The introduction of the Jeep Avenger crossover is an important event for the brand in Europe and Ukraine: a novelty in the popular B-SUV segment, the first Jeep electric vehicle, and a focus on the youth audience. Needless to say, this compact crossover has so much inner strength that it even won the European Car of the Year competition in 2023. Thanks to what? And does the new Jeep Avenger have any disadvantages? Let's take a closer look - in the format of a detailed review!
Design: a successful imitation of older brothers
The Jeep Avenger crossover is very small in size, but it carefully tries to imitate the corporate design of older cars. Of course, the first item is the 7-window grille (which in the case of the Jeep Avenger is generally made as a blank panel); but it is also worth noting the headlights with horizontal turn signal "eyebrows" and massive wheel arches. Then it gets even more interesting: here are the headlights with an almost X-shaped pattern of elements inside; here are the hidden tailgate handles next to the wide roof pillar; here are the wheel disks with a symbolic image of the car's grille and headlights.
However, it is especially worth noting that in the case of the Jeep Avenger, design is combined with practicality. For example, black plastic overlays serve as the basis for another "Jeep" inscription and at the same time wrap around the entire lower perimeter of the body - without any extra space for painted metal elements. The headlights are slightly recessed for better protection against damage from branches if you have to drive along a forest path. The fog lamps also have an additional side light function. The lower parts of the bumpers are specially chamfered to improve entry and exit angles. Even looking a bit into the future: the Jeep Avenger 4xe with all-wheel drive has already been presented, and this crossover gets a matte anti-reflective hood sticker. That is, this is the case when design and functionality go hand in hand.
The Jeep Avenger crossover is memorable for its expressive design, there are a lot of interesting elements that have been placed in small dimensions: length - 4.08 meters; width - 1.78 meters; height - 1.54 meters; wheelbase - 2.56 meters. The ground clearance is 197 mm, the entry angle is 19 degrees, the exit angle is 33 degrees, and the ramp angle is 20 degrees. There is a place for interesting amusements, such as a man with a telescope, as well as for numerous inscriptions Jeep literally everywhere. However, it seems that the crossover Jeep Avenger is trying to convince both itself and us that I am a real Jeep!
All of these Jeep inscriptions can be found in the car's interior: on the side projection of the front panel, which looks like a boom box speaker; on the seat and steering wheel, as expected; and on the magnetic curtain of a huge box that found a place on the center console. Also hidden inside this box is a 15 W wireless charger (although it's not very convenient to reach for it). Attention is also drawn to the strips of background lighting in the cabin, the color of which can change depending on the driving mode. The eye also stops at a pair of 10.25-inch displays (both with a resolution of 1920x720 pixels), which have good graphics and logical presentation of information; in addition, the multimedia system menu can be customized at your own discretion. Also worth noting as a plus is the presence of a bunch of physical buttons for controlling the climate system. In terms of the number of interesting details, the interior of the Jeep Avenger is not inferior to its exterior!
But paying attention to the little things and nuances can lead to overlooking other things. For example, the fact that the interior trim is almost universally made of hard plastic, plus a rather simple gray and silver décor, as if it were a common painted element. The leather on the seats is also quite simple and rough; although, perhaps, this is typical for most American cars. There is not much space and amenities in the back: adults can sit here, but there is not enough legroom and headroom; and among the additional amenities, there is only one USB Type-C port and a couple of pockets on the backs of the front seats. However, the trunk is undeniably good: a considerable volume (380 liters), a two-level floor, a pair of hooks for packages, and an electric lid.
The interior of the Jeep Avenger combines design and practicality well: many interesting stylistic elements are supported by numerous niches and physical buttons for things, as well as a well-designed trunk. However, the amount of space in the rear and the interior materials are noteworthy. For example, the related crossover Peugeot 2008 (both cars are built on the same platform and the brands are part of the Stellantis concern ) does not allow itself to do so - its interior is clearly of higher quality. Do you know why? Because inside Jeep Avenger is not so much a Peugeot 2008 as a FIAT 600: the front panel and center console are almost identical, only the ventilation deflectors and instrument cluster differ. It seems that the crossover Jeep Avenger is built on the SMR platform (which traces its lineage back to PSA Peugeot Citroen), but the development and production were entrusted to FIAT; especially if we take into account the place of production of the car - at the Polish plant Stellantis in Tychy, which has been cooperating with FIAT since the early 1970s .
Technology: a familiar platform, the latest hybrid
As it has already become clear, the Jeep Avenger is built on the well-known SMR platform: a load-bearing body, independent front suspension and semi-dependent rear suspension, transverse installation of engines; usually it is a gasoline 3-cylinder 1.2-liter turbo engine, occasionally there is a 1.5-liter turbodiesel engine. The Jeep Avenger crossover has a 2.56-meter wheelbase and very small overhangs (for this purpose, other crash boxes were made in front and behind), which reduced the overall length: this is important for the European market. As well as the availability of an all-electric version of the Jeep Avenger Electric on the eSMR platform with a 115 kW electric motor and a 54 kWh battery - such a technique has already been seen in the Citroen e-C4. But what we see for the first time in the Jeep Avenger is the latest hybrid based on a 1.2-liter gasoline engine. This is the kind of hybrid that is already becoming widespread in Europe and is expected to become widespread in Ukraine for many Peugeot, Citroen, and Opel models; therefore, the issue of hybrid technology is very important.
So: the basis is a 1.2-liter gasoline turbo engine of the EB2 series, also known by the more generalized name PureTech. Moreover, the hybrid powertrain uses a significantly modified engine: a timing chain instead of a belt, a dual variable valve timing system, Miller cycle operation, and a variable geometry turbine. Depending on the specific version and the level of maximum power, the engine as part of the hybrid system is designated EB2LTEDH2 (100 hp and 205 Nm) or EB2LTDH2 (136 hp and 230 Nm); in the case of the Jeep Avenger test vehicle, we have a 100-horsepower version of the hybrid powertrain.
The hybrid component is powered by an electric motor integrated into a 6-speed eDCT robotic gearbox with a pair of clutches developed jointly by Stellantis and Punch Powertrain. This electric motor (from VITESCO) has a power of 21 kW or 29 hp and develops 55 Nm of torque. However, it operates only at low speeds and revolutions, when the gasoline turbo engine has not yet reached its maximum power and torque. Therefore, it is not possible to add power and torque here - accordingly, the electric motor and the gasoline turbo engine should be separately noted. In addition, it is worth noting the starter (from VALEO) with a belt drive, as well as a 48-volt battery to power the hybrid system and the starter. The nominal capacity of the battery is 0.89 kWh, while 0.43 kWh is actually used. However, according to the manufacturer's promises, even this should be enough to cover up to 1 km of range on electric power alone. In general, the hybrid system should help reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 20% compared to a similar car/engine without a hybrid component, and should also provide up to 50% of the time in the city on electric drive: parking, slow traffic in traffic jams, leaving the house territory, etc.
While earlier the description mentioned Peugeot and Citroencars , a closer look at the hybrid brings to mind theJeep Compass: a gasoline turbo engine, a robotic box with a built-in electric motor, and a small battery under the driver's seat to power the hybrid system. Which, by the way, adds about 60 kg for cars on the SMR platform and about 70-75 kg for cars on the EMR2 platform. Such a hybrid based on a 3-cylinder gasoline engine of different power (100 or 136 hp) in Europe is now appearing under the hoods of many B- and even C-class cars from the concern Stellantis: Peugeot, Citroen, Opel, DS, Jeep and others. A similar story is soon to happen in Ukraine - for example, the Peugeot 2008 with a 136-horsepower hybrid has already been announced. But now we are getting acquainted with the hybrid Jeep Avenger: it has a declared power of 100 hp (5500 rpm) and torque of 205 Nm (1750 rpm), acceleration of 0-100 km/h in 10.9 seconds and a top speed of 184 km/h, fuel consumption of 4.9-5.1 liters per 100 km in a mixed cycle. So...
Behind the wheel: a lot of nuances - pleasant and not so pleasant
I didn't change this phrase on purpose from the previous Jeep Compass review. Because, plus or minus, it's all the same for the Jeep Avenger. Let's start with the hybrid system.
When starting from a standstill and accelerating on the move, certain jolts, pauses, and vibrations are noticeable - either from switching between engines or changing gears: it's all difficult to catch and understand in a rather complex hybrid system. However, it is a fact that there is no softness of operation and interconnection of various elements (as is the case in Toyota or Hyundai hybrid systems). And there is no way to regulate energy recovery. Therefore, as soon as you release the accelerator pedal, you immediately get a noticeable slowdown. It would be nice to tie energy recovery to the DRIVE MODE system, which currently influences the reactions of the gasoline engine and the gearbox more. So I switched to SPORT mode and got sharper responses, minus one gear in the gearbox, and a feeling of greater dynamics.
At the same time, there is efficiency in the operation of this hybrid. It actually allows you to completely turn off the gasoline engine and drive on the electric drive, which means there is no fuel consumption. According to the on-board computer, I can drive up to 25-30% of my usual daily route in electric mode; for the sake of experimentation, I achieved a maximum of 40% of the journey exclusively on electric drive. Of course, then you need to press the accelerator and accelerate, the engine consumes a lot of fuel at this time. However, it is a fact that it has saved more fuel earlier, and in the end, all this contributes to improved efficiency.
And here's another fact - improved dynamics. When you start from a standstill, while the gasoline engine wakes up and starts to gain momentum, the electric motor already helps at least the first seconds of the start of the movement (by the way, at these moments, the characteristic hum of the electric motor is sometimes heard in the cabin). As a result, the Jeep Avenger justifies the promised dynamics while saving 1-1.5 liters of fuel in the city compared to the conventional Peugeot 2008 with a 130-horsepower 1.2-liter gasoline engine and automatic transmission.
The chassis setup is also nuanced. The car tends to lean in corners, it is somewhat shaken by gusts of side wind on the highway, and the light and not very sharp steering wheel (2.7 turns from stop to stop) also does not help create the impression of a youth sports crossover. Perhaps this is a setting with an emphasis on comfort and the most softened suspension? Alas, the signature soft ride of the "double chevron" is not here, and the balance of the "lion" has already been lost somewhere. So what is the most important thing about the Jeep Avenger's suspension? Probably, its resistance to bad roads: you fly and jump on pits, your eyes are frightened - but the small Jeep Avenger crossover confidently drives forward, almost like that big SUV! However, when these jumps are superimposed on a turn, the rear end can behave unstably. Nevertheless, it's already very interesting what the Jeep Avenger 4xe will offer, as it promises not only all-wheel drive but also an independent rear suspension. Oh, how complicated it is; it would seem that the Jeep Avenger was supposed to be just another compact crossover; but there are so many interesting details in this baby!
The hybrid powertrain lives up to the promised dynamics and does a good job of improving efficiency: in the city, the average is 7-7.5 liters per 100 km, the minimum was about 6 liters, the maximum barely exceeded 8 liters - not yet the efficiency of a turbodiesel, but noticeably better than the usual indicators for a 1.2-liter turbo engine. On the highway, when driving at 100 km/h, fuel consumption is 4.5-5 liters per 100 km. You can go even faster, there is a power reserve, there is enough traction for overtaking, and fuel consumption does not increase critically. However, already at 120 km/h there is a lot of aerodynamic noise, and the car is quite sensitive to gusts of side wind. The DRIVE MODE switch allows you to choose between three modes for normal daily driving and three modes for off-road driving. But, frankly, for normal daily driving, the regeneration control is not enough; and for off-road driving, all-wheel drive is not enough. Although the latter issue should be resolved in 2025. Read on!
Price: how much does Jeep Avenger cost and who are the competitors
In the Ukrainian market, the Jeep Avenger crossover is offered with two powertrains - a gasoline-electric hybrid or a fully 100% electric hybrid - and in two trim levels; therefore, we have four model variants in total. In fact, this is not a lot for the Jeep Avenger; after all, in other markets there are variants of the car with a conventional 1.2-liter gasoline engine and a manual transmission (simpler, but much cheaper), and now the Jeep Avenger 4xe with all-wheel drive and independent rear suspension (more complex and expensive, but with more features) is starting to be sold. By the way, the Jeep Avenger 4xe crossover is planned to be launched in Ukraine in 2025. However, these are all plans for the future; now there are only four versions.
The range is opened by the Jeep Avenger Altitudecrossover , which immediately offers a pretty good list of equipment: ABS and ESC systems, front and side airbags, inflatable side curtains, lane departure warning, road sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian or cyclist warning system with emergency braking, driver fatigue warning, six-drive mode selection system, climate control, rear parking sensors, heated front seats, digital color 10.25-inch instrument panel, multimedia system with a 10.25-inch touchscreen display and support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, combined seat trim (gray fabric and black synthetic leather), Eco LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, etc. The price of Jeep Avenger 1.2L e-Hybrid 100 DCT-6 Altitude - from 1.06 million UAH or $ 25.5 thousand.; price Jeep Avenger Electric Altitude - from 1.306 million UAH or $31.5 thousand.
One step up is the Jeep Avenger Summit, which adds the following: Lane Keeping Assist and Traffic Jam Assist, rearview mirror blind spot monitoring, keyless entry and push-button start, front and rear parking sensors, rearview camera, power trunk lid with touch-sensitive opening, interior background lighting, floodlights, adaptive high beams, fog lights with side beam function, 18-inch alloy wheels, and more. The price of Jeep Avenger 1.2L e-Hybrid 100 DCT-6 Summit - from 1.17 million UAH or $28 thousand.; price Jeep Avenger Electric Summit - from 1.37 million UAH or $33 thousand.
The Jeep Avengertest vehicle was presented in the maximum Summit configuration , which is visually recognizable by its searchlight LED headlights and 18-inch wheels; a digital instrument panel, multimedia system, climate control, heated seats - all of these are present in any version. Although even in the case of the maximum configuration, it is still possible to add various option packages, for example: leather seat trim with electric driver's seat and lumbar massage function (40 thousand UAH). UAH 40 thousand), JBL audio with a subwoofer, navigation system, road sign recognition with navigation display (UAH 34 thousand), two-tone body color with metallic paint (UAH 32 thousand) - that's 100 thousand more options; that is, the test car costs UAH 1.27 million.
What other cars can you buy for similar money? In fact, the B-SUV class is very large today, with a lot of competitors from different brands. I'll mention only five rival cars that have been reviewed recently and have certain key advantages - but this is enough to show the strong competition in this market segment.
First, it is worth noting the Toyota Yaris Cross: an efficient hybrid, also small in size from the outside and not very spacious inside, comparable or higher price. Secondly, let's mention a relative in the form of Peugeot 2008: attractive price and high-quality interior, a wide range of versions, including diesel and the latest hybrid. The third rival is the Skoda Kamiq: small updates inside and out, a small engine under the hood, focus on classic fans, and excellent practicality. The fourth rival is the Nissan Juke: very impressive from the outside, with a high-quality (but not very spacious) interior, only one engine option, and give or take comparable prices. Finally, the fifth competitor is the Suzuki Vitara: a rather old model, but with a good reputation in the market, a 4-cylinder turbo engine under the hood, plus modern equipment and the ability to choose all-wheel drive - and all for similar money. So...
