Electric and hybrid Avenger described by users
The Jeep Avenger was crowned Car of the Year 2023 and has since become the second most popular Jeep ever in our country. But does the compact model perform ‘car of the year’-worthy in practice? Let’s take a look at the user reviews.
With the Avenger, Jeep rounds off the range downwards. The now ten-year-old Renegade remains available. The Avenger only needed three years to catch up with the sales figures of this not unpopular compact SUV, which probably helps that the Avenger is also available with a fully electric powertrain. By far the largest part of the user reviews left relate to this variant, two drivers opted for the Avenger 1.2 e-Hybrid.
Is smallest Jeep spacious?
Although the Avenger is almost 22 centimeters shorter than the Peugeot 2008 with which it shares its technology, the space offered is not disappointing to the following driver. “It is described as small, but that is not so bad in practice,” says the owner of a Jeep Avenger e-Hybrid Altitude in his concise review. Also the use of materials, which receives criticism in some reviews, is not experienced as negative by this driver. “I honestly see or notice no difference with the premium plastic of the Mercedes of the neighbor.”
Another hybrid driver is more critical. “The luggage space is a bit disappointing,” he writes. “On paper, the content should be just as large as in my last Audi A3, but it seems less.” Also, this owner regrets that there is no spare wheel present. The owner of an electric Avenger also misses some space in the trunk. “Jeep speaks of a spacious luggage space in the entire car,” he probably read in the brochure. “This is correct, but this space is divided over all kinds of compartments in the interior. The question is whether you put your underwear and socks in the beautifully shaped slot in the dashboard because the luggage space in the back does not excel in size.” In short, a lot of storage space for small things, but the trunk is disappointing.
The following owner is also not wildly enthusiastic about the space offered and even measures it. “The luggage space is practical in shape, but does not seem excessive at first. Off the cuff I measure about 280 liters. The rest of the total 355 liters is hidden under a double bottom.”
Avenger also for tall drivers
What is good, is the seating position, at least for the following Avenger owner. “I was a little apprehensive about the seat, but after a ride of more than 180 km I get out fresh and have no problems with my upper legs,” writes a 1.90 meter long driver. “The seats are firm, comfortable and the seat is long enough.” A second driver does not completely agree with that last observation: “The seat of the chair could have been longer. The legs get less rest this way.”
The entry is a bit getting used to for another tall driver. “The B-pillar is rather forward (for my length), which makes me get in a bit difficult in a certain way. This is already getting used to and will not be a problem after a while.” But the most important thing: “Once I sit, the seat is more than fine.”
In the back, the seating comfort is limited according to Avenger drivers. “With my 1.80 meters I have the seat almost in the rearmost position,” says the owner of an electric Avenger. “Then it is not a party to sit in the back seat. My knees have to be next to the front seat, but that is not the biggest problem. The foot space is limited by the massive battery box under the rear seat.” Also the owner of 1.90 meters writes: “With my length there is little space for the passenger in the back seat.” Here, the centimeters surrendered in relation to the Peugeot take their toll.
Road behavior
The limited length does not seem to undermine the adult feeling. “Driving the Jeep Avenger is good,” the owner of an electric Avenger summarizes his experience. “It is a nice, comfortable car, which, thanks to the weight of the battery, lies on the road like a block. The Avenger goes through corners tight enough and smoothly enough over speed bumps.” The control also pleases: “In many driving tests, the light control in normal mode is complained about. It is true that the control is very light, but the response is sufficiently direct so it certainly does not drive like a wobble boat.”
Another driver shares the same experience in fewer words. “The driving qualities are good. The control feels a bit light, but it is not disturbing.” A third driver also finds the control of his electric Avenger fine. “The car drives tight and lies well on the road. The ‘light steering’ that I read about everywhere, I can not place myself at all. He steers very directly and rather on the – for me pleasant – heavy side.”
The chassis of the electric variant is also to the liking of another driver. “The car drives like a sun,” writes the driver of an Avenger 1st Edition. “The chassis is not too bumpy and not too soft. You get nicely over bumps and through holes without suffering a half hernia.” The owner of a hybrid Avenger has a different experience with that. “He takes speed bumps like a theatrical Italian teenager.”
Powertrain & consumption
Now that the attention is on the hybrid variant and its owner: how does the powertrain perform? “On paper, the engine has little puff, but in practice it is very smooth and quiet,” notes the satisfied owner. “Inserting or overtaking is no problem at all and on vacation with the family and luggage in it over the German highways and mountains he climbs up without any problems.”
Our second hybrid driver initially dropped out after a test drive in a non-hybrid Avenger. The extra electro couple still pulled him over the line later. “The Avenger e-Hybrid has a 100 hp 1.2-liter turbo gasoline engine with a hybrid aid, which gives the car extra power of 28 hp. This gives the car sufficient torque and it does its work smoothly and quietly.” Also the engine noise bothered him initially, but that seems better under control with the hybrid. “Only when starting you hear the three-cylinder engine for a while. At low speeds in 30 km-zones – and there are more and more of them – the Jeep drives completely electrically.”
The electric powertrain seems to please the owners. They spend little words on it, which seems like good news to us. However, one owner hooks into the consumption and the associated range. “The consumption of the car in the Netherlands is fine,” he begins. “I have now driven a winter and a cold and wet spring and have consumed around 17 kWh/100 km. The reason that it is not lower is because I have made a few trips of 1,000 km to France.” That is also where the shoe pinches: “The consumption shoots up when you drive above 110 km/h. Excursions to 22 kWh/100 km are no exception, and then you often have to load on the way.” Indeed, with a net 51 kWh battery capacity, you can reach a maximum of 231 kilometers with such consumption. At the average consumption of 17 kWh, that is exactly 300 km.
Irritations & malfunctions
The range at highway speed is therefore a bit disappointing, but how does the Avenger behave technically? The build quality could be better, experiences a critical driver: “Every bump delivers a crack.” This finish is even the reason for another driver to write a review. “The day after purchase I see moisture in both taillights and the dashboard also cracks. As icing on the cake, I see a drop falling on my arm now and then during one of the many rain showers of late. This comes from the window rubber.”
This driver also has to deal with electronic peculiarities after an update: “After that, the dashboard is only partly visible. Buttons no longer work and the screen disappears. For example, the instrumentation no longer indicates how much percent is still in the battery.” Another driver is also not entirely happy with the electronics: “The electric tailgate often does not work when it is wet outside.” Finally, the electric Jeep Avenger is also plagued by problems with the on-board charger, notices an owner whose car no longer charges after 8,000 kilometers. After this problem is resolved, the Avenger functions without any problems again.
In summary, the second most popular Jeep in the Netherlands is a fine companion for most owners. This applies to both the electric and the hybrid variant. The seating comfort is good, as long as you take place in the front. The space in the back is disappointing to many users; both for passengers and luggage, the space is not abundant. Technically, the Avenger seems to perform well for the time being, apart from the well-known on-board charger problem, although there is room for improvement in terms of finishing. So a good car, but not an outstanding one. Based on the user experiences, it is in any case not clear why the model was crowned Car of the Year 2023.