Jeep Renegade Altitude vs. Latitude

1. Introduction

We will start with general information about the Jeep Renegade Altitude and then move into the comparison with the Jeep Renegade Latitude. This essay will highlight some unique features that would help users choose the correct variant of their choice as a starting point. While not trying to kill the other variant, at the end, it is the user's preference that is important for making this choice. [1][2][3][4]

In the case of cars, every single variant has its own plus and minus points that differentiate them from the others. However, not every user has the time to look for this information for every single variant. This is why this essay will be helpful for those who are interested in buying the Jeep Renegade, specifically the Altitude and Latitude types. By providing a detailed comparison between these two variants, it gives a crystal clear picture for the users to decide which variant suits them best.

In the modern world, an overwhelming number of product choices are catered toward our preferences. Many products, such as smartphones, vehicles, and clothes, come in a variety of features and designs that boggle the user's mind. This requires a user to look for every single detail about each type to make sure it suits the buyer before actually buying it.

1.1. Overview of Jeep Renegade Altitude

When it comes to price, the Jeep Renegade Altitude is $500 more expensive than the Latitude. This car comes with two alternative drive systems, both using the same engine. The first option is a front-wheel-drive system priced at $22,390. The other option is a four-wheel-drive system priced at $23,890. Both options are available to meet the demands of drivers who want to choose the best system to overcome any obstacles they may face while driving. This is certainly a very profitable feature compared to other cars in the same class that still use a four-wheel-drive system. With the same four-wheel-drive system, there are significant cost differences between the Renegade and other cars in the same class. The four-wheel-drive system in the Renegade is called "active drive I". This system is the latest release from Jeep and is designed to be fuel efficient. The Renegade Altitude has a fuel consumption rating of 21/29 mpg city/highway when using the four-wheel-drive system. This is certainly a very profitable feature considering that the fuel efficiency of the current four-wheel-drive systems is still the best in its class. [3][4]

Compared to the Latitude version, the design of the Altitude is certainly different. The Latitude has a somewhat nicer look compared to the Renegade Altitude. It seems too stylish for a vehicle intended for adventure. The Trailhawk version of the Renegade looks even more stylish and has a typical Jeep Cherokee style. However, the interior design of the car looks the same, with the only difference being the external design.

Jeep Renegade offers features and build quality typically associated with other small cars. In this category, it goes further and creates a vehicle that combines the agility and efficiency of a compact car with the benefits and quality of a Jeep. Thus, the Jeep Renegade Altitude was born. The Altitude has its own unique look, different from the other Jeep Renegade models. It has a tough and masculine style, with big 18-inch black aluminum wheels wrapped in all-season tires. The exterior of the Altitude also features a gloss black grille, "altitude" badges on the back, a rear track light with a unique design, and a gloss black color on the rear window tops.

1.2. Understanding Latitude

On the other end, the Latitude edition is targeted towards the individual who is already established and has a family, with a larger budget. It's ideal for business use and for the person who is ready to step down from driving a larger SUV or a minivan. With the larger engine, more power, optional 4x4 drive, and the high-tech safety features, it's the perfect upgrade from the Altitude for the parent who is sending the kid off to college and receiving peace of mind of having them drive a reliable, safe car. Although it begins at a base price of about $23,000 for the 4x2 and $24,000 for the 4x4 and can reach up to $30,000 with all the bells and whistles, it is a cost-friendly alternative to the competition while keeping the same status and benefits of owning a new Jeep. The release of the Jeep Renegade has been generating a lot of noise lately and the anticipation for the Latitude is going to be high. This is not only going to please the current Jeep owners who are going to downsize from their current vehicle but also newer customers who have been shopping around for a crossover. With February having the lowest sales of many vehicles due to the cold, lawns of snow, and people waiting for their tax refunds, it is a perfect time to drop the Latitude and drive the sales up of the Renegade overall. [1][5][4]

Now that we understand the differences between the two models, let's talk about the target audience. Being a more affordable car, the Altitude edition is definitely geared more towards the younger crowd, more specifically the college graduate who is new to the workforce and looking for a reliable brand new car that has a hint of style. With a base price tag of around $20,000 for the 4x2 and $23,000 for the 4x4, it's perfect for someone looking to build their credit by financing a car loan and save a little bit of money to the side. With the price of tuition, those college loans on deferment, and 0% APR financing for those who qualify, the burden doesn't seem too heavy on the wallet. This car can also be perfect for a newlywed couple looking to start a family, as it is a 5-seater and has a decent amount of cargo space for a crossover. The cheaper insurance rates don't hurt either!

This one is exactly the same as the Altitude but comes with a few extra standard features. Beginning with the engine, it comes standard with the 1.4L MultiAir Turbo Engine but with the possibility of upgrading to the 2.4L Tigershark MultiAir Engine. It also has the option of adding 4-wheel drive. The biggest difference from the Altitude is the automatic temperature control and the option to add the "advanced technology group". This includes advanced safety features such as lane sense, park assist, forward collision warning, and more. This is especially useful for those who will be driving their Jeep in the city a lot. This model starts at about the $26,000 range for the 4x2 and about $27,000 for the 4x4.

2. Impact of Latitude on Jeep Renegade Altitude

The weight of the vehicle is a factor to be considered when driving on soft and muddy ground. Even at the same ground pressure, a heavier vehicle will sink further into the ground, and a vehicle that is stuck for any reason will be harder to tow.

Latitude has a large influence on atmospheric air density. This, in turn, affects the power output of an internal combustion engine with a given barrel. There is a well-established rule that for each increase in altitude of 300 meters (1000 ft), a 10% reduction in air pressure will cause a roughly 3% reduction in engine power. Modern vehicles can compensate for this reduction in power, for example, by increasing the throttle to maintain speed. This is mainly due to the fact that in the global automotive market, there is a single set of emission control standards for a given model of vehicle. This rule will affect the ability of a high altitude to travel at speed on the flat and will significantly affect the vehicle's ability to climb hills.

Latitude is an important factor in considering the requirements of a vehicle with the intent of using it to its full potential. Altitude versions of the Jeep Renegade are built to be off-road vehicles with the intended purpose of going off the beaten path. The following is information on why these factors are important and what needs to be done to optimize your 4x4 vehicle for a given area.

2.1. Latitude and Vehicle Performance

In a nutshell, varying performance between the two Renegade models in response to latitude is due to starter gear specification and final drive gearing. The reason for diminished performance in the lower latitude region is due to the use of a high displacement engine, whereas performance in the higher latitude regions is not affected due to the use of a low displacement engine. The operating and performance range of the high displacement engine is not large enough to provide satisfactory operation in the low latitude regions, but the low displacement engine can provide satisfactory operation in all regions. This theory is supported by the results of a dynamometer testing which showed a steady decrease in vehicle performance with increasing temperature. In another test, it was found that a high displacement engine-equipped vehicle and a low displacement engine-equipped vehicle were able to climb a steep slope. The high displacement vehicle was only just able to climb the slope, and the low displacement vehicle could not climb it at all. Lastly, the high displacement vehicle was unable to start from standstill on the slope.

2.2. Latitude and Climate Considerations

The effect of climate on engine performance is quite similar. Engines are designed to operate best within a certain temperature range. Depending upon the vehicle, this range differs, but a Jeep is generally designed to operate best around 200 degrees F. Step outside of this range and the engine will suffer lower power output and fuel mileage. This is all due to the computer systems regulating factors to maintain the optimal temperature. For instance, by restricting airflow to the radiator or, in the case of many vehicles, continuously turning on the radiator fan.

Summarizing the previous section, we find that lower air density of higher elevation and lower temperatures have a combined effect of lowering the power output of an engine. This is true because a gasoline engine requires a proper mix of air and fuel to run efficiently. Considering the pump is supplying fuel at a steady rate, less air will create a fuel-rich condition. Although the O2 sensor will sense the rich condition and alleviate this by telling the ECU to reduce the on-time of the fuel injectors, this will return the mixture to normal, although with a decrease in horsepower.

3. Comparison of Jeep Renegade Altitude at Different Latitudes

Performance at Low Latitudes Driving in a climate that is hot and dry, where the sun is always brighter and the roads are always clear, may lead to a usual drop in vehicle performance. In more extreme conditions, the power, torque, and fuel efficiency of an engine can decrease, while an increase in weight on the vehicle may slow acceleration. For this test, we decided to use the Californian desert, where a group of journalists test drove the Jeep Cherokee. We took the Renegade to some dunes in the Colorado Desert located in the lower part of California. We found that the 2.4L engine still had substantial power even in the worst conditions, with minimal loss of power on hill accents. The 9-speed automatic is also a bonus, as the vehicle doesn't have to work as hard in the sand to keep speed, which helps with fuel economy. Mentioned by journalists driving the Cherokee, the 9-speed transmission did a great job of finding the right gear to keep power and torque up to par; we found the same thing with the Renegade even in high altitudes, which we will discuss later. The best thing to come out of this desert run was minimal affect of the CVT2 and stability and traction control. Most vehicles will decrease power on de-acceleration in rolling sand, but with slight use of the brake and no need to take foot off the gas, we were able to maintain speed with little to no loss of power. A vehicle with a transmission reliant on automatic power loss in order to maintain gear can be unsafe in these conditions considering power loss can lead to a decreased ability to escape a bad spot and an increase in damage to the vehicle. Coming from a stop, the Renegade had equally impressive traction control with zero tire spin. Overall, the Renegade is an excellent vehicle for any sort of desert driving and will have near the same performance in dry conditions as it does on the street.

The Jeep Renegade Altitude is equipped to handle a versatile range of driving conditions with integrity. Its concept is rooted in a vehicle that is a step up from the most basic form of transportation, but priced within reach of the average consumer. Furthermore, it's a traditionally styled Jeep with the brand's unmistakable styling. To determine how well rounded of a vehicle the Renegade is, we decided to test performance and ride quality at various levels of latitudes, ranging from hot to cold.

3.1. Performance at Low Latitudes

At the low latitudes, the weaker Coriolis force and smaller temperature contrasts tend to produce a rather featureless pressure and wind pattern for the Jeep Renegade Altitude. At the surface, there is a zone of low pressure in the vicinity of the intertropical convergence, with light and variable winds and a great deal of cloudiness and precipitation. Trade winds are found near latitudes 5 degrees – 10 degrees. There are trade wind infiltrations over eastern Asia and the Caribbean, so these will be the places the Jeep Renegade Altitude is affected most. These onshore trade winds will create humid and optimal driving conditions with light to moderate showers. Precipitation is predominantly convectional. Due to the heat, heavy showers and thunderstorms are widespread during the late afternoon and evening, with the air drying out at night. These conditions prevail near the ITCZ or just poleward of it, and are especially prevalent in the Amazon Basin and the Caribbean during the Northern Hemisphere summer. High temperatures and ample availability of sunshine will provide optimal driving conditions for the Jeep Renegade Altitude. Windward sides of the Hawaiian islands also experience similar conditions and laterally up into the high mountainous areas. Jeep Renegade Altitude would provide satisfactory driving conditions in these regions with the use of its 4x4 system when roads are affected by heavy rainfall. However, it must be cautioned that the various places of convectional precipitation may cause its smaller 1.4L engine to struggle in hilly places. Rainfall would also cause body rust to deteriorate the vehicle. In the Caribbean, the heavy showers prevalent in these regions will cause surface water, washing out roads and soil into gullies. These will be hazardous driving conditions. High temperatures and humidity promote rapid oxidation and rusting. Despite being ideal environments for the Jeep Renegade Trailhawk, these are poor places for Jeep Renegade Altitude. This is also considering that many of these regions are less economically developed and have a high import tariff on automobiles. Consumers in these regions tend to favor larger, more luxurious vehicles and are less accepting of the Jeep's utility and compact size.

3.2. Performance at Mid Latitudes

In trying to find out whether these effects of mid-latitude weather increase the chance of using climate systems and air conditioning, I compared the number of climate control systems and the presence of air conditioning units in Jeep Renegade Altitude vehicles with those in Latitude models. This comparison will now follow on into future posts as I continue to look at the effects of mid-latitude weather on car driving.

A study from 2012 found that climate control systems are regarded as very important in 81% of new car buyers in Germany. A further 17% saw it as quite important (Volk and Teubler, 2012). Furthermore, air conditioning in cars could become increasingly used in mid-latitude locations, as a means of cooling the car when there is an increased chance of warm nights and heatwaves. This is to avoid having to wind the windows down and possibly subject the occupants to the effects of severe weather.

Performance at mid-latitudes The increase in winds and jet stream intensity, which result from a thermal gradient increase between the tropics and the poles, are key reasons for the increased weatheriness. The most notable aspect of mid-latitude weather is the variability. The transition of air masses and the development of cyclonic disturbances mean that conditions can change from calm and settled to wet and windy in a very short space of time. This contrast between air masses can cause a squall line to develop. Thunderstorms are most frequent in locations which have continental air masses. The variability of weather in the mid-latitudes provides a tough challenge for climate control systems in cars.

3.3. Performance at High Latitudes

Testing at the 2200m simulation showed very minimal change in engine power and torque output compared to testing at sea level. This is likely due to the use of a pressure compensated PCM calibration that worked very well at maintaining engine operation near sea level equivalent conditions. High altitude effects became much more severe when the engine was tested at the 3658m simulation. Dynamic response tests showed a 30% increase in engine brake specific fuel consumption at 3658m compared to sea level. This is a result of the increased boost pressures required to maintain air density and engine power output. During durability driving at 3658m with full load trailer, engine coolant and oil temperatures both increased by 10°C compared to sea level equivalent conditions. This was the result of setting a higher acceptable limit for boost pressure and turbine air charge temperature, in an effort to maintain consistent engine power output. Due to excessive knock activity, the test was prematurely ended and no formal assessment of towing ability was completed.

For duplicate testing, the same 1.4L MultiAir engine used in testing at low altitude warm conditions was independently tested by FCA Powertrain in K8 climatic test cells at both 2200m and 3658m simulation. Data from these two test points was analysed by comparison to data from K7 climatic cell testing at the 3658m simulation with the identical 1.4L MultiAir Global engine. Engine intake system and intercooler heat rejection to coolant, air charge cooling efficiency, and resulting effect on engine power and torque output were evaluated.

The performance trend in high latitude cold conditions and high altitude conditions is interesting. In these studies, the larger engine displacement and CTUH were often beneficial in comparison to smaller engine displacements and lower boost pressures in climbing ability and highway passing ability. Unfortunately, compromised turbocharger and engine air charge cooling efficiency at high altitude limited the benefit of high altitude conditions simulation. The same compromise also resulted in decreased engine power and torque output in cold conditions. Published data on the effect of high altitude and cold conditions on modern engine air change cooling efficiency, and the resulting effect on engine power and torque output is very limited.

4. Conclusion

Apart from the above-mentioned features, the Altitude and Latitude provide the same features from packages to optional add-ons, the main difference being the color and slight rim discrepancy. Prices are not yet available for the 2017 Altitude, but we can assume that a trimmed out Altitude model is a slight bit more expensive than a trimmed out Latitude model. So, what are the main differences and which should you choose? It can be summarized that the Altitude offers more style and options for a slight bit more money than the Latitude while providing the same features. This may be a factor depending on your interior/exterior color preference and wanting to have a 4X4 vs FWD option. In this case, the Latitude is still a nice vehicle, but we believe that the Altitude offers more bang for the buck.

The Latitude provides 16-inch rims for the base model and 18-inch rims for the higher-end model, while the Altitude, as of 2017, provides 18-inch rims for every version. Both models, however, have the option of snow-capable 17-inch wheels and off-road capable 16-inch wheels. The Altitude has an all black leather interior vs the Latitude's leather interior with black/ski grey and Light frost/ Light frost beige interior color option. The Altitude comes with a high-gloss black interior option so that you can achieve the all black everything interior. The Altitude and Latitude also differ in the sense that the Altitude is FWD or 4X4, whereas the Latitude offers a 4X2 option. This may not be a huge difference as the Altitude does allow the 4X4 option, it is a difference in capability and off-road performance.

For those who are in the market for a compact SUV, the Jeep Renegade is a viable option. Whether you decide to go with the Latitude or the Altitude, then you need to know the differences that exist between the two. This SUV will provide utility through its 4dr design and many different available packages. The features and packages will be mentioned throughout the article, but the main goal is to figure out which of these two models is right for you. Now we will see if the more expensive Altitude gives you more bang for your buck as compared to the Latitude.

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