With the unveiling of the plug-in hybrid versions of the Renegade and Compass at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, Jeep has taken an important step into the future.
The smallest member of the brand’s family, the Renegade, combines a new 1.3-liter turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor, for a total output said to stand in the 190-240 PS (187-237 hp / 140-178 kW) range.
With the battery fully charged, it can be driven for around 50 km (31 miles) on electric power, at no more than 130 km/h (81 mph). When the ICE kicks in, the Renegade PHEV takes approximately 7 seconds to hit 100 km/h (62 mph).
Also Read: GKN Puts Electrified Renegade With FWD Torque Vectoring To The Test
The new plug-in hybrid version of the Compass enjoys up to 240 PS (237 hp / 178 kW) of combined power. The compact model’s still pending homologation, but it’s expected to have a very similar performance to the smaller Renegade, which emits less than 50 g/km of CO2.
Besides making them friendlier to the environment, the plug-in hybrid powertrain improves their off-road capabilities. Jeep says that thanks to the extra torque offered by the rear electric motor, which can be adjusted with precision during take-offs, traction to the rear axle has been improved.
Additionally, the eAWD (electric all-wheel drive) system allows the two axles to work independently from each other, which makes it more effective than a traditional mechanical system.
Besides the PHEV powertrain, the plug-in hybrid Renegade and Compass feature a dedicated instrument cluster and infotainment screen that provide key information to the driver.
![](https://www.carscoops.com/wp-content/themes/carscoops/assets/images/icons/arrow.png"){kind=icon}