Jeep’s India line-up currently consists of the Compass, Wrangler and Grand Cherokee. While it is known that the American SUV brand will introduce a sub-four-metre rival to the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza by 2020 and a seven-seat Compass-based SUV by 2021, we can confirm that the current Renegade – which is, for now, Jeep’s smallest offering in international markets – will not be making its way to India.
On the flip side, Jeep is looking at bringing the next-generation Renegade to our market after the sub-four-metre SUV and the seven-seat SUV arrive; so sometime in 2022. A high degree of localisation should help price this model competitively, seeing as it is aimed squarely at the Hyundai Creta, which costs between Rs 9.50-15.10 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The model will also be exported to other right-hand-drive markets, leading to economies of scale that are expected to bring prices down even more.
While it has yet to be confirmed, the new Renegade for India could share the 1.4-litre turbo-petrol and 2.0-litre diesel engines with the Compass, albeit in a lower state of tune. Even transmission options – namely the 6-speed manual and the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic – are likely to be the same between the two SUVs.
Besides the sub-four-metre and seven-seat SUVs, Jeep is readying two new models for India next year – the Compass Trailhawk (which will finally add a diesel-AT to the Compass range) and the next-generation Wrangler.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Suraj Viswanathan
Hormazd Sorabjee
Kiran Murali
Saptarshi Mondal
