Jeep Renegade Is 'Male,' While Fiat 500X Will Be More 'Female': Analyst

The 2015 Jeep Renegade, a subcompact crossover from Jeep's owner Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, won't go on sale for a few more months--although it's now in dealerships in Europe.

The littlest Jeep will add incremental sales in North America, although its main markets are likely to be Asia and Europe.

But while it shares its underpinnings with the Fiat 500X crossover utility that will be officially unveiled at the Paris Motor Show this week, the two vehicles are expected to appeal to different buyer groups.

DON'T MISS: 2016 Fiat 500X Crossover To Be Officially Launched On July 4

In fact, suggests IHS Automotive analyst Ian Fletcher, you might think of the squarer, rugged Jeep as the "male" version of the subcompact SUV, while the more rounded Fiat 500X will be more "female."

And thus do auto analysts innocently step into the complicated and hazardous waters where auto-buying preferences and gender politics intersect.

The upcoming Fiat 500X, which will be sold at Fiat Studios in the U.S. as well, is expected to appeal more for its retro looks; Fletcher calls it a "cute, urban vehicle with off-road capabilities."

The small Jeep, on the other hand, will have to convey a tough image of capability--and deliver on at least superior off-road traction--even if it's hardly going to be the kind of rock-crawling that its butchest big brother, the Jeep Wrangler, is.

ALSO SEE: 2015 Jeep Renegade On Sale In Europe In September, U.S. Sales Start Dec Or Jan

Fletcher was quoted late last week in Automotive News Europe (subscription required) in an article that discussed the upcoming Fiat 500X.