Review: Jeep Avenger

Posted by: My Electric Lease, 16th Aug 2023

What is the Jeep Avenger?

You might think that the traditional Jeep recipe was to create a rugged, go-anywhere car that relied heavily on a petrol or diesel engine. Well, things have changed in recent times and now Jeep is pushing for electrification, and the car we’re looking at today - the Avenger - is a big part of that.

It’s a compact electric SUV that aims to intertwine some of that classic Jeep spirit with clean-running battery technology. Let’s see what it has to offer.

What’s new?

The Avenger's chunky proportions are classic Jeep

While the exterior might resemble a Jeep, underneath it’s far more closely related to cars from the wider Stellantis group, such as the Vauxhall Mokka Electric. Designed for electrified powertrains, it means that the Avenger offers plenty of interior space. However, due to the Avenger being sold with a petrol engine as well, you’ll still find a transmission hump in the back.

But we’ve got loads of practical elements to consider, too. For instance, Jeep has fitted a variety of plastic panels in areas that are prone to dings - so they’re cheaper to repair if you have a low-speed prang.

What’s under the bonnet?

Though a four-wheel-drive, dual-motor setup is believed to be in the works, for now, the sole option with the Avenger is a single-motor one. It brings 154bhp and 260Nm of torque, driven to the front wheels alone. Linked with a 54kWh battery, you should be able to get up to 248 miles from a single charge in the Avenger.

Plus, Jeep has equipped the Avenger with rapid charging capability - it can accept charges of up to 100kW - which means that a zero to 80 per cent charge could be completed in as little as 30 minutes.

What’s it like to drive?

The Avenger - though it might have the chunky look of a Jeep - is actually quite compact on the road and that’s something which immediately comes to the fore when you first get behind the wheel. It’s really easy to thread through narrower roads and, when coupled with the car’s light steering and small turning circle, makes it ideal for use in urban environments.

There’s just about the right amount of performance on offer, too, while refinement is great - there’s just a small amount of wind noise generated by the forward pillars. A dual-motor will bring extra performance when it does arrive, too.

How does it look?

As we’ve touched upon, Jeep has really imparted some of its classic design touches on the Avenger. You’ve got the iconic seven-bar grille which has become synonymous with the brand since the iconic Willy’s Jeep, while the rear lights with their ‘X’ design reference that classic model too.

It’s quite nice to see a good variety of exterior colours to choose from, too. We really like the standout yellow, which not only helps to make the whole car more impactful but really contrasts the black plastic elements nicely.

What’s it like inside?

Despite its small proportions, the Avenger offers loads of space inside. Because this car is quite upright and boxy it’s got more headroom than you might think, while Jeep has kitted the Avenger with an almost dizzying number of cubbies, pockets and storage options - so there’s no reason for a cluttered cabin.

With a 380-litre boot, the Avenger has plenty of storage space too. It also incorporates a cool split-level design which means you can store the charging cables underneath the main storage area when you’re not using them.

What’s the spec like?

The Avenger lands into the market with plenty of equipment on board as standard. For instance, there’s a 10.25-inch infotainment screen in the middle of the dash and this has all of the must-have smartphone connectivity systems included. You also get either a seven- or 10.25-inch driver’s display ahead of you and the one in our test car - of the latter size - was really clear and easy to use.

It’s nice to have a good smattering of physical buttons, too, with the heating and ventilation controls located on a bar underneath the main infotainment screen. This makes them much easier to use when you’re on the move compared with rival offerings that have migrated into the screen’s system.

Verdict

Though the electric car segment might be busier than ever, Jeep has done a great job of making its new Avenger stand out. It’s got some really cool design features, but these are backed by good levels of practicality and equipment.

Throw in a very respectable electric range and a very speedy charging speed and you get an EV which is well worth considering.

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