Jeep Renegade vs Chevrolet Trax

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax was based on the same vehicle introduced in 2015, with design updates from 2017 carrying over. In 2020, the infotainment system was updated, and by 2021, the Premier trim was dropped, leaving LS and LT trims. The LS trim featured 16-inch painted aluminum wheels, remote keyless entry, cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, dual front USB ports, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The LT trim added heated, power-adjustable side mirrors, rear window tint, roof rails, LED head- and taillights, remote start, cruise control, chrome belt-line moldings, and silver-painted skid plates. It also included upgraded cloth and leatherette seats, a cargo security cover, and a 120-volt AC power outlet.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade, introduced in 2015, shared underpinnings with the Jeep Compass but drew design inspiration from the iconic Wrangler. It featured a boxy profile, circular headlights, and an upright seven-slat grille. The Renegade received a subtle refresh in 2019, with those changes carrying over into 2021. Inside, it boasted a modern, functional cabin with an upright center stack. The Renegade offered various trims, including Sport, Jeepster, Latitude, Upland, 80th Anniversary, Islander, Limited, and Trailhawk. The Sport trim came with push-button start, dual-zone climate control, a USB port, and a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims added features like keyless passive entry, remote start, alloy wheels, and unique badging.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax was powered by a single engine option: a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder producing 138 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). While the engine sufficed for city driving, it struggled at highway speeds and during passing maneuvers, making plenty of noise. The Trax had a firm ride, which could be harsh over potholes and bumps, but its tight turning radius provided solid maneuverability in tight spaces. Rivals like the Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-30 offered more comfortable rides and were more fun to drive.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade offered two engine options: a base 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque, and an upgraded turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder with 177 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, available in FWD or 4WD. The 2.4-liter engine was noisy under pressure, while the turbocharged engine provided better performance and refinement. The Renegade had a solid ride quality, handling corners well despite its tall profile. Its suspension was composed over rough surfaces, though the Trailhawk's off-road setup was less comfortable. The Renegade's short wheelbase and impressive visibility made it a great city car. The Trailhawk trim featured a terrain management system and 8.7 inches of ground clearance, making it capable off-road.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax offered respectable headroom and legroom in both rows. The front seats were supportive, but the rear seats lacked bolstering for long distances. The Trax had multiple storage trays in each door and low cupholder placement for large water bottles. It provided 18.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 48.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The front passenger seat could fold flat for larger items. These cargo figures were mid-pack for the subcompact SUV segment, and there was no option for a power liftgate.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade provided 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 18.5 cubic feet with the rear seats in use. These specs were above average for the subcompact SUV segment. The Renegade's tall, boxy design offered plenty of headroom in both rows. The front seats had great legroom, while the rear seats were suitable for adults. The Renegade featured helpful storage solutions, including small cubbies and trays, and the front passenger seat could fold completely forward for added space or as a table for gear.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax came with a 7-inch touchscreen running the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system, which was added in 2020. This system featured easy-to-follow menus, vivid graphics, and hard buttons and dials surrounding the screen. It came standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, two USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, voice control, and an available WiFi hotspot.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade's standard infotainment system included a 7-inch touchscreen, with an optional 8.4-inch screen available on mid-tier trims and standard on higher trims. Both screens ran the intuitive Uconnect infotainment system, featuring a logical menu layout, easy-to-read graphics, and a helpful dock at the bottom of the screen. Both screens also came standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A Kenwood premium audio system was available.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the 2021 Chevrolet Trax five out of five stars in crash tests. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) did not give the Trax a Top Safety Pick award. The Trax came standard with an array of airbags and a backup camera. The LT Convenience Package added safety features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, and rear parking sensors. However, the Trax lacked many standard driver safety features found in rivals, such as forward-collision avoidance and automatic emergency braking.

For 2021, Jeep made previously optional safety features standard across the Renegade lineup. These included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection. Adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and front and rear parking sensors were available as options. Despite these additions, the NHTSA awarded the Renegade only four out of five stars in crash tests. Parallel parking assist was also available as an option.