Purr from a plug
Steve Teale hits the open road in the full EV version of the Jeep Avenger Summit, with 248 miles of range and a host of smart safety features for comfort.
IT was a car of the year and marked something of a landmark for one of the globe’s most famous brands. Jeep is so important in the world of motoring and, even though it is as American as they come, British drivers have great deal of affection for it, too. And while it may be a heritage brand to many, it remains relevant today, as the Avenger illustrates. It was crowned European Car of the Year for 2023 and was the first full-electric Jeep on the market. Then came the announcement that a petrol hybrid would also be created in limited numbers.
At least that shows Jeep is listening to customers and is prepared to adjust its electric-only mantra accordingly.
But I did put the full EV version to the test, a model which manages 248 miles on a full charge. It is a car which is capable and fun. Many manage one or the other but few combine the two.
True to the Jeep DNA, the Avenger offers impressive ground clearance, approach, breakover and departure angles for its segment. It also delivers a modern and technologically advanced interior with class-leading space for cargo and contents.
Jeep is aware of some of the issues regarding electric vehicles such as the time it takes to charge. So this model is fitted with a CCS 2 socket (Combined Charging System Type 2) enabling 0 per cent to 80 per cent charge in just over half an hour, or five minutes charge to get the average daily usage of 28 miles.
It is available in a choice of three colours (Sun, Graphite and Volcano), all with black roof, privacy glass and 18in alloy wheels.
The Avenger is equipped with standard SelecTerrain and Hill Descent Control, which, together with its outstanding approach and departure angles and the vehicle’s ground clearance, make it incredibly capable. This is not simply a fashion 4x4.
The Selec-Terrain system offers six modes: Normal, for everyday driving; Eco, to enhance range; Sport, for more driving fun; Snow, for maximum traction on icy roads or trails; Mud, to optimise mud performance and to enhance grip; and Sand, to limit the risk of becoming stuck on sandy soil.
It also features next-level safety and convenience features, including a 10.25in HD touchscreen Infotainment system, DAB, voice recognition, Apple Carplay/Android Auto, 360degree parking sensors and a 180-degree rear camera, level two autonomous drive (ACC with lane centring and traffic jam assist), wireless smartphone charger and keyless “entry & go”.
The Avenger also comes with blind spot monitor, an auto dimming rear view mirror, hands- free power liftgate, traffic sign recognition with intelligent speed assist and rain sensors.
So how did it shape up? Well, for a brand so rooted in petrol and diesel, the change to electric is a big move.
Underpinned by some familiar Stellantis hardware but redesigned to take in that more go-anywhere feel that people expect from Jeep, the Avenger is arguably one of the most important models for the brand to date.
It sits on the same platform as the one used on other Stellantis vehicles like the Vauxhall Mokka Electric. As such, it’s pretty tried and tested, but Jeep has made some serious tweaks to make it more of a car in its own right.
The front and rear overhangs have been shortened to improve the Avenger’s ability to handle steep climbs and descents, while there’s more plastic cladding to help make repairs cheaper should accidents happen.
It’s also impressively compact. Despite its chunky proportions, the Avenger is in fact shorter than Jeep’s Renegade. However, there’s been plenty of work put in to making it as practical as possible despite its size.
At present, the Avenger uses a single-motor set-up – there’s a dual-motor version in the works – with 156bhp and 260Nm of torque being produced and sent through the front wheels only. They’re relatively modest out
‘There are some nice nods to the past, such as the seven-bar grille motif (taken from the original Willy’s Jeep).'
puts for this type of vehicle, but thankfully the Avenger’s range is on-par with rivals.
With a 54kWh battery, Jeep says you should be able to get up to 248 miles of range from a charge or even more if you’re just doing city driving.
For an SUV, it feels more like a car than I would have imagined. The look of the Avenger is great. It’s got that chunky appeal that you’d expect from Jeep, but that also means that this little car has quite a lot of presence despite its size. There are some nice nods to the past, too, such as the seven-bar grille motif (taken from the original Willy’s Jeep) applied to each. The rear lights, with their X design, reference the fuel cans from the Willy’s, too.
Jeep has done well to extract as much space as it can from the Avenger’s interior. Its tall, boxy shape means there’s bags of headroom for both front and rear passengers, while those in the rear are adequately catered for in terms of legroom. There’s plenty of storage up front, too, with a good variety of cubby holes, pockets and bins. It’s a shame this isn’t continued to the rear, where it becomes a bit sparse, but you do get some USB-C sockets for charging devices.
At 380 litres, the Avenger’s boot is slightly larger than the one you’d get in the Hyundai Kona Electric – one of this Jeep’s main rivals – and there’s a handy split-level design so you’ve got somewhere to store the charging cables.
The electric car market is busy and competitive but there is always room for a smart option and this may be it.