Jeep Avenger: style, zero emissions and a touch of heritage

The new Jeep Avenger is aimed at buyers who want style, zero emissions and a little heritage. It is an object of desire, and its price reflects that.

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The new Jeep Avenger has all the ingredients to become a “case study”. When we think of Jeep, we picture American-style off-road vehicles with huge combustion engines, built to cross the world.

Yet the new Jeep Avenger fits none of those descriptions. It is electric, measures only just over four metres long and, even so, is instantly recognisable as part of the Jeep family. The brand’s styling cues undoubtedly help, but there is something more profound at work.

Even from behind the wheel, I found clear Jeep DNA, despite this being the brand’s first fully electric model. Later in this article, I explain why, following two days spent with it ahead of its arrival on the Portuguese market.

These are my first impressions:

A pleasant interior, but…

In Portugal, the Jeep Avenger will start at €39,700. The brand will not offer the entry-level trim in the country, nor will it sell the petrol-engined versions there.

That said, this figure is in line with other fully electric offerings in this segment, including its platform-sharing sibling, the Peugeot e-2008, and the Mazda MX-30.

However, while the price is competitive, it is difficult to ignore the feeling that the materials could have been selected more carefully. They are not poor, but they fall short of the level of quality expected from a car priced at almost €40,000.

Fortunately, as I mention in the featured video, this is one of the very few criticisms I can level at the Jeep Avenger’s cabin. Its assembly quality, equipment levels, technology and available space are all strong points.

Jeep has done an excellent job of making the most of this SUV’s four-metre length, using Stellantis’s e-CMP2 platform. This is evident both in the passenger space and in the boot capacity, which rivals that of compact estate cars from the segment above.

Jeep driving character? Yes

At the beginning of this piece, I mentioned that something about the way this Jeep Avenger drives takes us into the world of the American brand, even though every component comes from the Stellantis universe.

First, there is the Jeep “aura” conveyed by the many exterior and interior details. Then there are a few adventure-focused touches - not intended for off-roading, but for urban life - that reinforce that impression.

The entire bodywork is protected by black plastic in the areas most exposed to knocks and dents, helping to prevent damage to the painted panels. From any angle, the first surface likely to meet another car or a wall is always plastic. Our wallets will be grateful.

It may be a minor detail, but it makes you feel more confident about using it in a more relaxed way… like a Jeep. After all, driving in the city is increasingly an adventure.

Then there is the dynamic side. As I explained in the featured video, the Jeep Avenger’s handling deserves nothing but praise. It is predictable, safe and even enjoyable. At the same time, ride comfort has not been compromised. I do not know how, but Jeep has resolved this balance extremely well, giving us the best of both worlds.

Part of the explanation surely lies in the number of upgrades received by this “version 2.0” of the e-CMP platform. Jeep has revised more than 55% of this platform’s components, and the result is clearly apparent from the driver’s seat.

Jeep Avenger price

As already mentioned, although it is not inexpensive, the Jeep Avenger is priced in line with its direct rivals.

There will be no petrol-engined versions in Portugal, leaving only the more expensive electric models. The price rises, but the quality of the interior materials remains the same.

For this amount - or even less - there are other options available to buyers seeking a fully electric car. But the Jeep Avenger is not for someone who simply wants an electric vehicle; it is for those looking for something more.

It is for people who want to stand out from the crowd, value design and want to drive a product that makes a style statement. In practice, it is the Fiat 500 formula applied to the Jeep universe. Will it work? I have very few doubts.