2017 Jeep Renegade Desert Hawk: Trail-rated with desert style

Tough things from Jeep tend to come in square packages

The Renegade is the smallest model in the Jeep lineup, sitting two rungs below the Cherokee, but since its debut in 2015 it's been a strong seller for the brand, helped by the fact that the aging Compass wasn't replaced until late 2017. Along with its Fiat 500X sibling, the Renegade arrived during a boom for small SUVs and crossovers, and it set its sights upon the lower end of the price spectrum, even though higher-spec models like the Trailhawk and its Desert Hawk variant overlap with larger Jeep models.

Designed from the ground up as the entry-level Jeep model -- the Renegade is not a direct replacement for any other vehicles in the range -- this wee SUV offers the Jeep formula in a compact, urban-friendly package that features a spacious interior, good ergonomics, plenty of storage space and a well-designed cabin. Sporting a very cab-forward design and a tall ceiling, the Renegade makes the most of its boxy shape, maximizing passenger space that in other pocket-sized SUVs and crossovers would likely be wasted by a stylish, sloping windshield and back hatch. The Renegade delivers a tall, square box of an interior that offers plenty of cargo space for everyday items.

Powered by a 2.4-liter inline-four engine coupled with a nine-speed automatic transmission, the Renegade has 180 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque to play with, which is enough for something this size. The Renegade Desert Hawk combines the hardware of the trail-rated Trailhawk model with a number of special bits of equipment including off-road rock rails, Active Drive Low gearing for a 20:1 ratio crawling speed, 17-inch gloss black aluminum wheels, special Moroccan Sun interior trim color, leather-trimmed seats with cloth inserts and emboroidered seat stitching, all-weather floormats and cargo liner, and a unique exterior color with a map decal on the hood and D-pillar star decals. This model also features other goodies from the Trailhawk model including tow hooks, skid plates, hill descent control, 8.7 inches of ground clearance and the Selec-Terrain system with Rock mode.