Jeep is the name that we commonly use to refer to all 4x4s and for the American brand the name is hugely important. Jeep has been taken over by the Italian Fiat group and is now part of the reconstituted Fiat Chrysler Automobile (FCA) group.

For farming readers, that group is also a significant owner of Case New Holland (CNH). It is also the owner of Fiat Powertrain Technologies (FTP), which is the source of engines and many of the transmissions fitted to its cars and a host of modern tractor brands.

For all of the above reasons, the arrival of a new Jeep model is a little special for farming readers. There’s the legendary off-road technology coupled with FTP engines that have proven reliable in many tractors. And that’s why I think Jeep should be more closely linked with both Case IH and New Holland brands in the effort to rejuvenate the brand in Ireland; there are good stories to tell across all three brands.

The Renegade is an important addition to the Jeep range. It looks modern while hankering back to the Jeep look with the seven-slot front grille. It has stylish rear light clusters that pay homage to the X pressed into the jerry cans that were so much part of the origins of the original World War II Jeeps.

That’s where the heritage part ends. The new Renegade is modern looking, impressive to drive and a great performer on the road. I took a two-wheel-drive Limited version for a week and after over 800km behind the wheel, I got to like the feel, even if the economy was far less than I had expected.

On paper, its economy rating is 25km/litre (4.6l/100km or 61mpg) but I failed to get near that and returned figures 40% poorer than the rated figures. When I sat into the Renegade, the range was predicted at 931km; that was a far cry from the real result. This is disappointing, although the tank capacity is 48 litres and that’s lower than some of the competition.

The model I had was fitted with the entry level 1.6-litre FTP diesel engine that was great in a performance sense. The acceleration from the 120bhp engine is the best of the small diesel-powered SUV competition.

As the test model was two-wheel drive, I was slow to engage in heavy-duty off-road use. On a visit to the Shannonbridge region, I met up with local baler operator Shane Egan, where we both conferred on its smooth ability on an esker dry silage stubble field. The Renegade could do with extra ground clearance for field driving.

The Renegade comes with Jeep’s Uconnect infotainment system, which is standard on all models. Uconnect comes in two versions: the larger 6.5-inch screen comes with Limited model that I had. The system allows hands-free calls via Bluetooth and some phones will allow you to send a text message from a list of 18 pre-defined messages.

The test car came with sensor-assisted GPS satellite navigation. This system can be specified with an optional ParkView reversing camera. There was a second display within the instrument cluster to give the driver a view in front.

The Renegade is available with a host of safety features including Forward Collision Warning Plus with Crash Mitigation. These automatically prevent or reduce the impact in low-speed shunts. It has a ParkSense Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist system to automatically park the car and a LaneSenseTM lane departure warning system.

The Jeep Trailer-Sway Control (TSC) is standard on all models even though I don’t expect many to use it as the Renegade’s towing rating is the poorest among the competition at one tonne.

The entry price for the Sport version is competitive at €25,200 (£18,659 in NI). If you want any extra features you have to move up the line to Longitude or Limited versions. Four-wheel-drive versions are fitted with a bigger 2.0 litre 140bhp turbo-diesel engine. They cost a massive €6,000 more as you need to move up a grade to the Longitude models with a jump in tax band to B2, costing an extra €80 in road tax.

The Jeep Renegade is a quirky looking small SUV that drives well but is a little poor on the economy scales. It’s compact in terms of dimensions and the high seat makes for easy driving.

Jeep Renegade 1.6-litre Multijet

Engine 1.6-litre diesel

Engine power 120bhp

0-100km/hr 10.2 seconds

Economy 25km/litre

Fuel tank capacity 48 litres

CO2 emissions 120g/km

Road tax band A4 (€200)

Service interval 20,000km/ 12 months

Safety rating 5 stars (2014)

Towing rating 1,000kg

Warranty Three years/ 100,000km

Entry price €25,200

NI price £18,695