Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2015 Jeep Renegade VS 2015 Toyota Rav4 Near Scottsdale, AZ

The Renegade Latitude/Limited offers an optional Collision Mitigation System, which uses forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Rav4 doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Renegade Trailhawk’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Rav4 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Renegade Latitude/Trailhawk/Limited offers optional Uconnect Access, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Rav4 doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Renegade and the Rav4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

Jeep’s powertrain warranty covers the Renegade 40,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the Rav4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Rav4 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Toyota dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Renegade’s warranty.

The Renegade’s standard 1.4 turbo 4 cyl. produces 12 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 172) than the Rav4’s 2.5 DOHC 4 cyl. The Renegade’s optional 2.4 DOHC 4 cyl. produces 4 more horsepower (180 vs. 176) and 3 lbs.-ft. more torque (175 vs. 172) than the Rav4’s 2.5 DOHC 4 cyl.

The Renegade has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Rav4 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the Renegade’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Rav4:

The Renegade stops much shorter than the Rav4:

The Renegade offers an optional full size spare tire so your trip isn’t interrupted by a flat. A full size spare isn’t available on the Rav4, it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The Renegade has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Rav4 doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Renegade’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Rav4 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Renegade Sport 4x4 handles at .79 G’s, while the Rav4 XLE 4WD pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Renegade Trailhawk 4x4’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the Rav4 Limited’s (35.3 feet vs. 36.8 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Renegade has a 1.6 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Rav4 (7.9 vs. 6.3 inches), allowing the Renegade to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Renegade Trailhawk’s minimum ground clearance is 2.4 inches higher than on the Rav4 (8.7 vs. 6.3 inches).

The Jeep Renegade may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 100 to 400 pounds less than the Toyota Rav4.

The Renegade is 1 foot, 1.3 inches shorter than the Rav4, making the Renegade easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Renegade has 1.3 inches more front headroom, 1.6 inches more rear headroom and 3 inches more rear hip room than the Rav4.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Renegade. The Rav4 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Renegade Auto offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Rav4 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The power windows standard on both the Renegade and the Rav4 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Renegade is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Rav4 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Renegade’s front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Rav4’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

The Renegade’s variable intermittent wipers have an adjustable delay to allow the driver to choose a setting that best clears the windshield during light rain or mist. The Rav4 LE’s standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent.

The Renegade’s optional power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Rav4’s power mirror controls are on the dash, hidden behind the steering wheel, where they are awkward to manipulate.

On extremely cold Winter days, the Renegade’s optional (except Sport) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Rav4 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Renegade (except Sport) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Rav4 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.