Overview
AT A smidge over 4 metres in size the compact Jeep Avenger is, properly, compact. However that’s to not say it isn’t sufficiently helpful – particularly as an around-town possibility.
Rivalling each historically powered Mild section SUVs just like the Kia Stonic, Mazda CX-3, Nissan Juke, and Volkswagen T-Cross, and electrical fashions together with the BYD Atto 3, Chery Omoda E5, and Leapmotor C10, the Jeep Avenger is an all-electric different that gives blocky styling, sensible packaging, and helpful ranges of know-how and connectivity.
The Polish-built and front-wheel pushed Avenger is accessible in three trim grades – Longitude, Restricted and Summit – and can ship a claimed driving vary of 390km from its normal 54kWh battery.
Common vitality consumption is rated at 15.8kWh per 100km – nearly bang-on what we achieved on take a look at.
DC quick charging at as much as 100kW is feasible, permitting for a 20 to 80 per cent cost time of 24 minutes. A full AC cost takes slightly below eight hours (at 7kW).
Constructed on Stellantis’ e-CMP2 platform, the Jeep Avenger is powered by a single ‘M3’ electrical motor producing 115kW of energy and 260Nm of torque claimed to supply a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 9.0 seconds.
The mannequin gives 200mm of floor clearance and a ten.5m turning circle and ideas the dimensions from 1520kg. It isn’t rated to tow.
Commonplace tools on the entry grade Avenger Longitude (from $49,990 plus on-road prices) consists of 17-inch alloy wheels, adaptive cruise management, autonomous emergency braking, material upholstery, lane conserving help, LED headlights, rear parking sensors, and a 7.0-inch digital instrument show.
Connectivity duties fall to a ten.25-inch touchscreen array with six-speaker sound, and wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
For the mid-tier Avenger Restricted grade (rom $54,990 +ORC), we discover additions reminiscent of blind-spot monitoring, material/artificial leather-based upholstery, entrance and aspect parking sensors, keyless entry and begin, lane centring help, a powered tailgate, rear-cross site visitors alert, and a bigger 10.25-inch instrument show.
The range-topping Avenger Summit (examined right here, from $60,990 +ORC) provides diamond reduce 18-inch alloys (with a restore package in lieu of a spare wheel), heated entrance seats, leather-accented upholstery, LED tail-lights, a power-adjustable and massaging driver’s seat, projector-style LED headlights, rear privateness glass, and a sunroof.
Obtainable color decisions embody Granite (Silver), Lake (Inexperienced), Ruby (Pink), Snow (White), Stone (Gray), Solar (Yellow), and Volcano (Black). A black roof will be optioned on chosen trim variants. Premium paint is a $990 possibility.
The Avenger requires servicing each 12 months or 12,500km (whichever comes first). Service prices are listed at $250 per go to. Lifetime roadside help is offered when the Avenger is serviced by way of a Jeep supplier.
The excessive voltage battery is warranted for eight years or 160,000km whereas the automobile is backed by the identical five-year/100,000km guarantee as the rest of the Jeep line-up.
Driving Impressions
From the kerb, the Avenger is a pretty, if blocky, SUV with a way of ruggedness to its front-end. Its compact dimensions are properly disguised, the mannequin showing greater than the spec’ sheet would in any other case recommend (4084mm lengthy by 1797mm extensive by 1534mm excessive).
Inside, the plasticky inside is sort of compact. It offers seating for 5 (4 comfortably) and 355 litres of cargo area with the 60:40 split-fold rear bench in place. The entrance seats are adequately proportioned, however the rear is somewhat tight, additional detracted upon by the omission of rear seat air flow retailers.
That stated, the beneficiant console storage bin, helpful door pockets and deep glove field give the Avenger a realistic edge many within the class can’t match.
On the dashboard, we discover twin 10.25-inch screens with Jeep’s Uconnect infotainment array entrance and centre. It gives distant entry performance, AM/FM/DAB+ radio reception, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, et al. It’s fairly easy to make use of with onerous buttons that let you return shortly to the house display.
Extra onerous buttons supply quick access to local weather management settings which we appreciated when on the transfer. Couple this with driver help and adaptive cruise management know-how that helps, not hinders, the Avenger’s interface makes a considerably welcomed change from others within the section.
We are saying considerably as a result of we discovered the transmission selector a tad clumsy and sluggish to reply. Altering route when parking is tedious, the P-R-N-D/B buttons stretched horizontally throughout the centre stack fairly counterintuitive when leaping in from different vehicles.
On the transfer, the Avenger gives progressive acceleration adequate for its software. The varied drive modes did little to vary response, our week with the automobile left predominantly in Regular mode and with beneficiant use of the ‘B’ (or braking) setting from the transmission.
Sadly, we really feel the steering is over-assisted and fairly disconnected by way of its communication with the motive force, which detracts from the Avenger’s in any other case assured dealing with.
Trip consolation is appropriate given the variants bigger wheel and tyre mixture, and tyre noise properly attenuated. A pity we are able to’t say the identical for wind rustle, which is obvious throughout the blocky cabin at speeds over 70km/h.
It was additionally disheartening to listen to some knocking from the rear suspension when countering bigger bumps.
In coming to relaxation, the Avenger gives respectable stopping energy from four-wheel discs, however like many electrical automobiles lacks naturality in its pedal stroke. We additionally reckon the pedal might use somewhat extra help, feeling a contact heavy and with extra journey than is right in around-town use.
However maybe what impressed us most in regards to the Jeep Avenger Summit was its potential to dwell as much as the producer’s vary claims.
Certain, vitality consumption of 15.8kWh per 100km may not be class-leading – particularly for a $61K automobile – however in religiously adhering to that quantity, and returning a driving vary of 390km, we’re as happy as will be anticipated.
Like all new automotive – and particularly any new electrical automotive – we might completely advocate a take a look at drive earlier than you signal on the dotted line.
There are many alternate options within the Mild and Small electrical SUV segments that provide extra for the cash than the Jeep Avenger.
As good-looking and as fuss-free because it could be, we simply can’t assist however really feel there are much better offers available, together with these from BYD (Atto 3 from $44,500) Chery (Omoda E5 from $42,990), Hyundai (Kona Electrical from $54,000), Kia (Niro EV from $45,000), Tesla (the bigger Mannequin Y is accessible from $55,900), and Volvo (EX30 from $59,990).
