Jeep Avenger review

Is the Jeep Avenger a good car?

Whether you choose the Jeep Avenger in petrol or all-electric forms, you’ll get an enticing small SUV with hidden depths beyond its attractive exterior. We’ve no doubt that a few examples of Jeep’s little bundle of joy will be sold based solely on how it looks, but the Avenger boasts much better tech than any of the brand’s previous offerings we’ve tested so far, and the EV version offers a usable range.

Sure, it’s not the Jeep you’ll want for tackling the Appalachian trail, but it feels right at home in the hustle and bustle of packed city streets, and is decent to drive. The addition of petrol-powered models has also made the Avenger more accessible, not least by bringing the starting price down. However, the limited space available for rear passengers will be a shortcoming that might rule this out for some potential buyers.

How much does the Jeep Avenger cost?

The Avenger was initially launched in the UK as an EV, but a cheaper petrol version has since arrived that starts at a little under £25,000, followed by a more efficient e-Hybrid at around £26,000. The fully-electric model costs around £30,000 before finishing just shy of £34,000 for a top-spec Summit model. The four-wheel drive 4xe version starts at around £31,000 in Upland form, before topping out at £35,000 for The North Face edition.

The Avenger is based on the same CMP/e-CMP platform as the Peugeot 2008, Vauxhall Mokka, Citroen C4 and DS 3, and their all-electric counterparts. Underneath the floor in the EV version lies a 54kWh battery pack that’s used to power the single electric motor that drives the front wheels. Some die-hard Jeep fans will see this as being sacrilegious, but a 4xe version with all-wheel drive using the e-Hybrid powertrain is also available.

The pure-petrol models feature a turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine and six-speed manual gearbox, while a mild-hybrid setup powers the Avenger e-Hybrid. This combines a 1.2-litre petrol engine with a 28bhp electric motor integrated directly into the six-speed automatic gearbox, and powered by a small lithium-ion battery. The hybrid setup offers the ability to drive at low speeds on pure-electric power but costs roughly £1,000 more than the regular petrol engine. 

The trim structure for the Avenger is straightforward: e-Hybrid and electric models are available in Longitude, Altitude and Summit trim, while the pure-petrol version can only be had in either Longitude or Altitude specifications. 

Entry-level Longitude models get 16-inch alloy wheels and automatic LED lights, plus a 10.25-inch central touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a seven-inch digital driver’s display, rear parking sensors, cruise control and a handful of other safety systems. Several drive modes, including specific settings for Mud, Sand and Snow, and a hill descent system, are also standard, so the Avenger should be able to handle a bit of wet or slippery terrain if the occasion arises.

Stepping up to Altitude adds a larger 10.25-inch digital dash, 17-inch wheels, keyless entry, adaptive cruise control, a power tailgate, different interior upholstery, and an additional USB port in the rear. Top-spec Summit cars get level 2 autonomous driving tech, 18-inch wheels, heated seats and a 180-degree reversing camera, among other extras. Option packs can be added to all trims, packaging key bits of kit together.

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The Avenger has a higher ride height than most small SUVs, affording a decent view out, while a four-wheel drive version promises more off-road ability than most. Performance is respectable, but the driving experience isn’t quite as polished as a Skoda Kamiq, nor as sharp as a Ford Puma. Read more about the Jeep Avenger's engines, performance and drive…

A wide variety of engine options allows for something to suit a wide range of buyers, from an all-electric for company car users, to an efficient hybrid, or a more affordable petrol. Insurance costs aren’t going to challenge those of the SEAT Arona or Renault Captur. The electric version has a respectable range and reasonably fast charging speeds. Read more about the Jeep Avenger's MPG, emissions and running costs…

The Avenger follows on from other Jeeps (such as the Renegade) in featuring plenty of ‘easter eggs’ inside and out to remind people of iconic Jeep models – and giving children something to look for on longer trips. Besides featuring an interesting design, the interior of the Avenger doesn’t quite manage to feel premium because of all the hard plastics used, and it isn’t the easiest to use in the class - despite featuring more physical controls than the Ford Puma. At least the infotainment is responsive and has a large enough screen. Read more about the Jeep Avenger's interior, design and technology…

Using the same platform as the DS 3, Peugeot 2008 and Vauxhall Mokka, the Jeep Avenger has similar proportions inside, meaning you get plenty of room for adults up front, but space in the back is compromised compared with the likes of the more versatile Renault Captur with its sliding rear bench, while the boot in the Avenger is only average in terms of capacity. Read more about the Jeep Avenger's boot space, comfort and practicality…

It’s disappointing that while there’s a decent amount of standard safety assistance technology with the Jeep Avenger, it only managed to get a three-star Euro NCAP safety rating, when rivals like the Renault Captur and Hyundai Kona manage to get four. There wasn’t enough data in the 2024 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey to include the Avenger, but we’re encouraged by the excellent result of the Peugeot 2008 (a car upon which the Avenger is based) and hope its score will reflect what owning this small Jeep will be like. Read more about the Jeep Avenger’s reliability and safety…

Jeep Avenger alternatives

With a choice of petrol, hybrid and electric power, the Jeep Avenger has to compete with a vast array of small SUVs. Those include the best-selling Ford Puma, Renault Captur, Nissan Juke and Volkswagen T-Cross, plus smaller electric SUVs like the Smart #1, Kia Niro EV, Peugeot E-2008 and our own Car of The Year for 2023, the Hyundai Kona Electric. Because of how small and nimble it is, the Avenger also threatens style-focused zero-emission city cars like the Mazda MX-30 and MINI Cooper.

Jeep Avenger Summit long-term test

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Former Editor-at-large, John McIlroy, ran a top-spec Jeep Avenger Summit for six months as part of the Auto Express long-term fleet. During his time with this baby electric SUV, he felt that it had the character of a proper ‘all-American’ Jeep, even though it was designed for the European market. He was a fan of the chunky styling, and the Jeep even lived up to its badge as it proved reasonably capable at off-roading.

Despite sharing underpinnings with Peugeot E-2008, Vauxhall Mokka Electric and Citroen e-C4, John believed that the Avenger felt precisely like a baby Jeep should. You can read the full long-term test here…