Jeep Renegade here in October

Dubbed the world's most capable compact SUV, Jeep promises the Renegade will change the way the car buying public perceives compact SUVs.

It's pitched as a five-door city runabout to rival a small hatchback but one capable of tackling serious off-road trails like much larger 4WDs.

Boasting a handful of segment-first features including a nine-speed automatic transmission, removable roof  and active lane departure warning, not to mention a range of petrol and diesel engines and loads of smart phone integration gadgetry, the pint-size Renegade appears to have the situation under control – at least on paper.

It also gets plenty of advanced safety technology including autonomous emergency braking, along with seven airbags and a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, plus a striking design inside and out.

The Renegade, which motoring.com.au has already tested, will be gunning for the likes of the Holden Trax, Ford EcoSport, Mitsubishi ASX and new-comers like the Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-3 when it arrives in Australia in October.

Jeep insists that the Renegade stays true to the brand's ethos of offering true off-road ability, arguing that the junior Jeep is a genuine rock-hopper, providing the vehicle with a unique selling point in the increasingly crowded compact SUV genre – one of the fastest growing segments in Australia and globally.

All Renegade models have 200mm of ground clearance with the Trailhawk model boasting 220mm. The latter can ford bodies of water up to 480mm deep, has a 4WD system with a 20:1 crawl ratio and claims wheel articulation of up to 205mm.

Approach, departure and breakover angles of the Renegade Trailhawk are 30.5, 34.3 and 25.7 degrees respectively -- figures that Jeep says are class-leading. The company argues that it hasn't muddied its widely-respected off-road credentials by developing a half-baked soft-roader. To find out if it can tackle the really rough stuff, go to the reviews section for our preview drive.

It's also available with scads of advanced driver aids and convenience functions, such as radar cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross path detection. However, at this end of the market, where some compact SUVs are positioned under $21,000, price is crucial and advanced technologies do not come cheap.

It's not yet clear where Jeep will position the Renegade in Australia, but with the Aussie dollar weakening versus the Euro and the US dollar – the car is built in Italy, sharing its underpinnings with the Fiat 500X – it could make things challenging for Jeep Australia.

Lucy McLellan, director of corporate communications for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), said it was too early to talk about pricing for the Renegade but said local pricing was being discussed.

She said the new model will arrive in Australia around October this year, extending the brand's reach while preserving key Jeep attributes.

"FCA is thrilled to be bringing the Jeep Renegade to Australia in quarter three this year. With segment-leading drivetrain technology and a reimagining of Jeep's design aesthetic in a European-sized SUV, we're sure Australians are going to love it," she said.

Although pricing, specification and even the model line-up will not be finalised until much closer to the car's local launch – there are 16 powertrains available globally – McLellan did confirm the nine-speed automatic will be offered on "most" models here.

It's motoring.com.au's understanding that both front- and all-wheel drive versions will be offered Down Under and while the range-topping, mudslinging Trailhawk model is a certainty, McLellan refused to say if the Sport, Longitude and Limited models will make the journey.

Jeep Australia has confirmed three petrol engines will be available initially, starting with an entry-level 1.6-litre non-turbo four-cylinder engine generating 81kW/152Nm. The mid-range powerplant is a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder unit worth 103kW/230Nm and a range-topping 2.4-litre four-cylinder non-turbo petrol unit developing 130kW/230Nm rounds out the range and powers the rugged Trailhawk model.

There's also a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel that is a "possibility" down the track, says McLellan.

While the nine-speed auto is a definite for Oz, the six-speed manual and six-speed dual-clutch auto options are still being weighed up for this market.

Two- and four-wheel drive versions of all models (except Trailhawk) are available in the US – where the latter is a $US2000 option. The AWD system is dubbed Active Drive. It's essentially a front-drive system that engages the rear axle when necessary via a coupling system. A third driveline, Active Drive Low, is exclusive to the Trailhawk model and features a 20:1 crawl ratio for tackling the rough stuff.

The most likely scenario for Australia is that Renegade will mirror the Cherokee range, with an entry-level 2WD 'Sport' model that could be pegged at around $25K driveaway. It's likely to be joined by the mid-grade 'Longitude', luxury 'Limited' and rough-and-tumble 'Trailhawk' models, all fitted as standard with AWD.

Some of the other features on the Renegade include electric power steering with a direct steering torque or DST system, which is designed to make the vehicle easier to drive in challenging situations. Infotainment offerings comprise the 'Uconnect' system with either 5.0- or 6.5-inch touch-screens, featuring digital radio, Bluetooth everything, voice control and twin USB ports.

Jeep is still deciding what features Australians will be offered but things like stability control and seven airbags will be standard across the range. Some of the big-ticket options include a pair of 'My Sky' open-air roof systems. Both are removable, while the premium version features power tilt/slide functionality.

Underpinning the compact SUV is independent suspension front and rear and the Renegade is also the first Jeep to be fitted with a frequency selective damping (FSD) strut system. Developed by suspension expert Koni, it ensures "world-class road-holding and handling characteristics" according to Jeep, and is supposed to reduce the after-shock of acute surface changes.

The new Jeep Renegade will be manufactured in Italy, China and Brazil and will be sold in more than 100 countries.