2024 Jeep Avenger review: Can this pint-sized high-priced American EV take the fight to China?

November 30, 2024November 30, 2024 Matt Campbell 124 Views 0 Comments Avenger, jeep

This little SUV is a big deal for Jeep. The Avenger is the first all-electric vehicle from the brand and it is also the smallest Jeep model ever.

With compact dimensions it is bound to appeal to city-based customers, and may indeed be a good fit for those who are more likely to drive to the airport for a getaway than hit the open road.

Given the Avenger’s relatively limited EV driving range that might be a challenge.

But it’s a cute little thing with great design charm and it’s more practical than you might expect.

2024 Jeep Avenger price and equipment

There are three grades of Jeep Avenger on offer in Australia – and before Jeep even launched this model here, it cut prices by $4000. I reckon they should have gone harder with the cuts, because it’s still relatively expensive.

The base model Longitude starts at $49,990 plus on-road costs, and it has a host of decent standard gear.

The list includes 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic high-beam LED lights, cloth seat trim and manual front seats, a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

There’s a heat pump for cooler days and climate control air-con, keyless start. It also has Jeep’s connected services program, meaning it’s online and can connect to your phone.

The Jeep Avenger Limited is $54,990 plus on-roads. It sewaps to a different cloth trim with fake leather elements and a larger 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.

It adds a wireless charging pad, second-row USB ports, a height-adjustable cargo floor and hands-free power tailgate, as well as passive entry.

The flagship Summit costs $60,990 plus on-roads, and gets 18-inch diamond cut alloy wheels, LED projector headlamps, LED tail lights, LED fog lights with cornering function, a gloss black seven-slot grille, a two-tone finish with black roof at no extra cost and a sunroof,

Leather-accented seats including a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with massage function, heated front seats and a heated windshield are also included.

All models in Australia have a 54kWh gross nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery pack, with a driving range of between 390km and 396km depending on the version chosen.

Strangely, the base model is limited in terms of AC charging to just 7kW, while the mid- and high-spec grades get 11kW charging capability, which allows a full charge in five hours 34 mins. Rapid charging caps out at 100kW DC, and the brand says the 20-80% charging time is just 24 mins at the maximum rate.

The electric motor is mounted at the front and has a modest 115kW of power and 260Nm of torque. It drives via a single speed reduction gear transmission. No locking diffs or transfer cases here!

The 0-100km/h time is a sluggish 9.0 seconds.

It is a light little thing for an electric SUV, at 1520kg tare mass, and it is a minute thing at just 4084mm long (on a 2557mm wheelbase), 1797mm wide and 1534mm tall.

The interior is well considered, with lots of loose item storage up front including a shelf on the dashboard, an open area between the seats that is big enough for a handbag, and the expected bottle and cup storage – but note, the centre cupholders can be fiddly with two coffees in play.

The rear seat has no storage pockets in the doors and the trim is hard all the way down the door, so it’s not really pleasant. But there is a reasonable amount of space, and directional air-vents make it more usable. The requisite ISOFIX points are present in the window seats, and it has three top-tethers. Those with big feet may trip over the door sills, which are very tall – a hangover from the architecture being shared with the also-stumblable Peugeot e-2008.

Boot space is decent, with 355 litres of cargo capacity on offer. There is space in there for cable storage, and there is no frunk.

The Jeep Avenger scored a less-than-excellent three-star Euro NCAP rating in 2024, and it is not yet clear if it will carry that rating over during the reassessment by ANCAP, which is underway right now. Even so, its advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) includes autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control.

But keep in mind, the base model has reversing sensors and a rearview camera, while the upper grades have front and side parking sensors, plus they add a more advanced cruise control system with active lane keeping and traffic sign recognition.

The warranty for this Jeep is the same as other models, at five years/100,000km, while there is an eight-year/160,000km warranty for the battery pack. There is a capped-price servicing plan for the first five years, and the cost is $250 per visit for that period. But keep in mind, it has short service intervals for an EV – every 12 months/12,500km. There is roadside assist for five years, too.

2024 Jeep Avenger: What we think

While it isn’t a Jeep as we know it, the Avenger comes across as a terrific option as an urban SUV.

It is a great size for parking duties, it’s easy to drive, has 200mm of ground clearance to jump the occasional gutter, and it disposes of speed humps and sharp edges with ease.

Indeed, the suspension is a highlight at all speeds, with a comfortable, cushy ride that is at odds with some of the other vehicles in the segment that can feel overly firm and sharp.

The steering is a bit hard to judge at higher speeds, with a little bit too much play when you’re aiming to turn the wheel just a little bit to adjust your line. In urban settings though, it is easy to manipulate and simple to manage in car parks. The vision from the driver’s seat is decent, too, despite there being no surround-view camera.

As for the acceleration it once more comes down to the urban-friendly factor. It’s zippy enough when you’re on and off the throttle, but feels comparatively slow when you plant your foot from a standstill and try to hit 100km/h.

For the most part the driving safety tech is well judged, too, and of course it has regenerative braking – but when you’re using your foot to brake, it can be a little hard to modulate the pedal.

2024 Jeep Avenger: Verdict

Jeep’s first electric vehicle in Australia is a cute, fun, comfy and likeable little nugget. It would be a terrific small electric SUV for those looking for a suburban or in-town runabout, and who aren’t afraid to spend a lot more and get a fair bit less than what some of the rivals offer.

In my mind the pricing is prohibitive – if it were $10,000 less it would be considerably more competitive in the current EV landscape.

SCORE: 3.5/5

2024 Jeep Avenger price and specifications

Price: From $49,990 to $60,990 plus on-roads
Basics: EV, 5 seats, 5 doors, SUV, FWD
Range: 390km WLTP (Latitude and Summit), 396km WLTP (Longitude)
Battery capacity: 51kWh
Battery warranty: Eight-year/160,000km
Energy consumption: 15.8kWh per 100km (Latitude and Summit)
Motor: 1 front, 115W/320Nm
AC charging: 7kW (Longitude), 11kW (Latitude and Summit) Type 2 plug
DC charging: 100kW, CCS combo plug
0-100km/h: 9.0 seconds