Jeep Renegade v Suzuki Jimny 2015 Comparison

Jeep Renegade Trailhawk v Suzuki Jimny Sierra
Comparison Test

The eagerly-awaited Jeep Renegade 'baby SUV' has landed in Australia, but only the range-topping Trailhawk model is equipped with four-wheel-drive. So if you want your little SUV to be as rugged as it looks then you'll be parting with over $40,000! The legendary Suzuki Jimny is just $23,000, but feels completely outdated on the road. But what about off-road...? We take this odd couple off the beaten track to find out.

The Jeep Renegade Trailhawk is a very smart little SUV. It looks the business with just the right level of outlandish design to stand out from the pack, while also delivering a level of off-road capability.

But it comes at a cost...

For its $41,500 price tag, you do get masses of standard equipment including satellite navigation, blind-spot monitoring, a reversing camera, leather upholstery, heated front seats and even a heated steering wheel. Hands get cold too...

You also get Jeep's new full-time four-wheel drive system – including Jeep Active Drive Low with 20:1 crawl ratio and a 'Selec-Terrain' system with easily-switchable modes to tackle mud, snow, sand and rock.

Unusual in SUVs of its stature, the Renegade Trailhawk also features a very impressive hill-descent control function which gives this baby Jeep off-roader some real credibility away from the asphalt.

On the other side of the ring – and at just $22,990 – the Suzuki Jimny Sierra comes in with a pocket-money pricetag. It lacks all the gadgets and interior finesse of the Jeep, it's a shocker to drive on the freeway, and its aged exterior design ensures it is almost completely invisible in a crowd.

But it can tackle serious four-wheel-drive tracks, and that's where the real test lies in this comparison.

It's not the size of the dog in the fight...
Equipped with a 2.4-litre petrol engine, the Renegade Trailhawk has double the output, and almost double the cubic capacity, of the 1.3-litre Jimny Sierra.

Jeep says the Renegade Trailhawk offers 129kW and 230Nm, comparing favourably to the Jimny Sierra's 62.5kW and 110Nm. Fuel use is rated at 7.5L/100km for the Euro/American offering (the Jeep shares its underpinnings with the Fiat 500X), while the older technology of the Japanese tiddler sees it sip slightly more at 7.8L/100km.

Interestingly, both emit the same CO2 emissions at 175g/km.

The performance stats mean the baby SUVs are poles apart on-road. But on four-wheel drive tracks and trails, power is just part of the performance equation, and it's here that both our contenders prove a lot closer in their technical abilities.

Jeep has given Renegade its own 'Trail Rated' capability with more ground clearance than the Jimny (211mm plays 190mm), however, its approach angle of 30.5 degrees versus the Jimny's 34.0 reflects its larger frame – and makes a difference off-road. We found tricky approaches required more care in the Jeep, the model's larger turning circle also proving a hassle in tight confines (10.8m against 9.8).

Yes, the Suzuki Jimny is far less complex than the Renegade but we think this gives it a real advantage off road, and potentially when you break it. Arguably, you're also less inclined to worry over your precious paint work, the Jimny feeling more workhorse than its show-pony rival.

The Jimny has three drive modes – 2H (with power sent to the rear wheels), 4H and 4L. The 50:50 split in Suzuki's four-wheel drive system delivers real confidence to the driver, while its lack of computer-controlled technology worked to its favour, particularly up tricky climbs where the Jeep's stability control would continually intervene.

On gravel roads, the Renegade's permanent all-wheel drive system seemed unfazed by electronic nannies, delivering grip with confidence. The Suzuki on the other hand felt more skittish here, inducing the stability control into action repeatedly on bends at speed. In the Jimny this delivers the sensation that you're sliding through corners, which can be a little fun. On skinny fire trails, or a wet highway, however, we'd wager it might feel disconcerting – modern electronic driver aids have certainly come further in some cars than others...

On balance, we felt each vehicle coped admirably with the combination of roads attempted, the Jimny's shorter bonnet and narrower frame ensuring it felt nimbler and was easier to reference when judging wheel placement over tricky obstacles. It was this factor that didn't help when lining the Jeep up for one particularly challenging incline – the same hill nailed first time by the little Suzuki.

It's the vibe...
One of the most noticeable differences between the Jeep and the Suzuki was in the way the pair communicated with the driver. Off-road it's important to understand what each wheel is doing, and to us, it felt as if this trait was better demonstrated by the Jimny.

In the Renegade you feel like the car is doing a lot of the work for you [Ed: and that's probably because it is!]. The more sophisticated suspension set-up and over-assisted steering take something away from that 'connection' we felt with the Jimny. It's an important consideration for the first-time four-wheel driver this pair with likely entice; though the complete lack of a safety rating does reverse the odds...

In spite of its go-almost-anywhere off-road ability, the light weight Suzuki showed weakness on the highway. The small engine works hard to maintain freeway speeds and is disadvantaged by an antiquated four-speed auto. It's a tough ask trying to overtake, and with a such a small footprint we're not really sure you'd want to anyway (read: the Jimny does feel a little precarious at higher speeds).

There's no cruise control, either, and the infotainment system is basic at best. Not to worry, though, as you won't hear it over the mechanical din, road, and wind noise.

That said the Renegade isn't perfect, either. Sure it feels more planted than the Suzuki, and with a vast array of creature comforts is a more suitable vehicle to live with every day. Comfort levels (including those of your ears) are excellent in comparison to those of the Jimny, but you'd expect as much given it's nearly double the price.

It's the small things...
We set out to discover whether you can have as much fun off-roading in an SUV that costs half that of its 'latest and greatest' compact contemporary.

And you most definitely can.

The Jimny is a hoot to drive off-road with convincing ability and a go-anywhere attitude. While it is a relic on-road, it's a legend in its natural environment.

The Jeep is more of a technical marvel. We couldn't really fault its competence, but comparing the two, we preferred the connection with the Jimny when headed off the beaten track.

The Renegade is preferable as an all-rounder – and to live with on the asphalt. But if we wanted a little SUV to fling about on the weekend, Suzuki could take our money tomorrow.

And besides, with $18,000 change, you could buy a second vehicle as a daily driver...

2015 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk pricing and specifications:
Price: $41,500 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 129kW/230Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 175g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

2015 Suzuki Jimny Sierra pricing and specifications:
Price: $22,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 62.5kW/110Nm
Transmission: Four-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.8L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 175g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: N/A