All-new small electric SUV takes Jeep in a new direction with European tastes in mind On sale May Price from £34,000 (est)
Mark Tisshaw Mark.Tisshaw@haymarket.com
THINK OF JEEP and you think of big, heavy, robust 4x4s, typically diesel-powered and not likely to trouble the sharp end of their class when it comes to fuel economy, emissions or, frankly, how appealing they are inside or to drive. This small, electric Jeep Avenger could be the antidote to all of that.
The American brand’s models are usually built with the very different needs of US buyers in mind, focusing on soft, long-distance comfort and maximum off-road capability. The Avenger, however, has been designed and engineered exclusively for Europe and is the first in a series of new models planned to bolster its appeal here. A petrol Avenger will also be available in some European countries, but not the UK.
The Avenger is closely related to the Peugeot e-2008 and Vauxhall Mokka Electric, but it’s slightly shorter, at just over four metres long, with short front and rear overhangs to help improve its off-road capabilities. The front-wheel-drive version that’s available from launch gets a 154bhp electric motor and a 51kWh (usable) battery that’s predicted to be good for up to 250 miles of range – a bit farther than the e-2008 and Mokka Electric can go between top-ups. Based on our testing on a mixture of roads, you can expect a real-world range of around 200 miles even in cool conditions. Maximum charging speed is the same as that of its stablemates (100kW); that means a 10-80% top-up at this rate should take around half an hour.
If you intend to venture far off road, you might prefer to wait for the four-wheel-drive Avenger that’s on the way, because that’s not really within the remit of the version we’ve driven so far. Despite having some capability off the beaten track with the help of hill descent control and driving modes including Snow, Sand and Mud, the Avenger has been created primarily to be good on the road. It ticks many boxes in this regard, being competent and easy to drive. Performance is reasonable at low speeds, making it effortless in stop-start traffic, only becoming a bit more laboured at higher speeds.
Previous Jeeps have tended to be quite crashy and noisy on lumpy roads, but not the Avenger. The ride is at the firm end of the scale, but the suspension is good enough at absorbing bumps to remain comfortable, even on its 18in wheels. Meanwhile, there’s plenty of grip when cornering, and although the steering is very light, the car is still easy to place because of its small size. Plus, the boxy
