Nor'West News: December 07, 2023
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12<br />
Thursday <strong>December</strong> 7 <strong>2023</strong><br />
THE ICONIC Jeep is trail blazing<br />
a new path for the brand as<br />
it enters for the first time the low<br />
emission world or electrification,<br />
by offering a plug-hybrid<br />
(PHEV) option across many of<br />
its models.<br />
The Renegade fires the opening<br />
shot in the new electrified<br />
Jeep range in the form of a<br />
$69,990 AWD plug-in hybrid<br />
being reviewed in this road test.<br />
It is pricey for an aging, small<br />
and quirky looking SUV. Carrying<br />
the 4xe badge, PHEV and EV<br />
Motoring with Bob Nettleton<br />
models will underpin the most<br />
efficient and environmentally<br />
responsible Jeeps ever. The company<br />
is shooting for the electrified<br />
stars and aiming to have EV<br />
offerings in each SUV segment<br />
in the next few years. It’s already<br />
started that journey here with<br />
the recent launched fully electric<br />
Avenger.<br />
4xe models offer strong performance<br />
and driving dynamics<br />
across the Jeep catalogue, from<br />
the Renegade to the Grand Cherokee<br />
and everything between.<br />
Each model features legendary<br />
4x4 abilities fine tuned for more<br />
than 80 years, while still an ideal<br />
choice for everyday city driving<br />
with an average all electric range<br />
of 45-50km.<br />
With E-Select modes – the<br />
4xe driver can tailor the hybrid<br />
power train to best suit each<br />
trip from daily commuting in<br />
pure-electric mode to extended<br />
Incorporating<br />
best motorbuys<br />
www.drivesouth.co.nz<br />
Trailblazing Jeep Renegade leads the way<br />
highway road trips with no range<br />
anxiety, except for the totally<br />
paranoid. All three modes are<br />
selectable via three buttons. In<br />
the test vehicle these are located<br />
in the centre console.<br />
The 4xe hybrid solution combines<br />
enhanced performance<br />
up to 177kW. This is a lot of<br />
power for a small SUV. Given<br />
its off-beat looks, it’s a performance<br />
wolf in sheep’s clothing.<br />
This impressive power output is<br />
achieved by pairing a 1.3-litre<br />
turbo petrol engine with an electric<br />
motor nestled between the<br />
rear axle, which is powered by an<br />
11.4kW battery that can be recharged<br />
while driving or through<br />
an external power outlet.<br />
While not the smoothest or<br />
sweetest sounding motor, it is, if<br />
nothing else a highly entertaining<br />
drive – a little less so when<br />
it runs out of battery power to<br />
hurry things along. A six-speed<br />
automatic does a competent<br />
enough job. The test vehicle’s<br />
transmission isn’t the most polished<br />
in its class, with a few more<br />
rough edges than you would<br />
expect given its lofty price tag.<br />
If you are looking for loads of<br />
Ratings out of 10: Performance 7; Handling 7; Build<br />
Quality 6; Comfort 6; Styling 6; Average fuel consumption<br />
on road test 6.1L/100km; Value for money 5; Safety – Five<br />
Star ANCAP crash rating. Qualifies for a $4025 clean vehicle<br />
rebate until Dec 31, <strong>2023</strong>.<br />
Overall points out of 10: 6.5<br />
cargo and cabin space the Renegade<br />
offers little of either. Back<br />
seat passenger space is particularly<br />
tight, as is access in and out<br />
of the rear doors. When it comes<br />
to room it is shaded, or should<br />
that be eclipsed, by the cheaper<br />
top spec VRX Mitsubishi Eclipse<br />
PHEV. The passenger compartment<br />
design is neat, but a bit<br />
fussy looking and has a bit too<br />
much hard plastic trim on show<br />
for a vehicle in this price bracket.<br />
For a small SUV this one<br />
makes a big play for the safety<br />
tech high ground with standard<br />
features that include Full LED<br />
headlights, Forward Collision,<br />
Lane Departure Warnings and<br />
Traffic-Sign Recognition. Also<br />
making the safety cut for this<br />
model is Blind Spot Detection,<br />
Park View Rear Backup Camera<br />
with dynamic grid lines, and<br />
Keyless Go.<br />
Handling is safe and predictable<br />
while body roll in faster<br />
cornering is well contained.<br />
Generally the test vehicle felt<br />
as well-planted as much larger<br />
vehicles across a variety of surfaces.<br />
There is just enough road<br />
feel to keep you connected and<br />
involved in the steering action.<br />
Suspension noise in low speed<br />
around-town driving, especially<br />
when travelling over poor road<br />
surfaces, isn’t as well suppressed<br />
as it should be for small SUV<br />
with an almost $70k asking price<br />
on its head.<br />
My off-road rambling wasn’t<br />
extensive and limited to a couple<br />
of modest creek crossings and<br />
a similar number of some farm<br />
tracks that offered up a few steep,<br />
short, sharp and well-weathered<br />
gradients to test the Renegade’s<br />
mettle. These challenges were<br />
easily dispatched, and gave me<br />
a timely reminder of why Jeep<br />
has been an off-road champ for<br />
decades.<br />
Finance<br />
available<br />
(conditions apply)<br />
CARS WANTED<br />
– CASH PAID<br />
We buy small<br />
Japanese vehicles<br />
- Must be tidy<br />
REDUCED<br />
REDUCED<br />
2011 Mazda axela<br />
$7,995<br />
1500cc, auto, 184,500kms.<br />
2010 MiTSubiShi rVr<br />
$10,995<br />
1800cc, auto, 2WD, 128,000kms.<br />
2001 ToyoTa Corolla runx<br />
$5,995<br />
1800cc, auto, high spec motor, alloys, 176,000kms.<br />
2014 ToyoTa Corolla Gx haTCh 1.8<br />
waS $11,995 now $10,995<br />
Auto, NZ new 176,000kms.<br />
2016 ToyoTa Corolla Glx 5/haTCh<br />
waS $11,995 now $10,995<br />
1.8L, auto, alloys, rev camera, 194,000kms.<br />
2012 niSSan Tiida 5/haTCh<br />
$6,995<br />
1.5L, auto, 154,000kms, runs well.<br />
2009 Suzuki Sx4<br />
$8,995<br />
5Dr Hatch, 2.0L auto, NZ new, 114,000kms.<br />
2015 ToyoTa Corolla Gx haTCh<br />
$12,995<br />
1600cc, 147,000kms, rev.camera, NZ new.<br />
2005 Mazda axela<br />
$5,995<br />
4 door, 2.0L auto, 182,000kms, nice car.<br />
2010 Suzuki Sx-4 Sedan<br />
$7,995 2.0L auto, 120,000kms, NZ new,<br />
alloys, Paddle Shift, Cruise Control.<br />
SOLD<br />
REDUCED<br />
2006 niSSan winGroad S/w<br />
$5,695<br />
1.5L, auto, 184,000kms.<br />
2015 ToyoTa yariS 5/haTCh<br />
waS $13,995 now $12,495<br />
1.3L, auto, NZ new, low 56,000kms.<br />
2012 hyundai i30 S/w<br />
$8,995<br />
NZ new, 1600cc, auto, 133,000kms, alloys.<br />
2005 CheVroleT Cruze 5/haTCh<br />
$5,995<br />
1300cc, auto, 56,000kms.<br />
2012 hyundai i30 5/haTCh<br />
$7,995<br />
1.6L, auto, 173,000kms, alloys.<br />
- 281 Ferry Road - 03 389 1121 - dougdrake@xtra.co.nz www.dougdrake.co.nz