The First Jeep EV Unveiled In Paris
Called Avenger, it can travel up to 400km before running out of juice.
The 2022 Paris Motor Show goes live. Jeep, a Stellantis brand, is part of the event and has lifted the covers off its first-ever battery-electric vehicle (BEV). It’s called the Avenger, and in profile, it is a compact SUV designed for Europe. In fact, it is even smaller than the Renegade. That said, the newcomer is a landmark model, for it will set the tone for all future BEVs from the American brand.
Exterior
In the first go, the Avenger looks like a shrunken Jeep Compass. And that means the SUV maker hasn’t steered itself away from its current design approach. So the usual suspects, such as the seven-slot grille, prominent fenders, trapezoidal wheel arches and protective cladding all around, are present. A close inspection, however, reveals blue ‘e’ logos on the grille and the boot lid, the indented taillamps with an ‘X’ LED profile and the skid plates at either end. And the 18-inch dual-tone alloys are unmissable.
Dimensions? The Jeep Avenger measures 4.08 metres in length, 16cm shorter than the Renegade. But the stubby and short overhangs deliver a muscular silhouette. And there’s 20cm of ground clearance, enough to tackle the uneven roads.
Powertrain
With a 400-volt electrical network, the Avenger comes with a front-mounted electric motor that offers 156hp and 260Nm of peak torque. The propulsion system takes its juices from a 54kWh battery that offers a range of up to 400km (WLTP). And yes, one could use AC or DC feeds to replenish it. Jeep says that using an 11kW AC charger, the Avenger will charge from zero to 100 per cent in 5.5 hours. On the other hand, a 24-minute charge from a 100kW DC feed can take the battery level from 20 to 80 per cent. The Avenger is also the first front-wheel-drive Jeep to pack Selec-Terrain and Hill Descent Control as standard.
Interior and features
The Avenger has, perhaps, the most uncluttered dashboard layouts in Jeep’s history, though the two-tone finish adds a bit of lunacy. Riding at the centre is a free-standing 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and beneath it are the central AC vents. At the bottom are analogue buttons for various features, while the centre console houses control for the drive and a tambour door for the knick-knacks. The driver gets a multi-function steering wheel and, depending on the variant, a 7- or a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.
The powered seats feature leather inserts, while the massage function raises the comfort quotient. The SUV also offers 34 litres of front storage space and the boot can gulp 380 litres of stuff. And the features list includes ambient lighting, U-Connect (connected-car tech), an electric sunroof, automatic climate control, a gesture-controlled tailgate and Level 2 autonomous driving. That last one ropes in Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Centering, Traffic Jam Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition and Automatic Emergency Braking.
Final words
Jeep will build the Avenger at the Stellantis plant in Tychy, Poland. The EV is one of the four the brand plans to introduce in Europe by 2025. Showrooms will get the Avenger early next year, but pre-bookings are open for the fully-loaded and pure-electric First Edition version in most European markets.
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