TRIED & TESTED
Jeep Avenger
A new direction for the brand steeped in the off-road capabilities of its vehicles, as Jeep introduces its first electric vehicle. By John Challen
TRIED & TESTED
Jeep Avenger
A new direction for the brand steeped in the off-road capabilities of its vehicles, as Jeep introduces its first electric vehicle. By John Challen
If there was any doubt among drivers that an all-electric Jeep couldn’t retain the company’s core competences, the manufacturer was quick to dispel it at the European launch of the car. Despite Jeep being an American brand, the Avenger is very much a car designed for markets on the other side of the Atlantic – but it still retains “100% Jeep DNA in [its] four metres”, according to Christian Meunier, the company’s CEO.
At 0.3%, Jeep’s market share in the UK’s SUV sector is low compared with Italy (10%) and Brazil (20%). However, the Stellantis-owned brand is confident that the likes of Avenger and the new Grand Cherokee will help improve this figure, which is essential, given it wants to be the global leader in SUVs and has a 100% BEV target by 2030.
Within the Avenger – and the Grand Cherokee, which was rolled out alongside the smaller Jeep – there is an obvious improvement in overall quality from previous models. The interior features upgraded materials throughout, features a well thought mix of buttons and screens and there is plenty of storage space. In fact, at 34 litres, there is more than twice the volume of the average for the C-segment.
The car sits on the same ECMP2 platform that underpins the likes of the Vauxhall Mokka, DS3 and Peugeot e-2008, but Jeep engineers have modified 600 components to make it fit for specific purpose. For example, front and rear overhangs have been reduced thanked to new 30mm-shorter crash boxes and the vehicle has been raised to maximise clearance with the lowest point of the car.
Avenger has been engineered to go off road, but not the the detriment of the on-road experience – let’s face it, the vast majority of the junior Jeeps will stay on the Tarmac, not the trails. Ride comfort and handling has been optimised through tuning elements of the suspension. A 20% increase in damping force has resulted in less vertical body acceleration, body roll and pitch acceleration.
At the heart of the Avenger’s performance is a 400V e-motor, the first product of its kind from eMotors – Stellantis’ joint venture with NIDEC. It delivers 156hp and 260Nm and works alongside a 54kWh battery that is produced in-house at a plant in Tychy, Poland.
The all-new electric motor and battery – as well as the car’s heat pump – have ensured an improvement in driving range. The range-topping Summit and Altitude boast 245 miles (combined) and 356 miles (City) on the WLTP cycle. The base Avenger – Longitude – offers marginally more, with 248 and 360 miles respectively.
Charging up to 100kW DC is available, enabling the battery to be replenished from 20 to 80% in 24 minutes. For domestic purposes, drivers can charge up to 11kW AC, with a zero to 100% battery charge being reached in 5.5 hours. For everyday (real world requirements) driving, Jeep also highlighted that a three-minute DC would generate 18.6 miles (30km).
Which model is right for you?
There will be three models in the Avenger range from launch, starting with the Longitude, priced from £34,800. Standard spec includes a 10.25-inch infotainment screen, wireless smartphone connectivity, cruise control and rear parking sensors. Safety technologies onboard include traffic sign recognition, lane departure warning and vulnerable road user recognition. Convenience-wise there’s remote charge scheduling and cabin pre-conditioning.
Building on the Longitude is the Attitude (starting from £36,500), which adds in a 10-inch driver display, larger alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control and leather steering wheel.
Finally, topping off the range is the Summit, which starts at £39,100. For the extra £2,600 there’s level 2 autonomous driving technology, heated front seats, LED lighting from and rear and parking sensors all round.
There are three packs available: Tech and style (£1,400); Infotainment and convenience (£1,000) and Winter (£350). Most of the options within those packs are included in the top spec Summit Avenger. In addition, electric seats with massage functionality – and a panoramic roof – will be available to order from the second half of 2023.
“Within the Avenger there is an obvious improvement in overall quality from previous models; the interior features upgraded materials throughout”
Longitude
Attitude
Summit
EXPERIENCE
Jeep Avenger
VERDICT
There is a lot to like about the new Avenger – and the proof of that with the more than 20,000 orders that had been placed in the car before it had even gone on sale. In the SUV-heavy UK (and European) market, this Jeep offers something different for drivers, but in a package that will be familiar – especially to those who have sampled other Stellantis products.
Performance is good and, some wind noise aside, Avenger is comfortable, steers well and offers plenty of room and storage options inside. While few Avengers will ever venture far from the Tarmac, our test drive route gave us the opportunity to confirm it can handle tougher terrains.
