Jeep

Avenger

The Avenger is the first fully electrified model by Jeep and has been both designed and built in Europe. It’s a five-door compact SUV with front-wheel drive and a good choice of trim levels, along with a decent driving range.

The good

Funky design, fun to drive and decent range

The bad

Some sharp plastic edges inside the cabin

Tech Specs

Price from

£34,800

Combined Fuel up to

Driving range up to 248 miles (341 miles city)

0-62 from

9.0 seconds

max speed up to

93mph

co2 from

0g/km

Test Drive

Jeep Avenger (2023)

Jeep is a name that has built an enviable reputation for developing gritty 4×4 vehicles with go-anywhere capabilities and the ability to conquer anything Mother Nature throws in the way.

But now, the American carmaker has unleashed its very first electric vehicle and it’s very much geared towards the European market. It’s called the Avenger and, for now, is a front-wheel drive compact SUV with an all-wheel drive model on the horizon.

The Avenger is driven by a 54kWh battery (51kWh usable) with a 156bhp motor delivering 269Nm of torque. When it comes to performance, it can reach 62mph from a standing start in 9.0 seconds and maxes out at 93mph. According to official figures the driving range between charges is an impressive 248 miles, increasing to 341 miles in the city.

Customers can choose from trim levels called Longitude, Altitude and Summit costing £34,800, £36,500 and £39,100 respectively. We opted for the range-topping Summit model with all the bells and whistles. And it didn’t disappoint.

There’s no denying the fact the Avenger is a great looking five-door car with plenty of stand-out design cues to help it get noticed in a crowded car park while remaining true to the Jeep heritage and dna.

It features the trademark seven-slot grille that is closed off as there is no engine to cool and it is also curved to improve the aerodynamics of the car. The headlight clusters are encased in a protective covering so will avoid being damaged in a bump and there is plenty of cladding to protect the doors along with large trapezoidal wheel arch protectors. In addition, the skid plates will never show signs of scratching as they are not painted but remain in their natural colour.

At the rear, Jeep fans will be pleased to see the X-themed taillights that took their inspiration from the fuel cans on the original Willys Jeep. Factor in the floating C pillars, flush rear door handles, and striking 18-inch alloy wheels and this car oozes charm when approached from any angle.

The interior is modern, clutter-free and feature-rich. The main focal point is a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen that offers access to systems such as the TomTom sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity and radio. There is also a 10.25-inch driver information screen, proper physical switches for the climate control, a wireless charging pad, heated seats and plenty more besides.

Many cars these days have ambient lighting as an aesthetic feature, but it has a real purpose on the Avenger as it helps to prevent eye strain when driving at night and it also lights up the door when opened so can be seen clearly by other motorists.

Customers can fully personalise their Avenger too with a number of options such as roof, bonnet and grille graphics as well as contrasting roof colours.

We were treated to a day with the Avenger at the company’s proving ground in Italy earlier this year. But now we had the chance to really test the car in normal day-to-day driving conditions and it lived up to the big build-up.

Out on the open road the Avenger is confident and fizzes through twisting lanes with good grip levels and no sign of body movement. Hill climbs pose no problem and the instant torque is an added bonus when overtaking slower-moving traffic.

It will cruise effortlessly at motorway speeds and occupants are well protected from outside noise making the Avenger a beautifully refined vehicle. It also delivers a cushioned ride although that could have been enhanced as we were driving on silky smooth Spanish roads rather than the pitted UK surfaces.

And as the car weighs just 1,500kg, it is beautifully agile in busier town settings with the impressive all-round driver visibility being another positive point, especially as the Avenger is billed as a family car and will most probably feature regularly on the dreaded school run.

There are drive modes called Eco, Normal and Sport that alter the characteristics of the car considerably and the regenerative braking can be increased by pressing a B mode to recoup any energy that would otherwise be lost.

Despite being front-wheel drive, the Avenger is still a Jeep so features a number of modes to help cope with more challenging terrain. These are called Snow, Sand and Mud. We drove the vehicle on a slippery gravel track and it was perfectly capable and there is also hill descent control to help with difficult slopes.

At just 4.08 metres in length, the Avenger is 16cm shorter than the Renegade making it Jeep’s most compact vehicle. But thanks to shorter overhangs than its sibling, the space within the car is good. There are three seats in the back, but would be ideal for two passengers with a third making it a bit of a squeeze.

The battery pack is well protected against damage and its positioning beneath the seats and central tunnel means it has little impact on cabin space.

The boot can hold 380 litres of kit, increasing to 1,000 litres with the split-folding rear seats dropped flat. But, unlike some rivals, there is no frunk or front trunk offering extra storage room beneath the bonnet. The boot boasts a wide opening and features a double-sided mat that can be washed if it gets too muddy.

Inside the cabin are a number of storage options, including a non-slip tray that spans two thirds of the dashboard. There is a large area beneath the centre console that has three large compartments with separators that can be adjusted, along with door pockets and cup holders.

When it comes to charging the Avenger, the battery can be boosted to 80 per cent via a fast charger in 24 minutes, or 18 miles can be added to the range in just three minutes.

Safety systems are also comprehensive with features including the likes of autonomous emergency braking, traffic sign recognition and lane keep assist amongst others.

All in all, the Avenger is a fabulous compact SUV that highlights Jeep’s commitment to an electrified future. In fact, it is the first of four all-new, all-electric vehicles being launched by the company in Europe by 2025.

Test Drive

Jeep Avenger – First drive (2023)

Jeep has just unleashed its first fully electrified model which is the smallest car in its line-up and being viewed as quite a game-changer.

It’s called the Avenger, which conjures up plenty of superhero themes courtesy of Marvel Comics, and is a five-door compact SUV.

Unlike most Jeep cars past and present, the Avenger is just front-wheel drive for now, with promise of a fully-fledged 4×4 version coming soon.

With shorter overhangs than its sibling, the Renegade, the Avenger will be better equipped to deal with more demanding off-road approach and departure angles and it also boasts impressive ground clearance of 200mm.

It’s certainly a stylish vehicle with quite an emphasis on protecting the bodywork and likes. For example, the headlights are fully encased as are the rear fog lights and reflectors so they won’t be damaged if the car has a bump. There is strong black cladding to the wheel arches, doors and bumpers and the skid plates are not painted so cannot be scratched.

The Avenger is easily recognisable as a Jeep thanks to the upright seven-slot grille which is slightly curved to improve the aerodynamics and, at the rear, there are the X-themed taillights inspired by World War II fuel cans.

The look is completed with neat alloys, floating C pillars and rear door handles that are flush to the car’s body.

Moving inside, the interior is modern, clutter-free and neatly designed with a 10.25-inch infotainment screen, along with a 10.25-inch driver information display. Both are easily adapted to taste and there is plenty of on-board tech to explore, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, TomTom navigation, heated seats, a wireless smartphone charger and lots more besides.

The air vents are neatly integrated into a beam that stretches across the dashboard and the climate control functions are adjusted via a separate panel for added convenience.

At launch, the Avenger was available in 1^st Edition specification, but new trims have now been added called Longitude priced at £34,800, Altitude £36,500 and Summit costing £39,100.

All versions are powered by a 54kWh battery (51kWh usable) with a 156bhp motor delivering 269Nm of torque. It can reach 62mph from a standing start in 9.0 seconds and maxes out at 93mph. But perhaps most importantly, it has a combined driving range between charges of 248 miles, or up to 341 in the city.

We tested the Avenger 1^st Edition, costing £36,500 and it performed really well with instant acceleration out the starting blocks. On a high speed circuit, it was balanced through long sweeping bends and the road holding also impressed.

The driver visibility is good, which is vital on any family car, and all the controls, dials and readouts are ideally positioned for ease of use. There was a little glare at times on the touchscreen, but it was a particularly bright day.

Drive modes called Eco, Normal and Sport alter the responses of the car with Sport proving the most engaging. And if you are faced with more challenging terrain, additional settings called Snow, Sand and Mud, along with Hill descent Control will offer extra traction.

The vehicle has been specifically tuned for ride and handling both on and off the road and that is just one of the advantages of the Avenger being both designed and built in Europe. It delivers a beautifully cushioned ride.

Although we didn’t tackle any truly testing terrain, we did venture away from the Tarmac and the Avenger was quite capable ploughing through muddy trails and leaning at challenging side angles.

Space within the car is fine considering its compact size stretching just 4.08 metres in length. Up front there is ample leg room, but back seat passengers do not fare quite so well. It is ideal for children though.

The boot features a wide opening and low lip for ease of loading and it can swallow 380 litres of kit, increasing to 1,000 litres with the rear seats dropped flat.

There are lots of practical storage options scattered throughout the car too, including a huge compartment beneath the centre console, a covered tray stretching two-thirds of the dash and a glovebox. On the downside, the door pocket edges were quite sharp which was a little disappointing and there were some more jagged edges beneath the steering wheel near the adjustment lever.

Charging from 0 to 100 per cent via an 11kW wallbox takes five-and-a-half hours, but a 20 to 80 per cent charge can be achieved in just 24 minutes using a 100kW fast charger.

Jeep sees the Avenger as a vitally important model to finally make an impact in Europe and believes it will be the company’s best-selling model in 2024. But whether or not it’s superhero material will remain to be seen.

All in all, the new Jeep Avenger is a funky-looking car that’s well equipped and engaging to drive. Some of the build quality rather lets down the show a little, but those are issues that hopefully will be ironed out.