Overview

Jeep has come on a long way since it was born more than 80 years ago – a result of an Army request in 1940 for a general purpose vehicle that was small, lightweight, had four-wheel drive and was capable of carrying a light machine gun. Soldiers loved the little car because it could go anywhere and do almost anything – can the same be said about the Jeep Avenger Electric? Probably not but the brand says that its first-ever fully electric Jeep is intended to stand out and reflect the brand's values that forged its identity all those years ago – namely freedom, adventure, authenticity and passion. To discover if the Avenger actually showcases these attributes, we live with one as a family car for a week

Driving

It’s based on the same underpinnings as the Vauxhall Mokka Electric but Stellantis updated the e-CMP2 platform in 2023 with a larger 54kWh battery pack and a more powerful 156hp motor. That said things move on quickly in the car game and as a result the tech isn’t as good as what’s under the new smart #1 or MG 4 EV, for example. It’s not the fastest of EVs either, taking 9.6 seconds to reach 62mph, and while there’s enough power for most situations it does feel a little lacking when overtaking or pulling onto slip roads. To that end – you’ll probably want to keep it in Sport mode as Normal reduces it to 107hp and 162lb-ft (down from 192), while ECO gives just 80hp and 132lb-ft. It does feature as standard SelecTerrain and Hill Descent Control which, together with its impressive approach and departure angles and the vehicle’s ground clearance (200mm higher compared to most rivals), will offer more practicality over other soft SUVs off-road. In addition, there are Mud, Sand and Snow settings.

We didn’t try it over the rough stuff but I reckon none of its rivals could tackle a greenlane with as much confidence. Over our week with it we covered a good mix of twisty B roads and dual carriage ways, as well as tip, shop and school runs. Jeep’s engineers have also increased the damping force of the suspension by 20 per cent, which they say has reduced body roll and pitch. On good, smooth roads it feels flat and relatively planted, but the ride quality on less than perfect tarmac was uncomfortable although I should imagine on 16s – rather than the 18s that come with the top-spec car – it’s a lot better.

We liked the high seating position and the fact it felt easy to place on the road, and all-round visibility is brilliant. Unfortunately the steering is very vague and light – but on the upside it was good to drive around town and park up on the school run. The brakes feel spongey and the regeneration isn’t strong enough to allow for one-pedal driving. There are just two options – regular ‘D’ mode, which allows the car to coast more, or ‘B’ mode, which activates the regenerative braking. There’s also quite a bit of wind and tyre noise at speed. Although that won’t bother you as you’ll spend most of your time getting the rage about the indicators, which is like a two-tone intro beat to a song from a 1970s glam rock band – is it coincidence Jeep that it sounds like the opening of Jeepster by T. Rex?!

Range and running costs

Jeep has equipped its SUV with a 100kW fast charger, allowing for a minimum distance of 19 miles after just three minutes of charging, and a battery recharge of 20 to 80 per cent in just 24 minutes, and a claimed range of up to 249 miles. Better than the first gen Vauxhall Mokka-e and that’s down to larger 54kWh liquid-cooled battery pack, a more efficient electric motor and a standard heat pump. Using those numbers, Jeep reckons it will do 4.6 miles per kWh, however I averaged between 3.5 and 4 miles per kWh  giving a range of up to 215 miles, meaning quite a few rivals can go further and charge faster.

There is only one battery and three trim options – Longitude, Altitude and Summit, with the entry level starting at £34,800 and topping out at £39,599. That makes it more expensive than the smart #1 which we drove briefly at an event and loved (full review coming soon), Vauxhall Mokka Electric and MG ZS EV. It does however undercut the closely related Peugeot e-2008, Kia Niro EV and BYD Atto 3 (full review coming soon).

It’s competitively priced then, and if it’s the Jeep’s off road prowess and classic styling that tempts you over its rivals, you’ll be pleased to hear it is affordable to run as well. Whether you charge at home or a public rapid charger it’s cheaper than filling up a combustion engine SUV and it has an insurance group rating of just 24-25. As with all EVs the Jeep Avenger sits in the 2% Benefit-in-Kind tax bracket for company car drivers, while it’s also exempt from road tax, and those living or working in or around London won’t have to pay the Congestion Charge or fee to enter Ultra-Low Emissions (ULEZ) zones. Jeep recommends you service the Avenger every year or 8000 miles, which is quite short, but every new vehicle is sold with a complimentary three-year service package and one year’s worth of roadside assistance.

Design

Outside – it’s basically a modern interpretation of a Jeep but smaller. The front is dominated by the iconic seven slot grille, while other classic Jeep styling cues include the trapezoidal wheel arches and rear lights inspired by the classic X fuel cans. The 360-degree cladding, encased protected headlamps and 200mm of ground clearance means it’s more resistant to scuffs and knocks, so it’s practical as well. Those shorter front and rear overhangs add to the car’s chunky looks but also makes it better off-road, and the engineers had to redesigned the crash structures at the nose and tail, to be just as effective. Further reinforcing the point this is not just a carbon copy of the Mokka Electric, Jeep also had to alter the inner wings for bigger-diameter tyres and more wheel travel. It’s a tough looking thing and in our test car's Sun yellow and Volcano black two-tone scheme really stands out.

It’s just as practical and tough inside, too. In fact, it’s what I’d describe as utilitarian. There are hard scratchy plastics everywhere and the standard seats are cloth or vinyl which could be seen as cutting corners but it does give the impression it’s more hard-wearing. While our test car came with black leather with grey stitching and a yellow dashboard, which is slightly more pleasing on the eye, personally I’d prefer to see more premium soft-touch materials and better quality switch gear fitted as standard for a 40 grand plus price tag. Overall, it’s a cleanly executed design, comfortable and roomy, plus everything is logical and easy to use.

Comfort and practicality

While it’s hugely uninspiring it’s easy to get in and drive. There’s a simple row of climate control buttons in the middle of the dash and just below the 10.25 inch touchscreen, a bank of buttons including home (to instantly revert to the main screen and personalise the widgets) car (driver assistant systems), hazard lights and door locks. The infotainment system has decent enough graphics, is reasonably responsive and straightforward to use, although lacking in features – even sat nav isn’t standard but all cars do get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Longitude trim comes with automatic air/con, cruise control, keyless start, rear parking sensors and pedestrian and vulnerable road user recognition, and there are several option packs that'll probably give you everything you need without having to step up to the next trim level. The top of the range car features heated front seats, a wireless phone-charging pad, some extra comfort/functionality plus assisted driving technology and visibility aids as standard. Our car was spec’d with a few optional extras so the total cost is £42,125. And I could think of many more EVs at this price I’d rather have. Sorry Jeep.

I had to manually adjust my seat which I though was another piss take, and despite the fact Jeep raised the rear bench for extra legroom, space is still compromised because of the platform's combustion-engined roots it has a transmission tunnel (also means no frunk). It’s also a nightmare to trying to fit child seats. The ISOFIX points are hidden by small zips and you need tiny fingers to open them and when you do succeed trying to connect them with the prongs on the child seat base is another challenge in itself because of how they’re angled.

While trying to fit anything in the door storage compartments is pointless, the central console has been developed to maximise available usable space totalling 34 litres of storage, impressive considering the 15-litre average in the segment – my only criticism is the magnetic flap that conceals it feels and looks cheap. Boot volume is 120 litres smaller than the Kia Niro EV at 380 litres, but it’s not bad, and there's under floor space for charging cables. I had a huge clear out and managed to fit two bin bags and two carrier bags, plus a box of clothes and toys into the boot. Jeep also lowered the sill height to 720mm, and increased the width for easier loading.

Verdict

Jeep’s little electric SUV quickly became a runaway success receiving more than 40,000 orders in less than a year and winning various coveted awards. Although how much time those jurors spent in the car on UK roads is dubious…

It’s not particularly fast or entertaining, but it should be praised for its easy driveability round town and ability to go further off the beaten track than most other small electric SUVs. It’s not the most inspiring of cars to sit in but it’s practical and tough. While it started life as the shared platform of the Peugeot e-208 and e-2008, DS 3, Vauxhall Corsa Electric and Mokka, Jeep have done a lot of work to incorporates the brand’s DNA.

It has okay range and quick-enough rapid charging, too. I’m not sure how much the Avenger demonstrates the brand’s aforementioned four core values, but it really does embody the essence of the brand in combining capability, style, functionality and technology into a unique package. We’re just not sure that the real Jeep fanboys will be convinced, but then what old school 4x4 owner is even convinced by electric?!

Key Specs

2024 Jeep Avenger Electric Summit

Price (RRP OTR): From £34,800, £42,125 (model as tested)
Top speed: 93 mph
0-62mph: 9.6 seconds
Power: 115kW (156hp)
Torque: 192lb-ft
Driving range (combined): 249 miles
Charging time: 7.5 hrs (7.4kW, 0-100%), 5.5 hrs (11kW, 0-100%), 24 min (100kW, 20-80%)
Insurance group: 24 - 25
Vehicle warranty: 3 years / 60,000 miles
Battery warranty: 8 years / 100,000 miles (Jeep says it’ll recycle the batteries at the end of the car’s life, too!)