Let’s face it, when it comes to rugged, off-roading American vehicles, Jeep is the goto name. It’s a brand that’s synonymous with the great outdoors and for the likes of the Wrangler, conjures up images of surfboards and endless Californian summers. But what if you want an EV, live in the city, and have no intention of hitting the dusty trail? Well, now there’s a Jeep for that too.
With a name that had me thinking of Purdey (yes I’m that old), the new Avenger is a more domesticated model than a fully-fledged trail-rated machine, and while it’s not been created to conquer the wildness, it’s still very Jeep-ish, certainly in the looks department – it’s just kinda ‘shrunk in the wash’.
The grille is a brand-mandatory 7-slat affair, although more for visual effect than actually a grille (it is an EV after all) while the headlights and DRL’s have been slightly recessed for added protection. The bonnet has been sculpted for masculinity and the wheel arches have been flared, wide enough to cover the 18-inch polished alloys that the EV Avenger rides on.
In terms of dimensions, this urban Jeep is not exactly what you’d call a Gladiator, however, its 4.08m length x 1.53m height makes it pocket-sized and great for those Mall spaces and garages. Added to this, its profile comes with very short overhangs front and rear (very Jeepy), and perfect for those steep driveways. The rear doors have a handle that’s up near the roofline, I guess for when fording rivers (joke), while the rear comes with more protection – lights and lower valance – a roofline spoiler, plus a kicker tailgate that opens to 380L of space.
My review model came in ruby red, which contrasted well with the black accents and protective lower trim. However, for those that want to stand out further, there are ‘sun yellow’ and ‘ceramic azure’ options – yes there are more sedate colour combos too. Of particular note, inside and out, is that the creative team at Jeep have added sooo many easter eggs (Jeep inspired images) to this SUV, they are quite literally everywhere.
To get some of the techy stuff out of the way, the Jeep Avenger sits on an EV platform that is shared across a range of Stelantis products, such as the Peugeot 2008, and the behind the scenes is a 54kWh battery capable of taking you 402km (mine claimed 400km at 99%). Powering the front wheels is a 115kW/260Nm electric motor married to a single gear reducer transmission that will take you from 0-100km/h in 9 seconds and up to 150km/h, so not neck breaking in acceleration, but fast enough to lose your licence.
Step Inside and you’re greeted with a somewhat traditional Jeep layout, surprisingly un-ev. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still modern, just not all big-screeny or space-age. The seats are black leather and sporty (powered, heated and massage for the driver), there’s a 10.1-inch touchscreen for the infotainment and digital instrument cluster (10.25-inch) that has an all-terrain graphic as a background. There’s Apple and Android connectivity, a 6-speaker stereo and more than ample ADAS (Driving and Safety Aids), that are not too annoying.
The front seats offer plenty of room for driver and passenger, but it has to be said that this is a compact SUV, so you may need to compromise comfort for space should you wish to call this a 4 or 5 seater.
The start up is a little delayed, (those that have been in a modern Peugeot will understand) and the Drive (DNRP) is selected by pushing a button on the dash, from there on in, it’s a driving experience that attracts looks and puts a smile on your face.
The first surprise for me was the indicators, rather than having an old-fashioned tic/toc, they come with a beat and are amplified through the speakers, it immediately had me tapping the steering wheel and I looked forward to turns (even Beemer drivers would use them). The seating position is satisfyingly SUV-like, with good visibility all round. The steering is tight enough for downtown manoeuvres, and the camera/sensors are again, not too sensitive.
Driving information is delivered well on the instrument cluster, with a power/eco/charge gauge on the left and battery level on the right, and should you be brave enough, the driving modes will have you heading into sand, mud and snow. I preferred to stick to sealed roads.
Wind noise is apparent and so too is the road below, but I found comfort in this, I want a Jeep to include its surroundings!
To me, the Avenger is for those that want an EV Jeep on their driveway but only venture (or adventure) into the urban jungle. It has ample range and an entertaining spirit. Sure there are less pricey EVs on the market, but do they have the look and heritage that comes with being Jeep-ish? I thought not. Like I said, the Jeep Avenger is very Purdey.
And for those that want to know about its range, my journey began with 400kms (99%) and when I recharged at 26% I had 76km of range left having only physically travelled 218km. So yes, the range was quite considerably off, but I had been testing its sprint and sport credentials and venturing up and down SH1 – not exactly ideal circumstances for an EV.
