THERE is an ever-increasing demand for compact crossover models and now Jeep has entered the fray with the stylish, practical and very versatile Renegade.

With the likes of the Skoda Yeti and MINI Countryman clearly in its sights, the eye-catching Renegade is 4.2 metres in length and is a first for the company with its roots firmly planted in the USA. That's because it's the first Jeep model to be built in Italy since the Fiat group took over.

Priced from £16,995 to £27,995, it is much smaller than anything Jeep has developed in the past, but still remains true to the brand's outstanding off-road characteristics with plenty of stand-out Jeep trademarks such as the circular headlights, larger-than-life door mirrors, square-shaped tail lights and the chunky seven-slot grille.

The interior is simplistic in its design with a clutter-free layout and there is plenty of built-in technology to be explored.

The Renegade is available in four trim levels called Sport, Longitude, Limited and Trailhawk and these are powered by six petrol or diesel engines with either two or four-wheel-drive options. The 4WD is an on-demand system that runs in front wheel drive most of the time but automatically switches to 4WD in just one hundredth of a second when needed. Or it can be set to deal with mud, snow or sandy terrain.

Equipment on the entry-level Sport model includes the likes of 16-inch alloys, air conditioning, a DAB radio with Uconnect colour touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

Step up to Longitude and you will see the introduction of 17-inch alloys, roof rails, a six-speaker sound system, ambient lighting, cruise control, body-coloured door handles and mirrors plus lots more besides.

Limited models add 18-inch alloys, dual-zone climate control, heated leather seats, a heated steering wheel, rear parking sensors, privacy glass and forward collision mitigation.

Then the Trailhawk models are the most capable off-roaders in the line-up and come fitted with all the trim on the Limited models, plus chunky mud and snow tyres, additional skid plates, a tow bar and extra ground clearance. This model, priced at £27,995, is powered by a 2.0-litre MultiJet 170bhp engine with nine-speed automatic transmission and comes with 4WD.

Storage options are excellent within the Renegade with large cup holders, a good-sized glove-box, deep bins and door pockets plus a boot capacity of 351 litres - this can be increased to 1,297 with the rear seats folded flat.

The interior is bright and spacious and the high roofline means ample headroom for back seat passengers who also benefit from good leg and shoulder space.

So the Renegade which is available in 11 bright and funky colours with plenty of interior colour schemes on offer, looks smart and has all the potential of a classy compact SUV, but how does it handle when put to the test? The answer is very well indeed.

Admittedly the rather box-like shape and high-ride position means it's not the most refined and comfortable vehicle on our roads today, but this is designed to be a go-anywhere vehicle and it can do just that.

We drove a number of models on twisting country lanes, fast-moving motorways, on deep wet sand and on a muddy woodland and rocky off-road course and they all passed with flying colours.

First up was the 2.0-litre MultiJet diesel engine with 140bhp mated to a six-speed manual gearbox in Limited trim level. This model was priced at £25,395 which was increased to £27,935 with the addition of a glass panoramic sunroof, eight-way powered front seats, metallic paint and an upgraded Beats nine-speaker infotainment system.

This particular model can sprint to 62mph from a standing start in 9.5 seconds with a top speed of 113mph. It can deliver 55.4mpg on a combined run with carbon emissions of 134g/km.

The car handled beautifully with ample power on tap at all times. The high-seated driving position means there is excellent all-round visibility and this is also aided by the large door mirrors.

Acceleration is both smooth and responsive and the vehicle is very sure-footed which means tight bends can be attacked with confidence.

And parking and manoeuvrability is assisted by the vehicle's agility and excellent turning lock, making the Renegade a very capable all-rounder.

Next up was the 1.4 MultiAir petrol model with 140bhp mated to a six-speed manual gearbox - again in Limited trim. This car was priced at £22,395 (£24,665 with options) and can reach from 0-62mph in 10.9 seconds with a maximum speed of 112mph. According to official figures it can deliver 47.1mpg on a combined run with emissions of 140g/km.

Once again the Renegade was great fun to drive and its performance matched its exciting, bold and eye-catching appearance. If anything, the responses were slightly edgier on the petrol model with a little more bite on offer, but both models were a true pleasure to drive.

Those large door mirrors do result in quite a lot of wind noise at higher speeds, but that aside, the ride is relatively quiet and exceptionally well grounded.

Finally, some challenging off-roading was the order of the day and in fairness the Renegade proved it can hold its head up high amongst hardened off-load vehicles in the jeep stable as it made light work of beaches, slippery coastal rocks, steep boggy inclines and basically anything that was put in its path.

Safety systems are comprehensive and include over 60 features, such as lane departure warning, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control and lots more besides - all of which helped the car achieve the maximum five stars in the Euro NCAP safety tests.

All in all, the Jeep Renegade is a welcome newcomer to the popular crossover scene and despite being encompassed under the Fiat Group's umbrella it still carries the Jeep badging with pride and conviction.