Goodbye Dart… Hello Renegade.

Posted-onBy lineBylineadmin

So, just after publishing this video on my YouTube channel, I traded my Dart for a Renegade.

I am proud to show off my new/used vehicle… a 2018 Jeep Renegade Latitude. Is it a manual transmission? No, I have joined the automatic transmission crowd. I still prefer a manual, but this vehicle did not have a manual option in 2018. It is what it is. Manual transmissions allow me to be in full control of the vehicle. Automatic transmissions allow me to just sit back and drive. Trade-offs, I suppose.

Front left.
Back End or what I call, the ass-end.
Front Right
2.4L I4 Multi-Air Engine. 180HP, 175 LB/FOOT Torque. Enough for me.

Isn’t it a beauty? I think so. So, what features does it have?

  • Safety first
    • Full compliment of airbags
    • Rear Backup Camera
    • Anti-Lock brakes
    • Traction Control
  • Entertainment
    • Uconnect 8.4 Touchscreen Display
    • Navigation
    • Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
    • HD Radio
    • 6 Speakers (no sub!)
    • USB, Aux. (No SD Card Slot, no CD player)
  • Other Features
    • Power Heated Mirrors
    • Roof Rails
    • Height adjustable Rear Cargo floor (I call it a false floor…)
    • A/C with Dual Zone Control
    • Rear USB for charging only
    • Cruise Control
    • Keyless Go Push Button Start (no remote start)
  • Optional Features
    • 17″ Aluminum Rims/Tires (not low profile!)
    • Flex Fuel Vehicle
    • 115-Volt Power Outlet
    • 40/20/40 Rear seat “Trunk” pass-through
    • Power Seat (Driver only)
    • Auto Dimming Rear View Mirror
    • 7″ Cluster TFT Color Display

Here are some juicy pictures for you, my readers…

Instrument Cluster with the 7″ TFT display between the analog gages.
Entertainment hub!
Apple CarPlay apps. The ‘dock’ of three apps is on the left.
The multi-app display. Many, music, and calendar all present. The dock can still be accessed on the left.
Yes, CarPlay music player with some great Dream Theater music!
Built-in GPS Navigation.
The cargo area….
Under what I call the false floor. And under that Jeep mat is another area for storage (or a compact spare tire since the Renegade did not come with one…)
This is with the 40/20 down. The middle cup holders for the back seat fold down providing access to the cargo area as well.
With both seats down, there is a surprising amount of cargo room.

I am going to make a YouTube video on my Jeep in the near future, so be on the lookout for that.

So, how does it drive? It drives very well. The steering is very firm. There is very little to no drift in the Renegade. It is really a joy to drive. I wouldn’t mind taking it on long trips, but my wife has a Grand Cherokee… yeah, I’d rather go long trips in that vehicle as well.

I am a tall guy at 6’3″ and I have no issues getting in and out of the Renegade. There is probably like… 3 to 4 inches of headroom in the Renegade. I did not have that much in my Dart. It was like 1 to 2 inches at best.

The Apple CarPlay integration is absolutely amazing. Apple Maps aren’t the best (Google Maps are arguably better) but they haven’t steered me wrong. There is the option of using third-party app solutions even if they aren’t as integrated as Apple Maps. The media experience is great as is communication features.

Then there are the “Easter eggs” or some people call them “Jeepster Eggs”. These are little touches that make the vehicle fun. In my next blog post, I will go over all of the Jeepster Eggs that I have found and I think they mirror what most on YouTube have found… that post will come tomorrow.

So, Goodbye Dart… Hello Renegade.

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