I don’t know about you but a tiny turbo engine called the Firefly is marketing genius, that is if it’s more durable and lasts longer than its namesake lends itself to.

The Jeep Renegade is taking a calculated risk for 2019 by lopping off 68 cc’s in the name of MPG and a bit more power, one that should pay off in sales. As per Jeep in an official press release they dropped earlier this week (Oct. 1, 2018) their smallest CUV offering gains a new 1.3L turbocharged engine that’s already doing work in the Fiat 500X FL. Besides the engine,  most notable for 2019 is the Jeep Renegades updated looks, a couple new colors, wheel designs, and more features in the advanced tech group that push this Renegade into that ever important adaptive cruise control set of driver assistance tools.

Small four-cylinder turbocharged engines are nothing new in CUVs and are probably more common in small car offerings as seen from Ford and GM. Part of the Fiat Global Small Engine family that started development last year, this 1.3L isn’t even its smallest form, there’s a T3 Firefly that lops off even more cc’s and loses one cylinder altogether.

The standard FWD and 4×4 Jeep Renegades get the 2.4L NA Tigershark with just 180 HP and 175 lb-ft.

The biggest reason these smaller turbocharged engines are being offered is in the name of fuel efficiency. Compared to the standard 1.4L turbo engine, this 1.3L Turbo unofficially boosts (no pun intended) highway MPG up from 27 to 32, a huge leap forward for this small CUV.

For transmission choices, gone is the six-speed manual, another blow for supposed off-road worthiness for all Jeep products. In its place is a much more consumer-friendly 9-speed automatic, which should keep that 1.3L turbo engine spooled and in its powerband better.

Outside, the biggest changes are a slightly different front fascia and grille design. Overall, the Renegade maintains its pissed off scowl, important for small CUV buyers who want to drive something reasonable and efficient but don’t want the world to know they’ve sold out.

Pricing has yet to be announced but expect the Renegade to start around the high $18,000’s now that the once  optional 2.4L Tigershark is now standard.

Source: FCA

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