Jeep, the sport utility vehicle brand that has made every tough motorist’s heart pound for decades, introduced Thursday its latest and first compact SUV, the Renegade.

The first baby of the joint venture between Fiat and Chrysler has added European sophistication to the original dynamic drivability of Jeep.

“The Jeep Renegade is the only real small SUV in the market. The others try to make one but they don’t have the capability,” Pablo Rosso, head of FCA Korea, told The Korea Herald at the launch event.

“The Renegade has the DNA of the (signature vehicle) Wrangler and has the dynamics of the Grand Cherokee. It has a superb performance both on and off roads. With the Renegade, Jeep has the perfect SUV portfolio,” Rosso said.

The design has become younger: With the iconic headlights intact, the 4.25 meter-long body has become rounder and fluidic. The car that comes in three trims -- Longitude 2.4 gasoline, Longitude 2.0 diesel AWD and Limited 2.0 diesel AWD -- are painted in acidic or pastel tones to meet the taste of youngsters.

The All-New Renegade boasts a maximum 170 horsepower and the maximum torque of 35.7 kilogram-meters for the 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine, and the maximum 175 horsepower and 23.5 kg-m of maximum torque for the 2.4-liter gasoline engine.

The model incorporates some of the most coveted functions and equipment.

The nine-speed transmission leads to powerful speeding, better fuel economy and smoother riding. The Selec Terrain adjusts to any road conditions for comfort.

The 4-by-4 system features a rear axle disconnect system to switch between two-wheel and four-wheel drive seamlessly, which reduces energy loss and increases fuel efficiency when the four-wheel system is not needed. My Sky open-air sunroof is divided into two so that the front and rear seats can enjoy the sky view.

Other features include parking assist, forward collision warning, lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring programs that will enhance the safety of the car, the company said.

The Renegade is already a huge success overseas. More than 5,400 units have been sold in Europe within a month of the launch, causing a global supply shortage that made FCA Korea postpone the launch from July to September. And without any special notice, the company has already received more than 100 preorders, Rosso said.

Rosso was confident that the Renegade would penetrate self-opinionated 30-somethings in Korea, too. He said Renegade satisfies both “dreamers” and “doers.”

“The ‘doers’ are about 1 percent of the people who shut down their laptop on Friday and go off-road driving all weekend. The ‘dreamers’ are those who have the right car, but always dream about it and carry that out about once a year,” he said. “But guess what? Renegade is for both,”

The price for the All New Renegade starts from 34.8 million won ($29,100) with 2 million won consumption tax deduction by the end of the year.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)