2020 Jeep Renegade vs 2019 GMC Acadia

The 2019 GMC Acadia was a striking SUV with a shorter wheelbase that gave it an athletic stance, complemented by an upright grille that lent it an upscale appearance. Despite not being marketed as a luxury SUV, it rivaled the more expensive Buick Envision in terms of aesthetics. The Acadia was often seen as a step up for Chevrolet Equinox owners, but it had a broader appeal, feeling closer in size to compact competitors like the Nissan Rogue. The Acadia offered various trims, from the base SL to the luxurious Denali, each adding more features and options, such as the SLT-1 AWD with the Black Edition appearance package, which gave it a more aggressive look.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade was easily recognizable with its signature Jeep design elements, including round headlights and a 7-slot grille. It offered primary trims like Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk, with special editions like the Jeepster and High Altitude. The High Altitude trim, which we tested, was loaded with extras, including dark gray 19-inch wheels and a dual-pane panoramic glass roof, giving it a surprisingly mature look. However, the interior was dominated by hard plastic, which, despite the luxurious details, made it feel less premium. The Renegade's design made it feel larger inside, but it had limited practical storage and cargo space.

The 2019 GMC Acadia offered two engine options: a 193-horsepower inline 4-cylinder and a more powerful 310-horsepower 3.6-liter V6. The V6 was standard on higher trims like the SLT-1 AWD, SLT-2, and Denali, providing excellent acceleration and the ability to tow up to 4,000 pounds. The Acadia's AWD system featured GMC's Active Twin Clutch, allowing for different driving modes. Fuel economy varied, with the base 4-cylinder FWD achieving 21 mpg city and 26 mpg highway, while the V6 AWD returned 17/25 mpg.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade primarily featured a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower, but a turbocharged 1.3-liter engine was available on higher trims, producing 177 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque. The nine-speed automatic transmission aimed to maximize fuel economy, but it often resulted in turbo lag and uneven power delivery. The Renegade's AWD system, particularly the Active Drive Low on the Trailhawk trim, enhanced its off-road capabilities. However, the turbocharged engine required premium fuel and delivered a real-world fuel economy of 23.6 mpg, with a limited range due to its small fuel tank.

The 2019 GMC Acadia provided ample space for front passengers, with deep trays and bins for storage. It offered 7-passenger seating in lower trims, while the SLT-1 AWD featured captain's chairs, reducing capacity to six. The third row was cramped, suitable only for children. Cargo space was limited, with 12.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 79 cubic feet with all seats folded. Rubberized floor mats made it practical for outdoor activities.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade's boxy design resulted in a spacious-feeling interior, enhanced by a panoramic glass roof. The driver's seat was comfortable, but rear-seat space was tight, and there were few storage options. Cargo volume was modest, with 18.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 50.8 cubic feet with them folded.

The 2019 GMC Acadia's base SL trim featured a 7-inch touchscreen with GMC's IntelliLink system, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a WiFi hotspot. Higher trims like the SLT-1 upgraded to an 8-inch screen, with the Denali adding navigation. The SLT-1 and SLT-2 trims included a 4.2-inch color information display, while the Denali featured an 8-inch display, creating a semi-digital instrument panel. A color head-up display was also available.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade impressed with its Uconnect infotainment system, featuring an 8.4-inch touchscreen. It included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, and a WiFi hotspot. The Kenwood premium audio system provided good sound quality. The Renegade also offered a comprehensive driver information center and a parking assist system.

The 2019 GMC Acadia came with standard airbags, a reversing camera, and traction control. The Driver Alert Package 1, standard on the SLT-1, added blind-spot warning, lane-change alert, and rear park assist. The SLT-2 trim included the Driver Alert Package 2, offering features like low-speed forward automatic braking and lane-departure warning.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade's Advanced Tech Group included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Safety and Security Group added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning. The Renegade earned a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a 3-star rating for rear-seat side-impact protection. The IIHS gave it commendable scores but not a Top Safety Pick rating.