A stark enterprise: the Avenger is Jeep’s first electric car

Electric

The Jeep Avenger is the US brand’s first fully electric car, and Jeep’s promising ‘outstanding’ off-road credentials

Say hello to “the new entry point” in the Jeep range. Nope, the all-electric Avenger isn’t chasing the premium SUV dollar that so many other manufacturers have gone after: at just over four metres long, this thing’s smaller than the already-quite-dinky Renegade.

Unveiled today at the Paris Motor Show, a single motor sends 154bhp and 192lb ft to the front wheels, and beneath the seats you’ll find a 54kWh battery good for 249 miles of range. However, Jeep is keen for you to know this’ll rise to 310 miles if you stick to urban driving.

Quite why you’d do this is perplexing, especially given that Normal, Eco and Sport driving modes are joined by, er, Snow, Mud and Sand. Jeep boasts ‘outstanding’ off-roading ingredients too, with ground clearance of 200mm and approach, breakover and departure angles amounting to 20, 20 and 32 degrees respectively.

This is also the first front-driven Jeep with the firm’s Selec-Terrain system and hill descent control included as standard; not the kind of things you typically need for a box junction. Riding on 18in alloys (the tyres themselves are 690mm wide), there are plenty of skid plates and ‘360-degree cladding’ to guard against bumps and scrapes.

Jeep has revealed three all-new electric cars

Inside you’ll get a 10.25in touchscreen and leather seats with massage function, although judging by the press release Jeep is more proud of the 34 litres of storage it’s crammed into the front. The class average is only 15 litres, it reckons…

“The new Jeep Avenger represents a key milestone for the brand as it is the first of a portfolio of all-new Jeep BEVs to be introduced in Europe,” said Christian Meunier, Jeep brand CEO. “It offers Jeep brand capability that is rightsized for the European market and at the Paris Motor Show, we are showcasing why it is a great all-electric Jeep brand alternative to current players in the B-SUV segment.”

UK reservations for the Avenger open in January 2023, and all-electric follow-ons are coming in the shape of the Recon and Wagoneer S in due course.

And before you ask, the Avenger’s assembled in Stellantis’ Tychy plant in Poland. Had to get a pun in there somewhere, didn’t we?