What happened? Jeep’s first all-electric model wins Europe’s best new vehicle trophy.
What is? The Jeep Avenger, a subcompact SUV.
How much will it cost? Prices start at €39,500 (US$42,430).
When can you buy it? Now, if you live in Europe. Probably never in the US.
Jeep scored a surprise win when its first all-electric vehicle, the subcompact Avenger, was named European Car of the Year 2023. Avengers production has just begun at the former Fiat Chrysler assembly plant in Tychy, Poland, which also builds the Fiat 500 and Lancia Ypsilon subcompact cars.
The win is an initial endorsement of strategy and product development at Stellantis, the massive new automaker formed by the merger of France-based PSA and Italian-American Fiat Chrysler.
It is unlikely that The Avenger will ever be sold in the United States. It’s too small, measuring just over 160 inches long, more than 6 inches shorter than the small Renegade SUV that’s the smallest Jeep sold here.
However, it won over about 50 of Europe’s leading automotive writers. Based in 22 countries, the judges tested the Avenger in December. Vehicles had to be on sale to the public at advertised prices in at least five member countries by December 31 to be eligible for the prize.
Developed in Europe
The Avenger isn’t based on one of the new architectures that Stellantis is developing for hotly anticipated electric vehicles like the recently revealed Ram pickup truck that debuted at CES in January. It uses the CMP architecture developed by PSA that underpins conventionally powered vehicles such as the Peugeot 208 and Opel Mokka.
The Avenger was designed and engineered in Europe.
Key development elements to make the little Avenger a believable Jeep include:
- 7.8 inches of ground clearance.
- Approach, departure and break angles that allow for off-road capability.
- short flights
- big wheels
Visually, the Avenger is immediately recognizable as a Jeep, featuring the hexagonal wheel opening, seven-slot grille and Grand Cherokee-style C-pillar.
The grill slots are closed, though. Unlike internal combustion engines, the Avenger’s electric motor does not require a constant flow of air to cool it.
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Other aspects of the Avenger:
- Front wheel drive only now, AWD in 2024.
- 400 volt electrical system for fast charging.
- 115 kW/154 HP electric motor.
- 192 lb-ft of torque.
- Range of 248 miles on the WLTP test cycle, which tends to be more generous than US EPA estimates.
- 24 minutes 20%-80% charging time at 100 kW.
Subcompact SUVs are a booming segment in Europe, likely to reach 2.2 million sales this year, about 20% of total sales, according to Stellantis.
Contact Mark Phelan: 313-222-6731 or mmphelan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan. Read more automobiles and sign up for our car bulletin. Become a subscriber.
