The 2018 Jeep Renegade mounts a spirited defense of its brand bona fides, but delivers a less convincing impression of a great economy car.
Pros Looks like a real Jeep User-friendly interior Real off-road capability Clever design Easter eggs Tuck-away glass-panel roof
Cons Not a five-seater Too-snug rear seat Gas mileage is meh Upgraded 4-cylinder is noisy
The 2018 Jeep Renegade ranked #8 in Subcompact SUVs. Currently the Jeep Renegade has a score of 7.8 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 35 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Exceptional off-road capabilities Upmarket interior Smooth and nimble handling
Cons Rivals have more standard features Subpar gas mileage
The Jeep Renegade receives a handful of infotainment updates for 2018. A rearview camera, a 5-inch touchscreen and a six-speaker audio system are all now standard. New, upgraded 7- and 8.4-inch touchscreens now include Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. All touchscreens are loaded with the newest version of Jeep's Uconnect infotainment system.
PROS Trailhawk model's best-in-class off-road capability Agile handling when going around turns Plenty of easy-to-use technology features Lots of character with a classic Jeep look
CONS Rear-seat legroom is tight for adults Boxy shape makes for lots of wind noise on the highway Fuel economy is middling for the segment Nine-speed transmission is clunky and easily confused
The 2018 Buick Encore ranked #3 in Subcompact SUVs. Currently the Buick Encore has a score of 8.2 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 41 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Nice interior with lots of standard features User-friendly infotainment system Nimble handling Excellent predicted reliability
Cons Underpowered base engine Higher base price than rivals
Its interior is comfortable, well designed, and more premium than most of its rivals, but it never quite reaches full-luxury levels of comfort.An ionizing interior air cleaner enhances the Encore’s climate-control system, HD radio joins the list of features in the infotainment arena, and last year’s gas cap is ditched in favor of a capless fuel-filling system. A coppery-gold hue called Coppertino Metallic is also new for 2018.
Pros Intuitive and holistic infotainment suite, premium interior, comfortable ride.
Cons Disappointing fuel economy, slightly gawky proportions, limited active safety features.
The 2018 Buick Encore does the pint-size crossover thing well, although it lacks some safety tech and gets pricey with options.
Pros Refined interior Pint-sized dimensions Good ride quality Attractive styling inside and out
Cons Cramped inside Underpowered base engine Pricey with options Lacks some safety tech
