Used Jeep Renegade review and buying guide (2014 to present): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Jeep Renegade should you buy?

A 1.4 MultiAir petrol Renegade is the one to pick if you don't cover big distances, since it's quiet and still pulls well. The Renegade's one known fault is the turbo, which has failed young on 2014 to 2018 cars, usually between 30,000 and 40,000 miles, and there's no service schedule on record to go on. Beyond that there's little logged either way, and that isn't the same as a clean record.

The Renegade's been on sale since 2014 and was facelifted in 2019. The 2015 cars hold a five-star crash-test rating, while the 2019 facelift was given three stars. Every fault owners have reported concerns a car built between 2014 and 2018, so treat the facelifted cars as unknown rather than proven.

The ride's firm and turns bouncy over potholes and broken surfaces, and that's how the car is set up rather than a fault on one example. Drive any Renegade on a rough road before you commit, because if it bothers you on a short test drive, it'll bother you far more after a year of daily use.

Which Renegade engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

The 1.4 MultiAir petrol is the best bet if you don't rack up big mileages, because it's quiet yet has enough punch for most driving. It isn't flawless: one 2016 1.4 owner needed five oil top-ups between services while still under warranty, and the two dealers involved couldn't agree whether that was normal. Another 1.4 MultiAir 140 owner found it lively up to about 40mph but hard work getting to 70, which pointed to a faulty accelerator pedal switch.

Turbo failure is the Renegade's known fault, and several owners share it. A 2014 1.6 MultiJet diesel lost its turbo at 49,500 km, a 2016 car's went at 36,000 miles only 3 months after its warranty ran out, and a third owner's turbo was leaking, with cruise control and stop-start both switched off on the same car. Only one of those reports names the engine, so treat any turbocharged Renegade as at risk, not just the diesel.

Nothing on record covers the Renegade's gearboxes, so treat them as unknown rather than proven. The one clutch failure owners have reported was on a 2015 2.0 diesel with four-wheel drive, which needed a new clutch at 18,000 miles and had a damaged dual mass flywheel as well. That's a single car, but it's reason enough to check the clutch carefully on a diesel.

What should you check when viewing a used Renegade?

The turbo comes first. On the test drive, accelerate hard through the gears and onto a faster road: power should build smoothly and keep coming. Try the cruise control and the stop-start as well, since one car with a leaking turbo had both disabled at the same time. If there's a warning light, a flat spot or a sudden drop in power, don't buy it.

Pull the dipstick and ask the seller how often the oil needs topping up, because one 1.4 needed five top-ups between services. Ask for receipts for any turbo work as well. On a 2.0 diesel, make sure the clutch bites cleanly without slipping or juddering, as one needed a clutch and dual mass flywheel at 18,000 miles.

Walk round the paint in good light, looking hardest at the bonnet and roof. One 2018 car's paint blistered and peeled back to primer on the bonnet by 4,000 miles, then the roof began doing the same. The same 2015 diesel that lost its clutch had two battery faults too, so ask whether the battery's been replaced and when.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What does a used Jeep Renegade cost to run?

What do Renegade owners like about them?

The cabin's roomier than you'd expect from a car this size, and tall passengers in the back won't find their heads brushing the roof. The boot's easy to live with too: its wide opening and low sill mean heavy bags and shopping don't need hauling up and over a high lip.

The interior feels solidly put together, with a finish that doesn't come across as cheap. Four-wheel drive versions can properly handle rough ground rather than just looking the part, so a Renegade makes real sense if you actually leave the tarmac and need something that'll cope with muddy tracks and rutted lanes.

• The cabin of this 2015 Jeep Renegade is impressively spacious, offering plenty of headroom for rear passengers.
• The boot is a good size and highly practical, featuring a wide opening and a low load lip.
• The 1.4 MultiAir engine is a strong choice for lower mileage drivers, being quiet yet powerful.
• The interior feels robust and well-finished, contributing to a sense of quality.
• This Jeep Renegade's four-wheel drive system provides genuine capability, making it effective for off-road driving.