2015 Jeep Renegade detailed

New Jeep Renegade baby SUV range to feature all-wheel drive, opening roof and trail-rated Trailhawk model.

Jeep has announced new details for the Australian version of the new Jeep Renegade, with the small SUV to joining the new car market’s fastest growing segment that includes Honda's new HR-V, Renault Captur, Holden Trax, Ford EcoSport, Suzuki S-Cross, Nissan Juke and upcoming Mazda CX-3.

Pricing and a local showroom arrival date are yet to be confirmed, however Jeep has detailed the Renegade's engine and trim levels, as well as the capabilities of the trail-rated Trailhawk version of the soft-roader.

Three petrol-powered engine options will be available for the Renegade. At the lower-end will be a 81kW/152Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine while the upper end features a 103kW/230Nm 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder powerplant.

The Trailhawk tops the lot with a 130kW/230Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.

Each will be paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and deliver power to all four wheels. While all-wheel drive is available on both the S-Cross and Juke, and will be available in the CX-3 when it arrives locally, most other small-SUVs stick to the front-wheel drive of their hatchback origins.

Externally, the Renegade features Jeep's "My Sky" open roof system. Available in either manual or powered form, the roof panels - made of fibreglass and polyurethane honeycomb - fold behind the rear seats and are stored in the cargo area.

The cabin of the all-new Renegade will feature Jeep's new "Tek-Tonic" design language, which borrows design elements from the Wrangler and combines them with the aesthetics of sporting equipment.

The Renegade also features Jeep's Uconnect multimedia system. It will come with either a five-inch or 6.5-inch touchscreen, the usual suite of connectivity options as well as digital radio.

A seven-inch display screen replaces the traditional instrument cluster above the steering wheel, similar to Audi's 'Virtual Cockpit'.

Flexibility in storage spaces is provided by a front passenger seat that folds forward and a cargo floor panel that can be removed, reversed and raised or lowered.

Safety features on the Renegade range will include seven airbags, reversing camera, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, rear cross-path detection, blind spot monitoring and electronic stability control.

Jeep will also produce a Trailhawk version of the Renegade, with the idea being it can actually be taken off road.

The Renegade Trailhawk will feature a 130kW/230Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, low-range 4x4 system, disconnecting rear axle, five drive modes (auto, snow, sand, mud and rock) and hill descent control.

Ground clearance on the Renegade Trailhawk is 220mm, an increase of 20mm over the other Renegade models, and it is capable of handling 30.5 degree approach and 34.3 degree departure angles.

Other features of the Renegade Trailhawk include the ability to cross water up to 480mm deep, 900kg towing capacity (with tow package), front and rear tow hooks, skid plates and unique 17-inch alloys.