It is a very important moment for the Jeep brand right now, as Stellantis is in the midst of its 4xe Day. This is integral to the company’s future as the brand is accelerating towards a zero emission future, as are many car manufacturers around the world. We have already seen what Jeep can do when it comes to electric motors, with the hybrid Jeep Wrangler 4xe providing a glimpse to that. But now, Jeep is massively expanding its range of electric vehicles on offer.
During 4xe Day, Jeep has launched three all-new models. We have the Jeep Recon, offered as a battery electric vehicle. We also have the all-electric Wagoneer too, but the most important of them all is surely the Jeep Avenger. This is a vehicle Jeep describes as its first-ever fully electric SUV, and it is set to arrive in 2023 as a big player in the European market. Jeep is hoping that by 2030, all Jeeps on sale in Europe will be 100% electric. However, the Avenger has all the makings of a game changer in battery electric SUVs in its segment. While we don’t get too many details on the new car, we can still take a closer look at what it might have to offer.
A Big Step In The History Of Electric Jeep Vehicles
Jeep has described the Avenger as a bit of a baby SUV, an entry-level electric SUV that is actually the smallest the company has ever produced. By and large though, it is still a relatively big vehicle, but its size is more in-line of that of European vehicles. Jeep itself has said that it will be a fun, modern and emotional SUV and appeal to a growing set of customers. The younger market is one segment this SUV is particularly aimed at.
Its design is definitely quite funky and modern. The two-tone yellow and black the car is currently presented in with the official photos allow its lines to stand out. We have an average size air dam at the front below a smoothed out grille area, although it could have been further smoothed as this is an EV after all. The lines across the Avenger are very smooth, with reasonably sized wheel fenders not adding too much girth to the car. Overall, the size of the Avenger is quite similar to the Vauxhall Mokka, an EV that is from a fellow Stellantis brand. At least Jeep aren’t doing a Dodge and annoying a fellow Stellantis member with this SUV!
What We Know About The Avenger’s Power And Performance
Jeep says that this is more of a city-style SUV, think of it like a bigger and more spacious Renault 5 EV. To that end, the company says it should have roughly 400 kms of range, which will equate to around 250 miles. Even though this is a smaller SUV, the fact it is an SUV makes you wonder if it should have had more like 300 – 350 miles of range, with 250 maybe a bit on the short side. Still, it's much better than the Honda e’s range at least.
You aren’t going to get supercar levels of power with this SUV, but nor do you need it. Powering the Avenger are 94 hp motors, with either two or four available depending on the configuration you want. So you will get either 188 hp or 376 hp for your Avenger, which either way, is plenty. This does also mean that two-wheel and four-wheel drive versions are on offer, although again, as it is of course marketed as an SUV, shouldn’t all-wheel drive be the standard choice here?
A Younger Audience Is Jeep’s Key Target
Jeep is very much targeting a younger audience with the Avenger. But they actually say they are targeting a younger and more single audience as well as more likely female, for the Avenger. We would be very interested to know if the Avenger does indeed appeal to a younger and more female audience. It's an interesting strategy, but it could pay off, although, whether they are male or female, it is debatable if the new Avenger is exciting enough to appeal to that audience segment. The new Wagoneer S is perhaps a more interesting and exciting looking car.
A Step Towards Jeep’s All-Electric Future
The Avenger is part of the big step Jeep is taking towards its all-electric future. The company still has an unannounced electric model coming which CEO Christian Meunier says is a look into the future of the brand. With a statement like that, we are expecting pretty big things to come from this unannounced Jeep vehicle. The Avenger is perhaps not the most exciting car that Jeep has ever made. But it is their first all-electric SUV and that is a big deal, and it is an important step in the future of the brand. Bringing in a younger demographic will be vital for the brand, but to make that happen, the Avenger will need to offer real world usable range, fast charging times at an affordable price. Everyone has to start somewhere after all.
Source: Jeep