Driver's Seat: Made-in-Italy Jeep is a real Renegade

2015 Jeep Renegade Limited 4WD:

A smaller, (allegedly) lower-priced Jeep for a new kind of customer.

Price: The test model started at $26,995 and rose to more than $31,000 with options ($995 for lane-departure and collision warnings, and park assist; $595 for security with cross-path detection; $295 for keyless start; more below). A front-wheel-drive version can be had for as low as $17,995.

Marketer's pitch: "Let instinct drive."

Conventional wisdom: Edmunds.com liked that it had "lots of character; agile handling; plenty of easy-to-use technology features; best-in-class off-road capability for Trailhawk model" but not its "middling fuel economy with 2.4-liter engine; tight rear-seat leg room."

Reality: Instinct is really the lowest form of animal behavior.

Very unJeeply? The new Renegade takes full advantage of the Fiat-Chrysler matrimony, giving the new Italian-built cousin (sharing some components with the Fiat 500X) a rugged-looking Jeepskin. But the Renegade still serves Jeep fans well with the off-road Trailhawk model.

But the preproduction Renegade test model still had a few kinks to be worked out.

Renegade seats: Upon sitting down, my first move was seat adjustment. I hit the slider to move the seat forward and back - nothing. After getting the seat to rise a bit, I couldn't move it down. Back and forth remained sporadic.

It made for an uncomfortable week.

Renegade heat: I might have written off the seat malfunction if not for some trouble with heaters on my second trip. I fired up the Renegade on a warm night and noticed the seat and steering wheel heaters were on, buttons I had never touched.

I turned off the seat heater, which obeyed. But when I tried the steering wheel heater, no dice.

Preproduction: A Fiat-Chrysler spokesperson told me the steering wheel issue was being addressed, and the seat control issue was something new.

Shifty: Power is sent to the Renegade's wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission. But the Renegade's transmission stands out among Chrysler products because it is shiftable.

The transmission is no match for the underpowered four and the heavy Renegade body. Sixth gear is about the highest that's useful for country roads, and for most of the slightest grades on limited-access highways, as well.

Up to speed: The Renegade is not a dog, though. For its size and shape, it accelerated just fine, but it liked to let the driver know how hard those 184 horses were working. Its power delivery was never smooth.

On the road: Edmunds may have found the handling agile, but I'd call it "quirky." On highway control, the Renegade definitely lived up to its name - one who deserts a party for another. I'd be zipping along into a curve, and could distinctly feel the steering shift ever so slightly.

Inside: The interior is quite handsome and well-appointed. But Jeep lovers are a tough breed, so the Renegade's leather seats are too stiff for Mr. Driver's Seat's tender seat.

Play some tunes: The entertainment system (part of the $1,295 Navigation/Sirius XM package) has plenty of buttons outside the touchscreen to control functions. Source buttons across the bottom supplement the volume and tuning dials.

Friends and stuff: Unlike Edmunds, I thought the rear seat provided plenty of room for 5-foot-10 riders like myself, although feet need to stay in place. Headroom is awesome. A middle seat passenger should not suffer too terribly from the hump or the console.

Night shift: Interior lighting cast a subtle brightness, and the headlights shone where they needed to.

Fuel economy: I averaged about 24 mpg in the usual Mr. Driver's Seat mix of highway and suburban driving. Regular unleaded is fine for this engine, but the base model's 1.4-liter selfishly wants premium.

Where it's built: Melfi, Italy.

How it's built: No reliability data are available from Consumer Reports on this model yet, but Fiats and Jeeps tend toward the black-circle, far-below average category.

In the end: With the reliability ratings of Jeep and Fiat, I'd steer clear. But if the handsome styling or off-road capability appeals to you, I'd say see if the kinks get worked out. Maybe a 2016 will be better.