A fully electric Jeep? This would have seemed impossible for Jeep fans and off-road enthusiasts a few years ago. But under the rule of the Stellantis Group, Jeep has taken the electrification route by offering plug-in hybrid variants for all models in its range. And now it has an all-electric model, the first in its history. We drove the new Jeep Avenger in southern Spain, and here are our first impressions.
Jeep is bringing its first all-electric model to market. It's a small, 4-meter-long model for urban use and countryside outings. It's front-wheel drive only, so is it a real Jeep? While we'll have to make do with a 4x2 electric Jeep to start with, it's proven to be very capable off-road, being the brand's first model to offer a Selec Terrain system for a front-wheel-drive car.
We went to southern Spain to meet the new Avenger, Jeep's newest European product (the Avenger is made in Poland at the Stellantis Group's Tychy plant). The new Jeep doesn't sell the Avenger in the United States, at least for now. An all-wheel-drive Avenger is also in the cards. You will have to wait until 2024 when this version will complete the new model's lineup, a fact which was confirmed by brand officials present at the launch event.
Design Evaluation
It's no secret that Jeep has taken full advantage of the resources provided by the Stellantis Group in the design and development of this new model. Jeep brand engineers have used the group's e-CMP2 platform (common to models such as the electric Opel Mokka, Peugeot e-2008, and Citroen e-C4) but have substantially modified it to give it Jeep DNA.
So Jeep got the 154 hp (156 ps), 260 Nm (192 ft-lbs) electric motor (produced by Emotors, a joint venture owned by Stellantis and Nidec Leroy Somer) located on the front axle and the new 54 kWh battery (50.8 kWh net capacity). The system has a 400V architecture, and Jeep claims an official range of 400 kilometers, measured in the WLTP cycle. That's a decent figure, lower than that offered by other competitors, but still competitive.
The same can be said for charging capacity, with the Avenger's system allowing DC fast charging at just 100 kW, while the onboard AC charger supports charging up to 11 kW. A 20 to 80% charge at a full-power DC station takes 24 minutes. On the test drive in Spain, at an ambient temperature of 30 degrees Celsius, which required running with the air conditioning on, the Avenger recorded an average energy consumption of 16.4 kWh/ 100 km (3.8 miles/kWh).
Photo: Jeep Europe
The new Jeep Avenger is a compact car, one of the smallest in the SUV class. At 4,084 mm (160.8 in) long, the Avenger is shorter than a Nissan Juke or a Peugeot 2008. The Avenger has extremely short front and rear overhangs, which is one of the main changes made by the brand's engineers to allow the electric model to perform well on rough terrain. It's wide and has a ground clearance of 200 mm (7.9 in), and the almost square design gives it a rugged, adventure-ready look.
Jeep says it has designed the front and sides of the Avenger with extra cladding and black plastic to provide more durable body elements that will save the owner money over the life of the car. Because most accidents and damages occur at very low speeds in urban environments, the Avenger has inset and protected headlights and bumpers that only touch the unpainted side in the event of a parking lot incident.
Interior Assessment
The interior is logical, and the quality of the materials is good. There are some minuses, hard plastic for the upper part of the dashboard, and numerous elements borrowed from other brands of the group, like various buttons on the center console. But the infotainment system is superior to anything Jeep has used before, with modern and very pleasing graphics, and the system is customizable and logical in operation. The center screen is 10.25 inches, responds quickly to commands, and is compatible with Apple CarPlay wireless and Android Auto.
The climate control has separate physical controls organized keyboard-style below the center screen. A second 10.25-inch screen sits in front of the steering wheel and acts as a dashboard. There are body-colored inserts on the interior for added color, ambient lighting, including in the interior vent area, and plenty of storage space. Because the Avenger designers and engineers chose buttons for gearbox control instead of the mini-lever used in the rest of the Stellantis Group models, a large amount of storage space has been freed up right in the center console (inside, we have a mobile phone induction charging area and USB sockets).
It's protected by a magnetically snap-on cover that looks like an iPad cover: a novel and clever solution. We also have the classic, very deep glovebox and extra space in the armrest. In total, 34 liters (1.23 are available in the cabin for storing various items. Between the air vents and the climate controls, we have a pulpit that stretches almost the entire length of the dashboard, protected by a rubber element, where mobile phones and other bits and bobs can be stored. The Avenger has one of the most practical interiors we've come across in a long time.
Photo: Jeep Europe
The trunk isn't massive, with a standard volume of 355 liters (12.5 cu ft), plus some space under the floor, enough for the charging cables. There's no front trunk (frunk) in the Avenger. You can fold down the rear seatbacks in a 60/40 split when you don't need to put people in the back. However, the rear seats don't do anything else clever, such as slide or recline.
Driving take
Jeep Avenger is a 4x2 car. The electric motor is on the front axle, but this doesn't mean it's no good on dirt roads. The folks at Jeep showed us an axle crossover the Avenger passed without a hitch despite handling with just two drive wheels. Then, during the actual test, we drove a few dozen miles on a dirt and dusty gravel road, where the Avenger was much fun. Even on a low-grip surface with dust and rocks, the Avenger remains perfectly controllable. There's a hill descent control system if you have a steeper descent to negotiate, and the driver also has dedicated ride modes for Sand, Mud, and Snow via the Selec-Terrain system, the first time offered on a front-wheel drive model.
The Avenger is arguably the best electric car built on the Stellantis Group's e-CMP2 platform. The suspension is excellently tuned, the steering is precise, and it provides plenty of feedback, but it could have been a heavier idea, and the driving position is excellent.
The Avenger also excels on the asphalt, where the dynamics have been well-tuned, making it a pleasure to drive on twisty roads. The suspension is only bothered by the speed humps, which can bring discomfort to those on board if negotiated at too high a speed. To be fair, the example we tested came in the top Summit trim that also brings the largest available 18-inch wheels. A smaller wheel size will improve comfort.
The 154 hp (156 ps) engine offers enough power to make the Avenger feel fast. To make up power when decelerating, we can choose the transmission's B mode, but deceleration isn't strong enough to be a one-pedal drive car.
Photo: Jeep Europe
The steering could do with a bit more weight and feel, but the upside is a car that's super-easy to drive around town. Jeep Avenger is also available with a gasoline engine, a 1.2 turbo with three cylinders. It delivers 100 hp, and it is only available in Italy, Spain, and Poland. All other European markets get the electric version of the Jeep Avenger exclusively.
Everyday Living
The Avenger feels quick, especially if we choose to drive in Sport mode, accelerating from 0-60 mph in 9.3 seconds. It's compact enough to be ideal for urban use but comfortable enough for the long haul.
During our test around the southern Spanish cities of Malaga and Fuengirola, we drove it on all kinds of available roads. From motorways to national roads and narrow mountain roads, unpaved tracks, and busy city crossings. We recorded a fuel consumption of 16.4 kWh/100 km (3.8 miles/kWh) while driving in all available modes (Eco, Normal, Sport, and Sand) with the air conditioning on at 22 degrees Celsius/71.6 degrees Fahrenheit (in Spain, it was 30 degrees Celsius/86 degrees Fahrenheit at the time of the test). At the end of the test drive, the Avenger still showed a range of 298 km (185 mi) with 76% charge remaining in the battery.
We have to point out the sound the indicators make. It's entirely digital and sounds a bit weird. Some may find it quirky, and others will think it's annoying.
The Avenger lineup is relatively simple. A trio of trims allows buyers to choose the Jeep that suits their needs, with even entry-level Longitude models getting 16-inch alloy wheels and automatic LED lights, plus climate control and that 10.25-inch display with CarPlay and Android Auto. The next level is the Altitude trim that brings a larger digital dashboard, 17-inch wheels, keyless entry, and a power tailgate.
Top-spec is Summit trim with level 2 autonomous drive functions, 18-inch wheels, heated seats, and a reversing camera. A Jeep Avenger costs between €37,000 and €43,500 on the German market, depending on the trim level chosen. It undercuts rival electrical cars like Peugeot e-2008 or Kia Niro EV in terms of price.
Photo: Jeep Europe
Test Drive Roundup
Jeep Avenger has all the ingredients to become a best seller in Europe. It's small, and it will fit perfectly in crowded towns. It's boxy and cute, and more importantly, it's nice to drive. The recipe works, as the Avenger is 2023's European Car of the Year.
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