2023 Jeep Renegade Latitude Review

Jeep is an aspirational brand.

Maybe not in the same vein as say BMW or Mercedes-Benz are, but there plenty of people worldwide who long to own a Jeep one day. So synonymous is the brand with off-roading adventure, folks that fancy themselves the rugged outdoorsy type see Jeeps as the ultimate get-out-and-enjoy-nature vehicle.

Problem is, not everyone can afford a Wrangler, nor are they ready to commit to life with its compromises. Some folks need a little more sensibility, value, and practicality with their adventurous aspirations. Enter the gateway Jeep, the 2023 Jeep Renegade Latitude.

The interior design is one of utility and no-nonsense function more than style. There are little Jeep Easter eggs everywhere, like on the base of the windshield and on every door mounted speaker.

The Renegade offers all the headroom in the world. Official measurements for front seat passengers are listed at 41.1 inches (1,045 mm), or 39.7 inches (1,009 mm) for vehicles that feature a sunroof like my tester. But ignore those figures. At 6’0” tall and with a long torso, I have several inches of additional cranium capacity. Is this the most usable headroom in a subcompact vehicle? Possibly.

Part of the airy experience occurs because even tall people feel they’re sitting down low within the vehicle. There’s an available massive panoramic sunroof that lets a lot of natural light in, which is good since the vehicle is otherwise hindered when it comes to sight-lines. Despite its boxy shape, the Renegade features a high belt-line, small rear window, and massive C-pillars that lead to tiny side cargo windows.

In the interest of transparency, I’m not technically driving a 2023 Jeep Renegade Latitude 4X4. I’m actually behind the wheel of the Canadian equivalent, the Jeep Renegade North 4X4. Both models are the entry price point for the model with the discontinuation of the Sport trim level.

In Canada, the North 4X4 starts at a price of $37,090 with destination, or $39,485 as tested with the Sun & Sound Group added. In the United States, we are using 2022 pricing as the 2023 prices are yet to be released. The Latitude 4X4 starts at a price of $30,740 after destination, or $34,785 as tested with the Sun & Sound Group and Convenience Group added.

The latter is required as the North comes with a few features as standard equipment that are missing from the Latitude. These include front heated seats, a heated steering wheel, rain sensing wipers, and windshield wiper de-icer. The Convenance Group also includes two items for American customers that are sorely missing from the Canadian North trim level – power seats for both front passengers.

Other than that, the two vehicles are very similar. Both have 17-inch alloy wheels, navigation, automatic halogen headlights, and forward collision mitigation.

A special callout needs to be made to Jeep’s adaptation of Uconnect. I still love this infotainment system. It’s so easy to use, well laid out, and features intuitive UX. I got in the vehicle and immediately found all the settings/screens I wanted without issue. Every other OEM needs to take a few notes on improvements those brands could benefit from with a system like this.

While on the topic of usability, despite the 2023 Jeep Renegade Latitude’s diminutive stature, it can still hold rear seat passengers and a decent amount of gear. Those back seat riders benefit from a generous 40.5 inches (1,029 mm) of headroom and class-competitive 35.1 inches (891 mm) of legroom. The cargo area holds 18.5 cu ft. (524 L) of gear and the little Jeep can even tow upwards of 2,000 lbs. (907 kg) when properly equipped.

Part of the Renegade’s towing ability comes from its rather sophisticated drivetrain. Under the hood is a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that pumps out 177 hp and 210 lb-ft. of torque. That’s more power than most competitors in this class. What’s more, it partners up with a nine-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels. This once again is an upgrade within a class that usually relies on far less gears, or more commonly, a CVT.

Initial acceleration from this drivetrain is a bit reluctant and requires amble throttle input to leave from a stop. But once underway, a generous wall of torque rushes in and really gets things moving. It took me a day or two while to find the sweet spot in throttle modulation between serious lag and spinning the front tires. Once I found it, I was fully used to driving the baby Jeep smoothly.

Around the city the minuscule turbo engine provides ample power, especially for this segment. On the highway, it begins to strain, but there’s still enough torque for most passing maneuvers. Probably the nicest aspect of the drivetrain though is its sophistication compared to many of its rivals. It never feels thrashy, an issue with plenty of subcompact SUVs.

But it is not perfect. We did experience a weird whine/hum from the drivetrain periodically. It always occurs when getting off throttle at lower city speeds at specific rpms. It would never last long, but we were always aware of it.

And then there is fuel efficiency. Official ratings for the Renegade are 23 mpg (10.1 L/100 km) in the city and 29 mpg (8.1 L/100 km) on the highway. Those are trail most of the segment, including the Toyota Corolla Cross AWD, Honda HR-V AWD, and Kia Seltos SX Turbo AWD.

Even though the 2023 Jeep Renegade Latitude is a car-based crossover, it feels more like an SUV to drive. While many competitors are trying to mimic the moves and behaviours of passenger cars, the Renegade does its darnedest to be a baby Jeep. It’s hard to explain, but those who have driven a Jeep will understand. It’s just in a more nimbler package thanks to its small footprint, with stiffer than expected steering.

The Renegade rides a bit stiff on city roads but laughs off larger road imperfections and moderate off-road conditions. It has a 4X4 lock function, which just keeps the all-wheel drive system fully engaged. Still, there are multiple off-road modes, such as Sand, Snow, and Mud.

Those looking for the usual, efficient, raised car driving experience of a subcompact crossover probably aren’t going to appreciate, nor fully understand the Jeep Renegade. Its mission in life is to be more than just another entry-level driving appliance. It yearns to be a baby SUV, for better or worse. More specifically, it’s meant to give a taste of Jeep ownership to the brand’s aspiring customers.

Quirky, unique, and looking the part, the Renegade does succeed at this mission. Perfect? No, but it does work as the gateway Jeep.

FAQs

What is the latitude package on a Jeep Renegade?

The Latitude package is the entry level package on the 2023 Renegade. The North is the Canadian equivalent trim level. 

Is Jeep Renegade latitude a good car?

After a week with the vehicle, we can confirm it is a good small SUV for those who want something with a Jeep feel. 

Which Jeep is better a Limited or Latitude?

The Limited is the higher trim level and comes better equipped, but at a higher price.