The Jeep Renegade Latitude is a popular subcompact SUV known for its adventurous spirit and city-friendly size. For prospective buyers, safety is a paramount concern. This article delves into the safety performance of the Jeep Renegade Latitude, specifically focusing on the 2020-2023 models built after September 2019, based on evaluations by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). We will explore its crashworthiness in various scenarios, from small overlap frontal crashes to side impacts and roof strength, providing a comprehensive overview for informed decision-making.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side
The small overlap front crash test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts an object, like a tree or pole. This is a particularly challenging test because it bypasses the main energy-absorbing structures of the car.
The 2020-23 Jeep Renegade Latitude models, manufactured after September 2019, received a Good rating in the driver-side small overlap front crash test. This is the highest rating possible, indicating robust protection in this type of severe collision.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G (Good) |
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Hip/Thigh | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Lower Leg/Foot | G (Good) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G (Good) |
This “Good” rating is attributed to structural reinforcements made to the Jeep Renegade starting with the 2019 model year and further enhancements in 2020 models built after September 2019. These modifications focused on strengthening the front-end structure, door hinge pillars, and door sills to better protect occupants in frontal crashes.
Action shot of the Jeep Renegade Latitude undergoing a driver-side small overlap frontal crash test, demonstrating vehicle deformation and impact dynamics.
The crash test results reveal minimal intrusion into the driver’s survival space. Key measurements of occupant compartment intrusion show:
| Measurement | Value (cm) |
|---|---|
| Lower Hinge Pillar Max | 5 |
| Footrest | 3 |
| Left Toepan | 2 |
| Brake Pedal | 2 |
| Rocker Panel Lateral Average | 1 |
| Steering Column | 3 |
| Upper Hinge Pillar Max | 5 |
| Upper Dash | 6 |
| Lower Instrument Panel | 4 |
These low intrusion values signify that the structural integrity of the Jeep Renegade Latitude held up well, maintaining a safe space for the driver.
Post-crash dummy position within the Jeep Renegade Latitude, illustrating the maintained survival space and effective restraint system.
Dummy injury measures were also excellent, with “Good” ratings across all body regions. Technical measurements further support this:
| Injury Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 103 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.4 |
| Neck Extension Bending Moment (Nm) | 19 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.25 |
| Chest Maximum Compression (mm) | 26 |
| Left Femur Force (kN) | 0.3 |
| Right Femur Force (kN) | 0.2 |
| Left Tibia Index | 0.30 |
| Right Tibia Index | 0.44 |
These measurements indicate a low risk of significant injuries to the head, neck, chest, and lower extremities in a driver-side small overlap frontal crash for the Jeep Renegade Latitude. The airbags and safety systems functioned as intended, effectively protecting the driver.
Deployment of frontal and side curtain airbags in the Jeep Renegade Latitude during a small overlap crash, showcasing head protection mechanisms.
Footwell integrity and space maintenance in the Jeep Renegade Latitude following a driver-side small overlap frontal crash test.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side
The passenger-side small overlap front crash test evaluates how well the passenger side of the vehicle holds up in a similar small overlap collision. The 2019-23 Jeep Renegade Latitude models also underwent this evaluation.
The Jeep Renegade Latitude achieved an Acceptable rating for passenger-side small overlap crash protection. While not as high as “Good,” “Acceptable” still indicates a reasonable level of safety.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | A (Acceptable) |
| Structure and safety cage | A (Acceptable) |
| Passenger injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Passenger injury measures – Chest | G (Good) |
| Passenger injury measures – Hip/Thigh | G (Good) |
| Passenger injury measures – Lower Leg/Foot | G (Good) |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | A (Acceptable) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Hip/Thigh | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Lower Leg/Foot | G (Good) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G (Good) |
The structure and safety cage received an “Acceptable” rating, suggesting slightly more compromise compared to the driver’s side. However, passenger injury measures remained “Good” across all regions, indicating good protection for the passenger’s body.
A note from the IIHS report mentions that during the passenger-side test, the dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag but then slid towards the gap between the frontal and side curtain airbags. Despite this, the side curtain airbag deployed and provided sufficient coverage. This observation contributed to the “Acceptable” rating in passenger restraints and dummy kinematics.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Test
The moderate overlap front crash test involves a larger portion of the vehicle’s front impacting a deformable barrier. This test is more traditional and represents a significant portion of real-world frontal collisions.
The 2019-23 Jeep Renegade Latitude earned a Good rating in the moderate overlap front crash test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G (Good) |
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/Foot, Left | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/Foot, Right | G (Good) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G (Good) |
All aspects of this test received a “Good” rating, indicating excellent performance. Measurements of occupant compartment intrusion were minimal, and dummy injury measures were low.
Side Impact Crash Test: Original and Updated
Side impact crashes are another serious concern. The IIHS conducts side impact tests to evaluate vehicle safety in these scenarios. The Jeep Renegade Latitude has undergone both the original and an updated side impact test.
In the original side impact test, the 2019-23 Jeep Renegade Latitude received a Good rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G (Good) |
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Torso | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Pelvis/Leg | G (Good) |
| Driver head protection | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Torso | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Pelvis/Leg | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger head protection | G (Good) |
However, in the updated side impact test, which uses a heavier barrier and more closely simulates a modern SUV or pickup truck impacting the vehicle, the 2019-23 Jeep Renegade Latitude’s rating lowered to Marginal.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | M (Marginal) |
| Structure and safety cage | M (Marginal) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Torso | A (Acceptable) |
| Driver injury measures – Pelvis | M (Marginal) |
| Driver head protection | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Torso | A (Acceptable) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Pelvis | A (Acceptable) |
| Rear passenger head protection | G (Good) |
While head protection remained “Good,” torso and pelvis protection for both driver and rear passenger were downgraded. This indicates that while the Jeep Renegade Latitude provides good head protection in a side impact, torso and pelvic protection is less robust in the more demanding updated test.
Vehicle condition immediately following an updated side crash test, illustrating impact zone and structural response.
Side airbags deployed and visible occupant compartment damage after the updated side impact test of the Jeep Renegade Latitude.
Grease paint on the driver-side airbag indicating effective head protection during the Jeep Renegade Latitude side impact test.
Grease paint marking on the rear passenger airbag, demonstrating head protection for rear occupants in a side impact scenario within the Jeep Renegade Latitude.
Roof Strength
Roof strength is crucial in rollover accidents. The 2019-23 Jeep Renegade Latitude earned a Good rating for roof strength.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G (Good) |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.36 |
With a strength-to-weight ratio of 5.36, the roof of the Jeep Renegade Latitude can withstand over five times its own weight, demonstrating good structural integrity in a rollover situation.
Head Restraints & Seats
Head restraints and seats play a vital role in preventing whiplash in rear-end collisions. The Jeep Renegade Latitude with power cloth seats received a Good rating in this category.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G (Good) |
| Dynamic rating | G (Good) |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G (Good) |
This indicates that the head restraints are well-designed to protect against neck injuries in rear impacts.
Headlights
Headlight performance is a significant safety factor, especially in nighttime driving. The IIHS evaluates headlights based on visibility and glare. The Jeep Renegade Latitude has multiple headlight options, with varying ratings.
The best headlight rating for the Jeep Renegade Latitude is Acceptable, achieved by the LED projector headlights equipped with the LED Lighting Group and Advanced Technology Group package on certain trims (Latitude, Altitude, Limited, High Altitude, Orange Edition). These headlights offer “Acceptable” overall rating with “Good” visibility on straightaways and curves in low beam mode, and high beam assist.
However, other headlight configurations, particularly the halogen reflector headlights, received a Poor rating. Therefore, headlight performance can vary significantly depending on the specific trim and options package of the Jeep Renegade Latitude.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Front crash prevention systems can significantly reduce or even prevent accidents. The Jeep Renegade Latitude offers an optional Full Speed Forward Collision Warning Plus system, part of the Advanced Technology Group packages.
With this optional system, the Jeep Renegade Latitude earns a Superior rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention. It successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests, and meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
For families, child seat anchor ease of use is important. The Jeep Renegade Latitude received an Acceptable rating for its LATCH system.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | A (Acceptable) |
It has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor. While rated “Acceptable,” some lower anchors are noted as being deep in the seat, which might require more effort to access.
Conclusion
The Jeep Renegade Latitude demonstrates a mixed but generally respectable safety performance based on IIHS evaluations. It excels in driver-side small overlap, moderate overlap front, and roof strength tests, achieving “Good” ratings. Head restraints and front crash prevention systems also perform well.
However, the passenger-side small overlap and updated side impact tests revealed areas for potential improvement, with “Acceptable” and “Marginal” ratings respectively. Headlight ratings are also trim-dependent, with some configurations being “Poor.”
For potential buyers prioritizing safety, opting for Jeep Renegade Latitude models 2020 onwards (built after September 2019) is advisable due to structural enhancements. Choosing trims equipped with the LED Lighting Group and Advanced Technology Group for better headlights and front crash prevention features can further enhance safety. While the Jeep Renegade Latitude offers solid protection in many crash scenarios, especially for the driver, considering the “Acceptable” and “Marginal” ratings in certain tests is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of its safety profile.
