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18 November 2018 | AutoData LAUNCH » RENEGADE AND HR-V T he Ford Ecosport has always been the dominator, the true T-Rex of the compact SUVs, even reigning almost alone in the jungle since its launch, in 2003. That era ended in 2015, when two fierce competitors arrived and domi- nated the field, the Jeep Renegade and the Honda HR-V. Today, the two models have fought a fierce battle over consumer preference in the segment that earns the largest share of total sales, leaving EcoS- port alone. By Leandro Alves RIVALS SHARPEN TEETH AND CLAWS The first Renegade and HR-V restyling is timid, with greater efforts in connectivity. The price plan led each one to a different way. But the time to change has come to stay competitive in this competition that advances more and more. And neither Jeep or Honda was daring in the half-life facelift: the idea was to advance more in connectivity (an obligation nowadays) than in aesthetic features for both. The real difference is in the brands’ plan for market establishment. Jeep is betting on its brand identity, related to adventures and the off road universe, while Honda aims on the urban profile.