New 2023 Jeep Avenger named European Car of the Year

The 2023 Jeep Avenger has been named European Car of the Year, marking the first time a Jeep has taken home the prestigious accolade in the award’s 60-year history.

Already on sale in Europe, Japan and South Korea and expected to land in Australia in 2024, the new battery-electric Jeep Avenger beat strong competition and scored 328 points from the 57-member jury representing 23 European countries.

In a distant second, the new electric Volkswagen ID. Buzz attracted 241 points, while another EV, the Nissan Ariya, finished third on 211.

This is the second year running all three podium winners were all-electric. The Kia EV6 won in 2022, with the Renault Megane E-Tech Electric and Hyundai IONIQ 5 second and third respectively.

This year, minor placings were taken by the Kia Niro in fourth and the combustion-powered Renault Austral in fifth.

The Peugeot 408 and the Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ4X twins followed.

From launch, the Jeep Avenger is available with a single-motor powertrain that generates 115kW, combined with a modest 54kWh battery.

The US brand claims its first EV can cover up to 402km between charges on the WLTP test cycle.

It is capable of being DC fast-charged at up to 100kW, with a 20 to 80 per cent top-up taking 24 minutes.

Jeep has already announced that a dual-motor version of the Avenger is on the way, while the larger Recon all-electric SUV will launch in 2024.

Established back in 1964, the first recipient of the European Car of the Year was the Rover 2000.

This year the number of judges eligible to vote was reduced from 61 to 57 following the suspension of Russia.

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