There is nothing quite like hitting the open road. While you can travel by plane or train, the best way to experience the world is from behind the wheel of your vehicle. Not only do you get to experience the slow change in the landscape, but chances are you’ll also spot destinations and landmarks that you would have otherwise missed on a cross country flight. That said, road tripping isn’t easy on any car. Between the wear and tear and the constant change in terrain, taking your car on a road trip can be quite demanding. However, some vehicles perform better in this area than others. Of all the vehicles in the used market today the 2016 Jeep Renegade is a spunky and quirky road-tripper that is up to the task of long-distance driving. Whether you’re searching online for “used cars near me,” or need another reason to love the Jeep Renegade, we’re here to show you why the 2016 Jeep Renegade is the ultimate road-trip-ready SUV.
Appearances Are Convincing
Take one look at the Jeep Renegade, and you’ll spot a Jeep brand vehicle that doesn’t look like anything else on the market today. Whether Jeep was going for this level of uniqueness or not, they’ve certainly nailed it. The Jeep Renegade from its introduction in 2014 and on has continued to offer an exterior styling that is soaked in character. From the taillights to the classic Jeep grill, the Jeep Renegade is a compact SUV that is at times rugged and others completely unassuming.
Moving to the interior, you’ll find a compact SUV that offers a surprising amount of space. Compact SUVs are never known for their spacing. While certainly offering more room than a sedan, compact SUVs still rarely compete with their larger counterparts. That said, the 2016 Jeep Renegade does fairly well when compared to competitor vehicles. In the Renegade with the rear seats up you can take advantage of 18.5 cu.ft. of space, and with those seats folded can increase that offered space to 50.8 cu.ft. Not only that, but the seating is comfortable, with all models enjoying some well-crafted front and rear seats. To sweeten an already sweet deal, the 2016 Jeep Renegade enjoys little road noise.
So, why does all of this matter in terms of road-tripping? Well, hours upon hours behind the wheel of any car can be exhausting. Fortunately, the Jeep Renegade does an excellent job at easing the burden of long-distance driving by providing a next-level compact SUV driving experience. You’ll also find plenty of room for all of your luggage and travel gear, ensuring that you’ll never have to worry too much about packing light.
When Road-Tripping Performance Is Everything
Long-distance driving can be more than just a burden on your car; it can also be a burden on your wallet. Between stopping for gas and paying for pre-road trip (and post-road trip) maintenance, it is good to know that you’re sat behind the wheel of a vehicle that won’t break your wallet. In that same instance, you’ll want a vehicle that is capable of handling the drive to begin with. So that means having a vehicle that is capable of navigating a variety of environments and road conditions from the sunny shores of summer cruising in California to the snowy hills of winter in Pennsylvania.
The 2016 Jeep Renegade is a fully-capable vehicle even in its standard model. For starters, this Jeep compact SUV is tooled with a small yet mighty 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine which is responsible for a reasonable 160 horsepower and 184 lb-ft worth of torque. With a smaller engine, drivers get to enjoy superior fuel economy, and the 2016 Jeep Renegade certainly offers that in droves. The 2016 Jeep Renegade is one of the most fuel-efficient compact SUVs of its class earning an EPA-rated 24 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. This means if you’re hoping to embark on a road trip with a base model 2016 Jeep Renegade, you’ll find yourself spending far less at the pump than you would with a more robust vehicle. Towing capacity isn’t half bad either, topping out at 2,000 lbs. While you won’t be doing any heavy-duty hauling, you could still tow a small trailer with everything you need to be stowed inside.
While the base model of the 2016 Jeep Renegade is certainly worthwhile, higher trim options like the Jeep Renegade Trailhawk present a more robust driving experience. The Trailhawk is the top trim offered in the Jeep Renegade lineup, and it is powered by a 2.4 liter 4-cylinder engine which provides a little more oomph putting up 180 horsepower and 184 lb-ft worth of torque. While gas mileage takes a hit, clocking in at 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, the Trailhawk trim option prioritizes utility and capability above fuel economy.
Why You Should Invest in the Trailhawk Trim
While the base model of the 2016 Jeep Renegade is a valuable road-trip vehicle, it pales in comparison to the Trailhawk edition. The 2016 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk is an off-road-ready version of the SUV that brings a versatile 4×4 drivetrain, as well as Jeep’s innovative off-road software. This intuitive technology allows you to adjust the drivetrain based on the terrain your crossing. From sand to snow, and mud to rock, the Jeep Renegade Trailhawk can cross it all. As a result, when you’re road-tripping behind the wheel of a 2016 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk very little can stop you on your journey.
Apart from the incredible drivetrain, the Jeep Renegade Trailhawk comes with improved ground clearance. With more space separating your undercarriage from the ground, you’ll be able to navigate out to remote camp sites, cross rugged landscape and see parts of the country that would have otherwise been missed due to impassible terrain.
On top of that, when you invest in the Jeep Renegade Trailhawk you’ll be given plenty of Jeep-themed’ Easter eggs’ like a sasquatch decal in the rear window and a map of the Mojave desert printed into the front seats. You’ll also find a 6.5-inch touchscreen complete with seamless Uconnect technology, a Wi-Fi-hotspot, and a full-power outlet as optional add-ons making for the ultimate road-trip-ready vehicle.
While the 2016 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk isn’t quite on par with something as powerful as the Jeep Wrangler, it is certainly a worthwhile package.
Finding a 2016 Jeep Renegade at a Used Car Dealer Near You
Jeep continues to push the envelope providing drivers with SUVs that stand far and away from other SUVs on the market. The 2016 Jeep Renegade is one of these unique vehicles that continues to entertain, satisfy, and thrill SUV drivers to this day. While you can invest in newer models, the 2016 model is truly remarkable and worth searching for. If you get the opportunity, we also suggest hunting for the trim-topping 2016 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk, which offers up a next-level driving and road-tripping experience. If you’re lucky, you can drive away from a used car dealership, behind the wheel of one of these road-trip-ready compact SUVs.
