Why the Jeep Avenger breaks new ground for iconic brand

Exploring new landscapes is nothing new for Jeep. Actually, that’s been a hallmark of the iconic off-road brand ever since its inception.

But its newest arrival, the Jeep Avenger, is wading into genuinely new territory.

For starters, it is the first Jeep to ever win the prestigious European Car of the Year award, in 2023 when the Avenger first launched. But, more significantly, it is Jeep’s first-ever dedicated electric vehicle.

And that’s a bold move, building on its portfolio of rugged four-wheel drives that have the ability to traverse wide open spaces to introduce a high-riding city car designed primarily for the urban jungle.

But coveted prizes like the European Car of the Year, as well as Top Gear’s 2023 Best Electric Car of the Year and Best Electric City Car, aren’t participation trophies, so the Avenger arrives in Australia with some serious credibility.

So, let’s check it out…

In Australia, the Jeep Avenger is offered exclusively as an electric vehicle, while in Europe it can also be had with a conventional petrol engine with a mild hybrid set-up.

Here, we have the choice of three distinctive variants with names that are familiar to other models from the iconic American off-road brand, starting with the entry-level Longitude from $40,000 drive-away.

Buyers can step up to the mid-grade Limited for an extra $5,000 or choose the flagship Summit that crowns the line-up for an extra $6,000 over the Limited.

Even in its most basic form, the Jeep Avenger Longitude comes equipped with a generous level of standard equipment that includes 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, keyless go, climate control air conditioning, funky cloth trim and twin 10.25-inch digital displays with a six-speaker audio system that features Bluetooth connectivity, embedded satellite navigation, wireless smartphone mirroring and DAB+ digital radio.

The mid-grade Limited model brings more features, such as plush mixed cloth and leather interior trim, the added convenience of a powered tailgate and keyless entry, plus a wireless phone charger and additional safety functions, which we’ll dig into in more detail later.

As its name suggests, the Summit sits at the top of the range and adds even more luxurious features, including larger 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, leather accented trim, power adjustment and a massaging function for the driver’s seat, heated front seats, privacy glass and a sunroof, as well as a host of exclusive exterior highlights.

The Jeep Avenger is offered in seven different colours, including three standout hues of Ruby (red), Sun (bright yellow) and Lake (a light forest green), with the Limited and Summit variants also available with a contrasting black roof.

The Avenger might be the smallest model in Jeep’s local lineup, which makes it ideal for tackling the tight confines of the urban jungle, but its cabin is much more spacious than you expect.

Unlike some of its direct rivals, the Avenger is a proper five-seat light SUV with generous headroom that suits tall adults in either the front or rear seats, with a surprising amount of kneeroom in the back too.

The seats are comfortable and supportive, with plenty of adjustment in the relationship between the driver’s pew and steering wheel to suit all sizes, and there’s excellent all-round vision through the expansive glasshouse with a commanding view of the road ahead.

Behind the 60:40 split-folding rear seat, the Avenger has a sizeable boot with 355 litres of cargo carrying capacity, which is more than some small hatchbacks and soft roaders in the class above.

The Avenger’s cabin also offers plenty of practical small item storage solutions, including a large bin at the base of the centre console, a separate compartment underneath, huge door pockets with bottle holders and a clever shelf across the dashboard for smaller items.

The overall design is as funky and fresh as the Avenger’s exterior, with high quality materials and tactile surfaces, and the light-coloured headliner adds to its sense of space.

And the digital elements set a new standard for Jeep, with high-resolution screens that feature that displays all the right information you need with a logical yet colourful menu structure.

All model variants of the Jeep Avenger are equipped with a comprehensive array of the latest in advanced driver aids, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, lane keeping assistance, a reverse parking display with rear parking sensors, automatic high beams and driver attention monitoring.

But the Limited and Summit variants add a few additional features on top of that, such as lane keeping assistance, traffic jam assist, blind spot monitoring and front and side parking sensors.

Owners also have access to the latest iteration of Jeep’s uConnect connected services and smartphone app, which allows remote access to the vehicle to lock/unlock the doors, start the climate control, check its location, charging status and an automated theft alert.

The Jeep Avenger is powered by a front-mounted electric motor that produces 115kW of power and 260Nm of torque, which gives it spritely acceleration from a standstill and makes it feel zippy around town.

The motor is provided energy from a 54kWh lithium-ion battery pack under the floor that delivers 396km of driving range in the Longitude and Limited models and 390km in the Summit.

It can be recharged using a maximum input of 100kW on a DC fast charger, with Jeep claiming the battery can be replenished between 20-80 per cent in just 24 minutes.

While the Avenger might only drive the front wheels, it retains a significant element of Jeep’s adventure-seeking spirit and is suitable for light-duty work off the beaten track with an impressive 200mm of ground clearance and accessible approach and departure angles thanks to the short overhangs. Plus, it features Jeep’s Selec-Terrain system with Hill Descent Control that uses the electronics to control the power delivery and braking to optimise traction in slippery conditions.

Like all dedicated electric vehicles, it depends on how and where you recharge the battery as electricity prices vary across different public charging networks and through home energy suppliers for on- or off-peak periods.

In any case, the Avenger is among the most efficient EVs with a claimed average energy consumption of 156Wh/km for the Longitude and Limited models and 158Wh/km for the Summit.

On top of that, it is also extremely affordable to own with Jeep, limiting the service costs to just $250 each for the first five years, with a prescribed schedule every 12 months or 12,500km.

All Avenger models are covered by a five-year/100,000km warranty and an eight-year/160,000km guarantee on the battery, and come with free roadside assistance for the life of the vehicle when maintained through the Jeep dealer network.

The Avenger is a groundbreaking vehicle for Jeep, moving into in the new age as the company’s first dedicated electric vehicle with a sense of European flair. Yet, it still carries the fun and adventurous hallmarks the iconic brand is recognised for.

It is cute on the outside, comfortable, practical and more spacious than you’d imagine on the inside and has a charming driving character that is polished yet peppy. Now is the perfect time to take one for a test drive. Explore more about the Jeep Avenger EV today.

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