I’m sure before Jeep launched its smallest offering, the 2015 Renegade, it had its share of concerns about how the model would be received. I know my fellow writer Marcus enjoyed it.So did I. WardsAuto did as well – especially its interior.
Over the course of two months, the publication’s editors evaluated and scored 42 vehicles according to their interiors’ fit-and-finish, comfort, material selection, ergonomics, information/displays, value, safety, and design aesthetics. Along with the 2015 Chrysler 300C Platinum, the 2015 Jeep Renegade made Ward’s 10 Best Interiors List.
Drew Winter, editor-in-chief of WardsAuto World magazine, said, “The interior checks off all our boxes in terms of being roomy, comfortable and having excellent ergonomics — even the voice-activation system works flawlessly. But, the attention given to interior details and design is truly spectacular for a vehicle in this class.” He also praised the Renegade for its playful design elements, eye-catching, contrasting colors, and available anodized metallic bronze trim, something I found tastefully unique during my drive of the Renegade Trailhawk. (The paintball splatter effect on the little Jeep’s tachometer is a cool touch that fits the vehicle’s “fun-and-freedom lifestyle” image, too.)
This news could possibly mean that we can look forward to the next-generation version of the Wrangler having an outstandingly attractive and user-friendly cabin. In response to today’s Ward’s win announcement, Klaus Busse, vice president of Interior Design, FCA — North America, said, “The FCA US interior design team pays meticulous attention to detail, whether it’s selecting the perfect materials and color combinations to ensuring the communication experience is intuitive and simple to use.”
Do you all even care what Busse and his crew do with the interior of the 2018 Wrangler? If you do, which characteristics should it possess? Tell us what you look for in an interior by clicking this link:
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
