Avenger reassembled after facelift
Jeep celebrates its 85th year with an update to its SUV which brought the marque to a new demographic of buyers, writes Jim McGill
Jeep celebrates its 85th anniversary this year and as part of the celebrations the American icon — now part of the giant European-based Stellantis group — has just launched an updated version of its ever-popular Avenger. The small SUV has been a towering success since it was first launched back in mid-2023; more than 280,000 Avengers have been sold across Europe. Its arrival in the UK contributed to the marquee tripling its sales in Britain.
That sales success came despite the sceptics’ initial opinion that there should be no such thing as a ‘small Jeep’. It would appear, given the successful sales record, the Stellantis bosses made the right decision to launch what was, originally, an electrically-powered two-wheel drive car. The Avenger’s combination of rugged looks, inoffensive personality and budget-busting running costs have brought Jeep to a whole new demographic of car buyers.
The midlife facelift has been carried out across the whole Avenger range, but we’re concentrating on the 4xe Hybrid, which I believe to be the best version of Jeep’s baby SUV to date. Prices start at £31,895. Essentially it’s a pumped-up, more powerful four-wheel drive version of the Avenger e-Hybrid. The burning question is, do buyers really need, or want a 4WD version of the Avenger? Only one way to find out.
Ok, tell me more about the 4xe Ok, first things first. It’s certainly not a serious off-roader in the mantle of the original 1941 Willys Jeep. Yes it’s capable offroad, and we’ll come to that later, but it doesn’t fall into Jeep’s ‘Trail Rated’ bracket: that’s reserved for vehicles that are signed off on the dauntingly brutal Rubicon Trail. That said, given its suspension has only been raised a smidge, it’s still mighty impressive for what it is. The 4xe uses the same 1.2-litre mild-hybrid system as the Avenger e-Hybrid, but with the addition of an extra 48-volt electric motor at the rear to create four-wheel drive. This in turn means there’s no driveshaft to connect the front and rear axles, resulting in some extra ground clearance. Power is delivered via a six-speed dual-clutch automatic. As for performance? With its combined output of 143bhp, a full 9bhp more than you get in the e-Hybrid, you can cover 0-62mph in 9.5secs. It’ll carry on to a top speed of 121mph.
What exactly is new? Quite a lot to be honest, but nothing really mechanically. Couple of things are immediately noticeable. First there’s a new grille with, what Jeep personnel preached, give the Avenger “the traditional seven-slot look”. Whisper it, but the original 1941 Willys actually had nine slots in its grille. But who’s counting. The new grille is also embellished with a little bit of LED mood lighting. Secondly there are butch new bumpers both front and rear. These are not simply aesthetic improvements. In addition to streamlining the Avenger’s body better by hugging it tighter, they actually increase the car’s approach and departure angles from 18 and 33 degrees to 22 and 35 degrees respectively. And should you go offroading, you’ll be please to know they’ve also been moulded in scratch-resistant plastic which Jeep believes will mean they stay looking unblemished for longer. One other tiny, clever detail. The front bumper has little inserts which stick out ever so slightly to stop the forward-looking radar from being damaged. Something your insurance company will celebrate. Look carefully and you’ll spot the new front and rear tow hooks, plus a matte black bonnet decal has been added to reduce the glare from the sun dazzling the driver’s eyes. And while there are now optional matrix-LED headlights, the 4xe’s foglights have been recessed into the bumpers to help prevent them from being damaged by rocks and/or branches when you’re off-road. When it comes to offroading, the Avenger 4XE now sits an extra 10mm clear of the road surface, plus there’s a new steel bash plate at the front end of the car. Its wade depth has also been dramatically improved from 230mm to 400mm. The suspension has also been tweaked compared to the standard car, with the 4xe gaining a multilink rear set-up.
Are there more engine choices across the Avenger range? Yes there are. We’re concentrating on the 4xe which mates the 1.2-litre mild-hybrid system with an extra 48-volt electric motor. But elsewhere in the range there’s a new three-cylinder Turbo 100 petrol unit delivering 101bhp from its 1100cc engine and available only with manual transmission. There’s also the 110-HP e-Hybrid with the same 1.2-litre mild-hybrid system found in the 4xe — crucially, without the rear electric motor — and mated to a six-speed auto dual-clutch gearbox. With its 0.9kWh li-ion battery and integrated e-motor, it has an all-electric range of 1km below 20mph. Finally there’s the full-electric 156-HP BEV Avenger with a gross 54kWh battery and up to 100kW DC and 11kW AC charging. It offers a range of up to 250-miles.
Right, how does the 4xe drive? Actually, really well. So well in fact that I’d say the 4xe is definitely the best version of the Avenger so far. In town it’s surprisingly nimble and agile, and with its reasonably high driving position, easy to position. Out on the A-road and motorway it’s poised and planted, reaping the rewards a low centre of gravity and its 4WD system, plus the additional electric motor gives that little extra zip over the standard e-Hybrid. And it’s that 4WD system that’s at the root of all that is excellent with the 4xe. On the dedicated and demanding off-roading track created by Jeep, with steep inclines and drops, along with heavily rutted areas and deep water, the 4xe never missed a beat. I mentioned the raised suspension. Important to remember it’s only been increased by 1cm, so it’s certainly not that much higher than the standard Avenger. Go well off-road and you will hear stones scraping against the 4xe’s new sump guard. But drive it sensibly and you’ll be rewarded with what is a genuinely competent off-roader.
What’s the cabin like? There’s very little difference between the facelifted version and the original. The driving position has lots of adjustability resulting in a commanding view forward over the far-reaching flat bonnet. Clever designing also delivers a neat, small three-spoke steering wheel which feels great to hold, and the fascia is not a button-free zone with main functions easily controlled without the need to take your eyes off the road. All versions get a 10.25in infotainment unit that sits comfortably on top of the dash. Thankfully it’s simple and easy to use, plus there’s plenty of proper physical buttons, plus more on the steering wheel which allows the driver to flick between satnav, media and efficiency screens. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard, as is the satnav. You’ll also be pleased to learn that Jeep has introduced a physical shortcut button just below the screen which allows you to quickly and easily control those annoying bings and bongs from the various safety systems. In the 4xe there’s model-specific seat upholstery, which is washable, a ‘4xe’ badge on the passenger-side dashboard, and a new iPad-esque flimsy folding lid for the central storage bin. It’s one of these things you look at and ask: why bother with it? Space in the front is more than adequate, though it’s a different story in the rear where head and legroom is tight for anyone of even average height. Elsewhere in the cabin there’s a noticeable improvement in the new soft-touch materials for the doors and the lower dashboard, giving a more plush feel to the surroundings rather than the previous scratchy plastics. Plus the facelifted version introduces new padded and double-stitched trim inserts for the dash top and door trims. One control which has definitely had its profile increased and improved is the ‘Select Terrain’ drive-mode button — with modes for snow, mud and sand — which is now not only bright red, but has a rubberised toggle. Unfortunately, one dreadfully annoying, irritating thing still remains: the drum-beat indicator sound. Why oh why did the designers ever think you want to hear what essentially is a snare drum shuffle every time you flick the indicator on. I wasn’t the only person on the launch to admit to secretly thinking of taking a hammer to it. It’s that irritating.
Isn’t there an 85th Anniversary Edition There is. It’s available in Forest Green and has gold highlights on the alloy wheels and bumpers, plus an 85th badge on the front wings. Inside there’s some gold contrast stitching, with tartan centres for the seats.
Storage and bootspace There’s a fair amount of good storage, including that centre cubby hole covered by the flimsy iPad-like cover. There’s also space for cups and/or bottles in the door pockets, plus a shelf which runs half the width of the dashboard. Bootspace is comfortable for this size of car with the square-shaped boot capable of stashing 380-litres of gubbins. The access hatch is one-metre wide, with the sill an easy-to-manouevre 730mm off the ground.
Trim levels There are three trim levels for the 4xe, and they are different to those across the rest of the Avenger range, consisting of Upland, 85th Anniversary and Overland. Priced from £31,895, the Upland, amongst other standard kit, includes LED headlights, roof rails, 180-degree rear camera, keyless start and passive entry, wireless charger for smartphone, hill-descent control, cruise control and 17in black alloys. Step up to the 85th Anniversary and you add Matrix LED headlights, illuminated seven-slot grille, LED foglight, special cloth/vinyl upholstery with 85th Anniversary logo and tartan pattern, front parking camera with 360-degree view and 18in diamond cut alloys with gold finishing. Prices start at £33,395. The range-topping Overland at £33,895 adds, over the Upland, again the Matrix LED headlights and illuminated grille, plus a green dashboard with topographic lines, urban blind spot, 360-degree parking sensors and front parking camera, lane centering and traffic jam assist, and adaptive cruise control.
Warranty The Jeep Avenger gets a 3-year or 36,000-mile warranty, whichever comes first. In addition the 48-volt hybrid batteries get a separate eight-year, or 100,000-mile warranty.
Verdict The Jeep name has always conjured up images of conquering the most demanding offroad tests you could imagine. The Jeep Rubicon is, after all, named after the gruelling Rubicon Trail in California which it comfortably conquers. In the shape of the Avenger, Jeep created a small SUV which, though ridiculed by some at launch, has gone on to become a successful seller across Europe and the UK whether in hybrid, electric or petrol form. Now the four-wheel drive 4xe delivers some of that Rubicon heritage. Sure it’s not a proper, serious off-roader, but that was never the intention. But it can do much, much more than simply inadvertently mount the kerb at your congested supermarket car park. Overall it is an impressive piece of kit, and certainly worth considering given its rugged styling, clever mild-hybrid 4WD system, versatility and competitive price.
Fact box Jeep Avenger 4xe Hybrid Price: £31,895 Powertrain: 1199cc three-cylinder petrol, two 48-volt mild hybrid electric motors with 4WD Power/Torque: 143bhp / 230Nm @1750rpm Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch with electric motor Top speed / 0-62mph: 121mph / 9.5secs Fuel Consumption: 53.2mpg CO2: 122g/km Dimensions (L/W/H): 4110mm / 1810mm / 1580mm On sale: Now