to our colleagues at Jalopnik, it hasn't quite been officially unveiled yet. But that's probably right around the corner, now that the cat is out of the bag. From the leaked images, we can tell that this Grand Cherokee Trailhawk is a lot like the Trailhawk that was produced as a special edition for the 2013 model year. Even the graphics look similar. Expect to see some aggressive tires to go along with all the best off-road goodies Jeep has to offer. Throw in some red tow hooks to match the contrasting interior stitching, mix together some underbody protection, and you've probably got yourself a Trailhawk. We'll have to wait until FCA decides to unleash the official goods to know for sure what we're looking at, but we doubt there's a supercharged V8 underhood. We do know that's coming, hopefully soon, but this isn't it. So, while we patiently wait for that Hellcat-powered Trackhawk to make an appearance outside the realm of spy shots, enjoy the Trailhawk you see here. Related Video: Featured Gallery Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Jeep SUV Off-Road Vehicles