American SUV maker, Jeep will enter into the sub-4 meter SUV category with an all-new model in 2022. A new media report confirms that the automaker has finally gave the green signal for the new compact SUV, which will be smaller and cheaper than the Renegade. The new Fiat-Chrysler and the PSA Groupe merger will play an important role in the development of this new mini-Renegade.
The new Jeep mini SUV will adopt the modular platform used by Peugeot and Citroen. It was speculated that the compact SUV will be based on Fiat Panda’s Mini platform, which supports an all-wheel drive system. The Renegade’s Small-Wide 4×4 platform would prove to be costlier for a sub-4 meter SUV.
The new Jeep mini SUV will adopt the new Compact Modular Platform, which currently underpins the Peugeot 208, Citroen C4, Opel Corsa and Peugeot 2008. For people not in the know, Citroen will introduce multiple new products including a sub-4 meter SUV, a mid-sized SUV and a new sedan on this platform in India. This will further help Jeep to reduce time and cost of production of a new model. Adding to it, this architecture is compatible with multiple engine options including electric and hybrid.
It is yet to be confirmed whether the new model will come with 4×4 drive system. Like the Renegade plug-in hybrids and Compass 4xe, the new Jeep mini SUV could receive an hybrid variant. In India, the new Jeep SUV will sit below 4 meters in length. It will directly rival the Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Tata Nexon, Ford EcoSport, Maruti Vitara Brezza and the Mahindra XUV300. However, it will be slightly premium over the regular model.
The report further claims that the next generation Jeep Renegade will be bigger than the existing model, which measure 4.23 meters. The increase in dimensions will solve the problem of boot space. The new Jeep mini SUV will be produced in Poland with production expected to commence in the first half of 2022.
