With the unveiling
of the plug-in hybrid versions of the Renegade and Compass at the 2019 Geneva
Motor Show, Jeep has taken an important step into the future. The smallest
member of the brand’s family, the Renegade, combines a new 1.3-liter
turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor, for a total output said to
stand in the 190-240 PS range.
With the battery
fully charged, it can be driven for around 50 km on electric power,
at no more than 130 km/h. When the ICE kicks in, the Renegade PHEV
takes approximately 7 seconds to hit 100 km/h.
The new plug-in
hybrid version of the Compass enjoys up to 240 PS of combined
power. The compact model’s still pending homologation, but it’s expected to
have a very similar performance to the smaller Renegade, which emits less than
50 g/km of CO2.
Besides making them
friendlier to the environment, the plug-in hybrid powertrain improves their
off-road capabilities. Jeep says that thanks to the extra torque offered by the
rear electric motor, which can be adjusted with precision during take-offs,
traction to the rear axle has been improved.
Additionally, the
eAWD (electric all-wheel drive) system allows the two axles to work
independently from each other, which makes it more effective than a traditional
mechanical system. Besides the PHEV powertrain, the plug-in hybrid Renegade and
Compass feature a dedicated instrument cluster and infotainment screen that
provide key information to the driver.
