Jeep Avenger: electric pioneer with well-known technology

Highlights

• First all-electric Jeep
• 54 kWh large battery pack
• Maximum driving range of 400 km
• Also comes with petrol engine
• On the market early 2023

Jeep is shifting its focus to electric and partly electric driving, especially in Europe. We already know some hybrid 4xe versions of the brand, but a fully electric model has not yet been released. But now there’s the Jeep Avenger, and it’s all-electric. In a sense, Jeep hooks up with cars from its own stable, such as the Peugeot e-2008 and Opel Mokka-e, but goes a bit further than those two on some fronts.

On a known basis

What the Jeep Avenger has in common with some group members is part of the hardware. Jeep is silent in all languages ​​about the platform on which the Avenger is enthroned, but the powertrain seems to give the answer. The Jeep Avenger uses a new 156 hp and 260 Nm electric motor that drives the front wheels, which is undoubtedly the same power source as was recently presented in the Peugeot e-208 and DS 3 E-Tense. With 54 kWh of capacity, the Jeep Avenger’s battery pack is the same size as that of the revised DS 3 E-Tense. The driving range of the Jeep Avenger is 400 km (WLTP), according to the Americans, up to 550 km range should be possible in urban areas. You can top up with an 11 kW AC charger, which takes about 5.5 hours to fully charge. The fast charger has a maximum charging capacity of 100 kW and you can charge the battery from 20 to 80 percent full in 24 minutes. Again, those values ​​are familiar to us from the Peugeot e-208 and DS 3.

All in all, it is clear that the Jeep Avenger is still on Stellantis’ (E-)CMP basis. So fuel engines can also be used, as it is not dedicated EV platform. Earlier, a camouflaged Jeep Avenger was spotted with an exhaust and Jeep is already talking about a version with a petrol power source. You bet that that is the well-known 1.2 PureTech three-cylinder. What is special is that during an earlier presentation that AutoWeek attended, Stellantis’ new STLA Small base for the Avenger was discussed, but that we have not heard anything about it yet. A revised variant of the E-CMP base may already be referred to internally as STLA Small, but the platform with that name intended purely for EVs will have to wait a little longer.

Jeep Avenger

Compact

As mentioned, the Jeep Avenger is a compact SUV and it is, certainly by Jeep standards, indeed not large. The Jeep Avenger is in fact 4.08 meters long. That is, for example, 22 cm shorter than the Peugeot e-2008 and also about 7 cm shorter than the Opel Mokka-e. Compared to the Renegade, the Avenger is 16 cm shorter. The Avenger is mainly due to its short overhangs that it is relatively short. The wheelbase is not yet known at the time of writing, but there the difference with the aforementioned stable mates is probably smaller.

However, the Jeep Avenger is quite high on its (18-inch) wheels, as befits a Jeep. The maximum ground clearance is 20 cm and thanks to the short overhangs, the Avenger has an approach angle of up to 20 degrees and an exit angle of even 32 degrees. Although you will undoubtedly not encounter the Avenger very often next to the asphalt, according to Jeep this should ensure that it has to be able to handle rougher terrain before everything comes to a scrape to a halt. Skid plates and bottom protection should prevent you from damaging the bodywork or even the battery pack if it gets a bit rough.

Spacious and stubborn

Although the Jeep Avenger is immediately recognizable as a Jeep from the outside, it is a somewhat different story on the inside. For the design of the dashboard, Jeep has taken quite a different path than with the other models that we know here from the brand. For example, we see ventilation grilles running almost the entire width, although of course only part of them is actually open. Directly below is an almost equally wide opening in which you can put things. There is certainly enough space, although things may slide around a bit while driving. In the center of the dashboard is a 10.25-inch large infotainment screen protruding quite far forward, on which Uconnect works and which can also handle Android Auto and Apple Carplay. The clock shop for the steering wheel is always digital, standard instruments are 7 inches, optional 10.25 inches.

Not everything needs to be operated on the central screen. After all, there is a whole battery of buttons under the aforementioned large storage compartment. There are several more under the screen and also between the two central ventilation grilles. Very nice for those who prefer to operate things by touch, instead of scrolling through all kinds of menus. Directly in front of the lever with which you determine the direction of travel, you will find a storage compartment and two USB connections. As an option, there is a wireless charger. In total there is 34 liters of storage space in the front, which is quite a lot. For the larger stuff you are of course dependent on the trunk. There is 380 liters of luggage space with the rear seats up, which is more than in the Peugeot e-2008 and Opel Mokka-e. How much it is with the couch folded is unknown at the time of writing. Carefully assume at least about 1,100 liters.

(Track) assistance and safety

Although the Jeep Avenger with its front-wheel drive is of course not an off-roader pure sang becomes, the smallest Jeep does get things that should help him in challenging circumstances. There are the aforementioned skid plates and bottom protection, but Selec-Terrain is also present. This allows you to set the Avenger on different surfaces (such as snow and mud), where the power is dosed to prevent slipping. The Jeep also has Avenger Hill Descent Control, for controlled descent down a steep hill.

Thanks to some driving assistance systems, the Avenger should be able to independently adjust its speed to the car in front of you, but also to drive along almost completely independently in a traffic jam thanks to Traffic Jam Assist. There are also (optional or not) things such as Blind Spot monitoring, parking sensors with 360-degree operation and a reversing camera available. In terms of luxury, there are options such as heated front seats with massage function, privacy glass and a panoramic roof.

Jeep immediately opens the order books for the Launch Edition of the Avenger. At the time of writing there are no Dutch prices yet, but you will of course find them here on AutoWeek.nl if they are available.