Jeep Avenger review: Has Jeep assembled a class-leading EV?

September 6, 2024 Matt Allan

We put the Jeep Avenger to the test to see if it can bring something different to the compact SUV segment.

By the end of 2025 Jeep will have four all-electric cars on sale.

The brand famous for V8-powered terrain-crushing monsters is embracing green energy. Although the 592bhp Wagoneer S that’s coming later this year suggests that excess is still key to success for this most American of manufacturers.

That said, Jeep is also looking to compete in the more mainstream sphere with the Avenger, a B-segment SUV that’s going toe-to-toe with everything from the Hyundai Kona and Peugeot E-2008 to the Volvo EX30 and incoming Ford Puma Gen-E.

Design, interior and technology

It’s no secret that the Avenger is based on the same e-CMP platform as everything from the Vauxhall Corsa to the Fiat 600e. But Jeep has done a solid job of making sure it stands out with a character of its own.

Apparently, about 60% of the components are unique to Jeep and that’s obvious from the outside, where the Avenger has the look of an inflated Tonka toy, especially in our test car’s Sun Yellow. There’s a very Jeep-like boxiness to the whole design, fronted by a modern take on the seven-bar grille and enhanced by clever folds in the bodywork that make the wheel arches appear even more pronounced and square.

It’s a hard job to make a small car look rugged but the Avenger manages a neat balance between cute and tough. That’s helped by unusually high ground clearance – it’s the same as a full-sized Cherokee in on-road mode – and short overhangs, which are allegedly to give better off-road access. The thick lower cladding and pretend skid plates will protect paint from rocks, bushes and (most likely of threats) other drivers’ car park crimes.

For all the American-inspired rugged looks, the Avenger is a European-focused compact car and is properly small by today’s standards. At 4.08m long it’s barely any bigger than a Corsa, although at 1.52m tall, it’s significantly taller.

That short body translates into a shortage of passenger space. Those up front are fine but even behind an average-sized driver there’s not much in the way of legroom and the narrow bench means this is definitely a four-seater at most. The boot, too, is pretty small compared to many rivals, at 355 litres.

Lower-spec cars suffer from a slightly dull interior but our Summit model had the dashboard finished in the same Sun Yellow as the exterior, bringing a welcome splash of colour and some extra character to the cabin. The dash is low and wide, with a handy lower shelf beneath the air vents and 10.25-inch central touchscreen. There’s also a usefully deep centre console hidden beneath an iPad-style folding cover, plus cupholders and a smaller space under the armrest.

Although the coloured dash and twin digital screens look good, there are some slightly dubious plastics on areas like the lower dash and door tops that don’t match the Avenger’s fairly strong list price.

The infotainment system, too, lets it down. It looks good at first and comes with plenty of features but it’s badly organised and painfully slow to react. Thankfully there are some proper buttons for the climate controls but too many other functions are lost in hard-to-navigate submenus.

Battery, motor and performance

Since it uses the same basic platform as many Stellantis cars, the Avenger’s battery and motor setup is no surprise.

A 54kWh battery (51kWh usable) provides energy to a front-mounted 154bhp motor. Unlike a few stablemates, there’s no option for the older, cheaper 50kWh/134bhp combination. That’s a good thing as this newer arrangement is far better.

In the Avenger, it offers an official range of 249 miles. Over a week of mixed driving, I saw a solid 4m/kWh from it, which means 204 miles on a charge. Rapid DC charging at 100kW should get it from 20-80% (not the more usual 10-80%) in 24 minutes.

The Avenger has a very obvious step in the throttle before you can unlock the full 154bhp but press the accelerator hard enough and it’s pleasingly peppy. On the move it feels more lively than the modest on-paper figures suggest. And with sport mode engaged it’s possible to bundle along country roads making the most of the instant electric response. This is no sports car but it’s nippy enough to be enjoyable and that’s enhanced by an unexpected nimbleness. Despite a fairly hefty kerb weight, the Avenger feels lights and more lively than some other ‘compact’ EVs. And its light steering and small footprint make it easy to navigate the urban jungle.

The ride, though, is a mixed bag, at urban speeds it’s fairly composed and smooth but at higher speeds it occasionally feels unnecessarily firm as rough surfaces expose its limits.

While the Avenger is a purely two-wheel-drive affair, Jeep has kitted it out with sand, mud and snow drive modes to provide a little all-terrain control. It’s debatable whether most buyers will get much use out of these or the raised ground clearance but it’s another small touch that helps differentiate the Avenger from related models.

Price and specification

So the Avenger looks good, has decent performance and range and isn’t utterly dull to drive. But there’s a catch and that would be the price.

Entry-level Avengers start at £34,999 and my Summit-spec car was £39,200 before. The snazzy two-tone paint, leather upholstery and infotainment pack took it to £42,125. That might be understandable if the Avenger was particularly roomy for its class or offered a markedly higher-quality interior or exceptional range. But it doesn’t, which means against more spacious and better finished rivals like the Hyundai Kona, and even entry-level Renault Scenic, it really has to be a heart over head choice.

Your money does, at least, bring a decent level of equipment in the Summit spec. This runs from a powered tailgate, adaptive cruise control and heated seats to LED lights, keyless entry, twin 10.25-inch screens, and a heat pump to maximise range in cold weather.

Verdict

Objectively, the Avenger, especially in this top-spec Summit trim, is a tough car to recommend.

It has limited space inside, some of the materials don’t match the price tag and the infotainment system is woeful.

But it also has an undefinable character and charm that make it oddly appealing, and its compact size and well balanced powertrain and chassis make it a surprisingly enjoyable and efficient drive.