Forget SUVs, the Jeep Renegade has Hatchbacks in its Sights

Loyalists might be split on the 2015 Renegade‘s existence, the smallest Jeep yet and one that shares a lot with Fiat products, but the company doesn’t think that’ll be an issue for the car’s target audience.

Jeep manager Becky Blanchard told Ward’s Auto the Renegade will be mostly targeted at first-time buyers “who will start with our smallest, lowest-priced model.”

Blanchard said in addition to the obvious new small crossovers, the Nissan Juke, Buick Encore and Chevy Trax, the tall hatchback Kia Soul is also a rival. And Jeep thinks they’ll steal plenty of Soul sales thanks to the Renegade’s optional all-wheel drive.

Expect the Renegade to appear in U.S. dealerships beginning in December. It will be interesting to see if it is able to steal sales from vehicles like the Soul, or even the Honda Fit or Nissan Versa Note. The Chrysler-Fiat lineups lack a vehicle in that category, and if you think about it, the Renegade fits right in.

By Zac Estrada

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