Fiat 500X Sport vs Jeep Renegade Orange Edition comparison

The Fiat 500X Sport and the Jeep Renegade Orange Edition, like the other members of their respective ranges, are built on the same platform, use the same powertrains and are even manufactured at the same factory.

At first glance, nobody would guess it, as their exterior and interior designs could hardly be more different. Yet, with so much linking these two models, is there more separating them than their styling?

To find out, we brought the pair together. Both were fitted with the new 150 hp 1.3 Firefly Turbo engine, a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox and two-wheel drive - the only configuration offered with this engine.

Energetic Firefly and…

The 150 hp 1.3 Firefly Turbo is the most powerful petrol engine available in both the 500X and Renegade line-ups. This was our second encounter with this still relatively new engine, following João Delfim Tomé’s test of another Renegade, and I share his assessment.

With 150 hp and 270 Nm, both the Renegade and 500X receive the injection of power and performance that was missing from the interesting 1000 cm3 three-cylinder Firefly. At 1400 kg, neither is among the lightest vehicles in the segment, so the extra firepower is welcome.

However, the engine’s more vigorous character is somewhat softened by the gearbox, which could shift faster than it does compared with equivalent transmissions - particularly in manual mode.

Left in automatic mode, it operates smoothly, which should suit the expectations of most buyers in this segment.

Neither model offers driving modes - which is actually no bad thing - but given the more… sport nature of this 500X version, we expected a sharper set-up.

It is only when the accelerator is used more forcefully - when the right-hand pedal is pressed with real conviction - that the gearbox manages to extract everything this new FCA Group engine has to offer. This is, incidentally, something I have also encountered in other models tested with dual-clutch transmissions.

… thirsty

The 1.3 Firefly Turbo delivers sufficient power and performance in both models - with the 500X Sport marginally quicker - but it also has a healthy appetite.

Whether you are driving the 500X or the Renegade, if you want to make the most of this powertrain, fuel consumption will always exceed 9.0 l/100 km in mixed urban and suburban use. At motorway speeds, it is possible to dip below that figure. Only at moderate, steady speeds, however, will the trip computer display a still rather thirsty 7.0 l/100 km.

How do they compare from behind the wheel?

OK… I found no differences between the 500X Sport and Renegade in terms of engine and gearbox, but despite being closely related “siblings”, there are distinctions to note once on the road.

Surprisingly, it is the 500X Sport that deals better with sharper road imperfections, such as expansion joints, drain covers and more heavily rippled surfaces. That is unexpected, since the 500X Sport’s extra dynamic composure - a 10% firmer set-up, 13 mm less ground clearance and recalibrated steering compared with other 500X versions - suggested it would be the more sensitive of the two here.

The Renegade’s larger wheels may be to blame. Although both use 19-inch alloys - optional on the 500X Sport and standard on the Renegade Orange Edition - the Renegade’s overall wheel diameter, including tyre and rim, is greater: 235/45 ZR19 versus the 500X Sport’s 225/40 ZR 19.

Expectations were also turned “upside down” when we discovered that the more focused 500X Sport has the lighter steering. The gap is not dramatic, but it is plainly noticeable.

The chassis changes made to the 500X Sport do not turn it into the ultimate B-SUV for driving enthusiasts, but it does not disappoint in this respect and represents a positive step forward over other 500X models.

Certainly, its combination of large wheels, low-profile tyres and firmer tuning makes it more fidgety and nervous over the road surface - although it remains comfortable, matching the Renegade - but it repays this with greater precision through a series of bends.

Despite its softer set-up, the Renegade’s front axle responds just as readily, while its body roll, though more pronounced, remains relatively well controlled. The heavier steering and greater resistance it offers ultimately helped the Jeep Renegade during more committed driving.

Different, yet the same?

The conclusion is that, despite the clear differences between them, these two appear to have more in common than separates them. For instance, I expected a greater distinction in their dynamic behaviour. Even so, they create very different impressions when driven.

At the wheel of the Jeep Renegade, it feels as though you are driving an SUV… an SUV - it always seems more… substantial. In the Fiat 500X Sport, meanwhile, the impression is of a more conventional car: less adventurous and more urban-focused. Even its greater ride height is not especially apparent from the driver’s seat.

These different perceptions stem from the design decisions made for each model. The Renegade’s boxier, Wrangler-style forms, more upright pillars and greater height, both outside and inside, more clearly place it in the SUV world, even though this Orange Edition version, with its oversized wheels, favours tarmac over dirt.

The rest of the cabin reinforces that impression. The more stylised forms of the 500X Sport contrast with the Renegade interior’s more functional appearance. Some of that perceived extra substance has practical merit: neither model sets the benchmark for build quality, but the Renegade coped better with the punishment of Lisbon’s cobbled streets, with fewer complaints from its interior plastics.

Their contrasting interior designs also give the Renegade a slight usability advantage. Its infotainment screen, for example, is positioned better than the one in the 500X. Although both share the capable UConnect system, the interface is more intuitive in the American model because of its graphic choices - it is clearer where you can and cannot press.

The 500X Sport counters with a dashboard that is more pleasing to look at in this particular version, thanks to Alcantara and leather trim (optional), along with a very good sports steering wheel that feels more satisfying in the hands.

500X cheaper initially, but Renegade better equipped

In standard form, the Jeep Renegade Orange Edition costs 1750 euros more than the Fiat 500X Sport, but it makes up for this with a more generous equipment list. Electrically folding door mirrors and rain/light sensors, for example, are standard on the Renegade but optional on the 500X Sport.

However, “our” 500X Sport redressed the balance thanks to the 2700 euros of options it carried - only the paint was optional on the Renegade - although this pushed its purchase price to roughly 500 euros above that of the Renegade.

The 500X Sport is ultimately the most interesting 500X so far - it is available with every engine in the range, including Diesel - whether for its appearance or its more polished dynamics. The Renegade’s “orange” Orange Edition, on the other hand, focuses solely on visual differentiation - and is also available with the 1.0 version.

This comparison therefore ends in a technical draw, with the real differentiator being the point made at the beginning. How do you prefer your SUV: closer to cars or to pure SUVs?

Whichever you choose, both are models whose strengths extend far beyond their styling.