Read Caroline’s Jeep Avenger review for everything you need to know about buying Jeep’s new small SUV in Ireland.
Jeep is one of the world’s most iconic car brands, famous for building tough off-road vehicles and the legendary Willys Jeep.
These days most Jeeps are more likely to find themselves on terra firma. But the lasting impression of Jeep’s off-road expertise and iconic styling is what makes the brand stand out. You could say Jeep was building SUVs before the world knew what an SUV was.
Yet the years have not been so kind to Jeep. In the Irish market at least it’s failed to capitalise on the appetite for SUVs that’s seen sales of vehicles like the Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai and Hyundai Tucson rocket.
Until now. Because with the Avenger, Jeep has a car that feels like one of its best yet.
Let’s take a closer look.
What’s so special about the Jeep Avenger?
Styled as a small SUV, the Avenger packages all the familiar Jeep design cues into something very good indeed. If you admire the rugged, chunky looks of the Jeep Compass and Renegade, but fancy something more modern and electric, then the Avenger is beckoning you down to your local Jeep showroom.
Priced from €35,995, the Avenger comes to market in Ireland powered by a 54kWh battery. It has an official range of up to about 400 kilometres on a single battery charge. Petrol versions are likely to arrive later.
That puts it squarely up against the likes of the Peugeot 2008 and Opel Mokka, which it shares quite a lot with, including the battery and underpinnings. But there’s also a whole host of other small crossovers and SUVs to conquer like the Ford Puma, Hyundai Kona, Toyota Yaris Cross and the Volkswagen T-Cross.
But if you fall for the diminutive Jeep, that will be it and there’s plenty to like about it. At the front, it gets Jeep’s famous seven-slot grille, which somehow makes it look more authentic than any of its rivals. Clever features include slightly recessed headlights and plenty of plastic cladding to protect the paintwork from bumps and scrapes in the urban jungle.
16-inch alloy wheels come as standard on the entry level Longitude model (from €35,995). There’s 17-inch on the mid-level Altitude (from €39,495) and 18-inch diamond cut on the top spec Summit (from €42,495).
Inside the Avenger
The cabin feels cool and contemporary, with a 10-inch touchscreen as standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as voice control that responds to ‘Hey Jeep’. It is quite minimalist in its design but there are shortcut buttons under the touchscreen to adjust the fan speed and temperature, for example.
There is quite a lot of black hard plastic used in the doors and the dashboard, which is a little drab and uninspiring for a car that looks so cool from the outside. If you go for the mid-level Altitude model, there’s a silver finished dashboard panel. Opt for the Summit model and this is painted the same colour as the car, which goes some way to brighten the atmosphere.
The Avenger has a lot of storage space up front for a small car including a large cubby where you might traditionally find a gear selector (this is done by a simple row of buttons instead).
The seats of the Altitude model are finished half fabric/half vinyl, but there is the option to upgrade to black leather.
Standard equipment includes automatic climate control, keyless start, cruise control, drive modes and a hill descent control. Altitude adds features such as wireless smartphone charging and a reversing camera. But for heated seats, you have to go for the Summit model!
Is it practical?
The Avenger is quite a small vehicle really. It measures just 4.08 metres in length and 1.78 metres wide. The back seat will be most comfortable for two people. Headroom is generous enough for even adults. But some rivals like the 2008 and the Kona offer more legroom and a greater feeling of space.
At 355 litres, the boot is on the smaller side among rivals though there’s still space for a few bags or suitcases. Altitude and Summit models also come with a handy powered tailgate.
Driving the Jeep Avenger
The Avenger is designed and built in Europe. It marks the next phase of the electrification of the Jeep brand, which started with plug-in hybrid versions of the Compass and Renegade.
While petrol versions are likely to join the range later, the Avenger launches here with a 54kWh battery (51kWh usable) that gives up to about 400 kilometres of range depending on the model.
The battery is paired with a 156hp electric motor that sends power to the front wheels.
Being a Jeep, there are a few tools and tricks that give the Avenger a little more capability than your average crossover. For a start, it has about 200mm of ground clearance, which is more than rivals. As well as standard Normal, Sport and Eco driving modes, there’s Mud, Snow and Sand settings for a little extra traction on low grip surfaces. There’s even a hill descent control to make it easier to drive down steep inclines, should you need it.
The Avenger feels nifty and agile from behind the wheel, as you would expect from a small SUV. There’s plenty of performance for town and city driving, as well as motorways. The Sport mode makes the Avenger a little sprightlier. But it’s fine to drive in the Normal, or even Eco mode, to encourage gentler driving and get the most out of the battery range. A ‘B’ mode increases regenerative braking.
It’s built on the Stellantis Group’s new e-CMP2 modular electric platform that underpins some other well-known crossovers like the 2008 and Mokka. But for the Avenger, it’s been tuned with 60% Jeep-specific parts. There’s also a flat underbody to protect the battery and improve aerodynamic efficiency. The specially tuned suspension gets increased damping force to make it more comfortable on- and off-road.
DC fast charging is possible up to 100kW, while AC charging is possible up to 11kW.
Did you like it?
The Avenger really excels in the sophistication of the drive it offers. It’s very comfortable and refined at speed, not feeling too stiff or firm over Irish road surfaces. There’s lots of grip in cornering and the steering is nicely judged for this size of car.
There’s a heat pump as standard for more efficient heating of the car, especially in winter. The Avenger proves to be very efficient, particularly in suburban driving. Over a week of driving I averaged an impressive 14.3 kWh per 100 kilometres.
Jeep has committed to be a 100% electric car brand in Europe by 2030. Expect to see many new models arriving here over the next few years.
The Avenger feels like the right car at the right time. It’s one of the brand’s most competitive new models in quite a while, stacking up well against rivals – despite being on the small side. But with those charming good looks, it’s definitely one worth considering.
Model tested: Jeep Avenger Altitude
Price: €39,495
Battery: 54kWh (51kWh usable)
Range: 394 kilometres (WLTP)
Power: 156 hp
Torque: 260 Nm
Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 9 seconds
Motor Tax: €120 per year
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Written by Caroline Kidd
Founder and Editor of Changing Lanes, Juror for Irish Car of the Year