Jeep Avenger EV confirmed for Australia

JEEP will offer its Avenger light-segment SUV in Australia from the second half of 2024 as an all-electric proposition, around 18 months after the model went on sale in Europe.

Expressions of interest in Jeep’s first electric model – which shares its Peugeot/Citroen eCMP underpinning with the likes of the Fiat 600, DS 3 Crossback, Opel Mokka and Peugeot 2008 – are now open, the Avenger making a claimed 115kW/260Nm via a single electric motor driving the front wheels.

The Avenger features a 400V/54kWh lithium-ion battery pack which can deliver a driving range of up to 400km (WLTP). AC and DC charging (up to 100kW) is available, replenishing charge from 20 – 80 per cent in as little as 24 minutes.

Jeep Australia says the Polish-built Avenger “spearheads the introduction of a portfolio of capable, fully electric vehicles, and is a key component in a global electrification strategy as the brand moves towards becoming the world leader in zero exhaust emission SUVs”.

Measuring 4084mm in length, 1776mm in width, and 1528mm in height, the five-seat Avenger offers 355 litres of cargo space with the rear seats in place, giving it similar luggage volume to competitors like the Kia Stonic (352 litres) or Mitsubishi ASX (358 litres).

Promising “all-terrain and all-weather capability”, the Avenger will offer “a complete series of safety and ADAS features” capable of providing Level-2 autonomous driving.

Other standard safety technology includes adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind spot monitoring, self-parking, and a 180º reversing camera with “drone view”.

In-cabin connectivity sees the Avenger offer the latest Uconnect infotainment system combined with a digital instrument panel in either 7.0- or 10.25-inch formats, depending on variant.

“The Jeep Avenger represents a key milestone for the Jeep brand, our first zero exhaust emission SUV,” said, Jeep Australia managing director Michael Filazzola.

“A compact SUV, the Avenger will provide a new entry point to the Jeep range while adding another level of electrification to our offering in Australia and represents a further step in the Jeep brand’s evolution.”

Mr Filazzola said further information, including local specification information and pricing, will be announced closer to the model’s launch.

It is hoped the Avenger will help Jeep to rekindle interest in the brand, whose sales have declined considerably over the past 18-24 months.

Considerable price increases on many models in the current Jeep portfolio have seen the American brand’s sales figures fall to near-record lows, with total year-to-date (YTD) sales tallying just 2937 units (or 0.4 per cent of the overall market).

Of that total, Jeep has sold 951 Compass small SUVs, 16 Cherokees, 658 Wranglers, 805 Grand Cherokees, and 507 Gladiator utes.