New Jeep Renegade Targets Dacia Duster’s Budget SUV Crown

The new Jeep Renegade is attempting to take the Dacia Duster's budget SUV crown.

sarah

Nov 18, 2025 - 11:01

New Jeep Renegade Targets Dacia Duster’s Budget SUV Crown

The off-road brand is designing an all-new mid-range SUV to replace the decade-old Renegade.

The all-new, second-generation Jeep Renegade is due in the next two years, and Auto Express has all the details about this rival to the off-road brand's beloved Dacia Duster.

The Renegade has only had one version so far, launched in 2014, and it still remains in showrooms, but it now feels quite dated. Its role as the entry point into Jeep's lineup has been taken over by the even smaller (and generally much better) Jeep Avenger, which launched in 2022 and has since tripled the brand's sales in the UK.

So, the arrival of the Mk2 Renegade is long overdue. Thankfully, last summer, Jeep's then-CEO Antonio Filosa – who now heads the entire Stellantis Group – announced that the next-generation model was in the works.

Now, we've spoken with Marco Montepeloso, Jeep's Head of Product Planning in Europe, in an exclusive interview to learn more about the brand's plans.

Montepeloso hinted that the next-generation Renegade will be roughly the same size as the current model: "Personally, I think there's space in the market between the Avenger and the new Compass, so we think there's an opportunity."

For reference, the Avenger measures 4.08 meters long, while the new Compass measures 4.55 meters. If the new Renegade bridges the gap, it will be around 4.3 meters long – almost the same length as the latest Duster, which you can lease from just £230 per month through our "Buy a Car" service. The new Vauxhall Frontera and Mini Countryman are also roughly the same size.

When asked if this could lead to the Renegade cannibalizing sales of its smaller sibling, or vice versa, Montepeloso quickly replied: "This is nothing new. We've sold both the Avenger and Renegade together for the past three years, and the Avenger has performed exceptionally well alongside the Renegade."

"Looking at customer analysis, there's a clear difference between a four-meter-long car, which primarily meets the compactness needs of some of our European customers, and a larger vehicle, 4.25 to 4.3 meters long, which meets the needs of young families, those with children or those with a very active lifestyle. These are people who need to carry more luggage, so they need more space in the second row and more trunk space," he said.

"So I don't see any risk of the car being undervalued. I think there are clear differences in customers, and that's why there's a big opportunity for [the Renegade] between the Avenger and the Compass in the future."

Will the new Jeep Renegade be electric-only?

Montepeloso also emphasized the importance of Jeep's new philosophy of "freedom of choice." Like many other brands, Jeep wants to offer customers a wide selection of powertrains so they can choose the one they prefer.

"This is a key pillar of our strategy in Europe," the product chief told us. "If you want to remain relevant in all markets, you need to offer a wide range of powertrains to suit different market needs."

He added, "We have to stick to this philosophy. We have to give our customers this freedom; it's crucial for sales. And I also think we need to remain flexible to any potential changes in regulations in Europe at this time."

We're pretty sure the next Renegade will have a pure electric version, but we believe several hybrid options will also be available. Most will be front-wheel drive, but at least one four-wheel drive version is likely, as 4x4s are still proving to be an integral part of the Jeep brand.

The next Renegade will use the new STLA small platform, which will replace the CMP/e-CMP architecture used in the Avenger. It will be introduced in the next Vauxhall Corsa and Peugeot 208 in 2026; we know this platform can accommodate both hybrid and electric powertrains, and electric vehicles can offer a range of over 300 miles.

What will the new Jeep Renegade look like?

We haven't seen any prototypes or teaser images of the new Renegade yet, but our exclusive image shows what the new Renegade could look like. Since it's a Jeep, it'll be a rugged and boxy SUV with a seven-slot grille, square wheelarches, very short overhangs and plenty of chunky cladding, as you can see in our exclusive image.

Like the current model, the new Renegade isn't designed to climb rocks in the Moab Desert in Utah, but off-road capability is still important to Jeep. Short overhangs not only help maximize interior space but also give the SUV better approach and departure angles on rugged terrain. Similarly, higher-than-average ground clearance will provide a higher driving position, improving the car's ability to ford water and navigate obstacles.

In recent years, Jeep has made significant strides in interior design, quality, and technology, and we expect this trend to continue with the next-generation Renegade. We expect its interior to be similar to the latest Compass, with large, clear dual displays, numerous robust physical controls, and materials chosen for durability. The new Renegade won't be the most luxurious of small SUVs, but it should be consistent with the brand's rugged image.

We expect the new Jeep Renegade's price to also split the difference between the Avenger and Compass, so it should start at around £30,000.