On September 8, Stellantis unveiled a number of electrified vehicles, including the first Jeep EV, the Avenger. A month later, the Avenger made its public debut at the Paris Motor Show, flaunting a sleek aesthetic, smart interior, and decent powertrain.
The Avenger subcompact SUV is currently available to order in a number of European nations in the fully equipped 1st Edition trim level. One month after the initial reveal, the carmaker claims that the Jeep Avenger’s pre-booking phase has been a remarkable success, receiving more than 10,000 bookings.
Ordering for the Jeep Avenger 1st Edition, which starts at around $41,500, began a while back, and is open in Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, and Poland. Deliveries will begin in the second quarter of 2023.
With its style, tasteful tech, and efficient powertrain, we think the 2023 Jeep Avenger would challenge the Mazda MX-30 and the Hyundai Nexo on American soil. Here are some of the Jeep Avenger’s strong points, and why we wish it was available in the U.S. EV market.
The 2023 Jeep Avenger Is Incredibly Eye-Catching
Starting from the front fascia, the company’s seven-slot grille now has been cleverly integrated to represent the electrified powertrain. The side profile also pays homage to the classic Jeep, with an appropriately abrupt drop at the C-pillar, and the “X” taillights, which have been there since the company’s founding, have a modern update. Thanks to the body cladding’s clever positioning, car park scrapes are more likely to harm the raw gray plastic than the painted bumpers or headlights.
On paper, the basic specifications look promising enough. The brand built the Avenger on an upgraded version of the CMP platform from the parent company. The advancement of CMP has made it possible for reduced overhangs, which has improved the car’s approach and departure angles to match those of the bigger Jeep Renegade. This, along with some clever design work around the wheel arches, gives the Avenger a more grounded stance than previous vehicles on the same architecture, although having the same width.
The 2023 Jeep Avenger Makes A Strong Statement With Its Cool Powertrain
The Jeep Avenger comes with an all-electric drivetrain that is also used in other Stellantis EVs in Europe, such as the Peugeot e-308 or the recently launched Opel Astra Electric. It has a 54 kWh battery pack with 10 cell modules under the back seats and 7 cell modules under the front seats. It comes with a front-mounted electric motor with a 154 horsepower and 191 pound-feet rating.
In addition to three-phase AC charging, which is less convenient for some, UK customers also get a heat pump as standard equipment. According to the Automaker, the Jeep Avenger can charge a battery from 20% to 80% in 24 minutes with a fast charger. Jeep estimates that the car will be able to go around 249 miles between recharges, or 342 miles in stop-and-go urban traffic, which permits more frequent brake-energy recovery.
The Jeep Avenger is available solely in front-wheel drive configuration. Although an all-wheel-drive form of the Jeep Avenger isn’t currently offered, the manufacturer did display a 4×4 concept version of the vehicle at the Paris Motor Show. This means a 4X4 might be in the works, or is at least considered. In addition to the all-electric drivetrain, the Avenger is also offered in Italy and Spain with a 100-horsepower 1.2-liter turbocharged gasoline engine.
The 2023 Jeep Avenger Offers An Interestingly Designed Cabin And Decent Tech
With drive-selector switches in place of any kind of gear lever and traditional buttons for heating and ventilation, the Avenger’s dashboard is simple and tastefully designed. This is precisely what you’d expect from a company that places a strong emphasis on functionality. There are enough body-colored inlays to lighten the mood and patterned textures where there could otherwise be stark gray plastics, but the overall finish is more intelligent and stylish than opulent.
A single 10.25-inch entertainment system with Android and Apple integration and TomTom navigation sits in the center of the dashboard. The digital instrument panel will be the same size on more expensive models and seven inches on less expensive models. The interface on the center panel is sleek, and the system is highly responsive. Smartphones, wearables, and home assistants will also be able to access extensions of the software’s capability.
The 2023 Jeep Avenger Is A Capable Crossover EV
The Avenger’s three road-based driving modes allow for three different throttle calibrations, which contributes to this refined experience. Normal mode produces 107 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, while Eco mode produces 81 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. While the efficiency-focused option may seem a touch sluggish, the quick EV torque would probably still offer adequate pace in suburban traffic, should you want to squeeze every mile of range out of the vehicle. The default setting has enough punch to get you through any freeway.
You can position the Jeep precisely thanks to the steering’s constant weighting, satisfying amount of heaviness, and directness and speed. It performs an excellent job of keeping level through corners, and the chassis is also adjustable; if the nose does start to wash out into understeer, which is a normal and totally expected attribute if you’re acting badly, a mid-corner lift can help it get back in line. If the Jeep Avenger was available on the American EV scene, we think it would’ve confidently stood up to the Hyundai Nexo, the Chevrolet Bolt EUV, and the Mazda MX-30.
Source: Jeep
