Written by Curtis Moldrich Updated: 21 August 2024

Overview

The Jeep Avenger was launched as an electric car, but its maker has now bolstered its line-up with some new petrol and hybrid versions aimed right at the heart of the family SUV market. This strategy follows the lead established by its Stellantis group sister cars, the Peugeot 3008 and Vauxhall Mokka – and it broadens the Avenger’s appeal to those who perhaps aren’t ready to make the switch to an EV.

There are two versions of the petrol-powered Avenger to choose from, both powered by the same basic 1.2-litre engine. The cheapest model is petrol-only but, above that, there’s a 48-volt mild hybrid model (badged e-Hybrid) that augments the engine with a tiny 0.9kWh battery pack and a dinky 21kW motor hitched to the gearbox and starter motor. What neither of these new powertrains can offer is four-wheel drive – but Jeep is planning to solve that with a new 4xe self-charging hybrid model that’ll hit UK showrooms before the end of 2024.

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The Avenger e-Hybrid’s most obvious competitors are those to the left and right of it on the dealership floor – namely, its petrol and electric siblings. But there’s plenty of competition from within the Stellantis group, including the new Citroen C3, Fiat 600 and Vauxhall Mokka, all of which are available with both petrol and electric powertrains. Beyond that, you’re looking at cars such as the Nissan Juke, the Renault Captur and, the current class champ, the Ford Puma.

Scroll down for our detailed review of the petrol-powered Jeep Avenger. We’ll walk you through the car’s practicality, interior quality, driving experience and running costs before offering our final verdict on the car. If you’re curious to learn more about how we reached our verdict on the Avenger, check out our how we test cars explainer page.

What’s it like inside?

The interior is almost identical to the electric Avenger, and that means it’s functional without feeling cheap. However, it doesn’t exactly feel premium, either. The interior also changes with the car’s spec but, on the whole, it does the job. Annoyingly, UK cars don’t get the ambient lightning offered to those in left-hand-drive markets.

Space up front is fine, but those in the second row will feel pretty cramped. I found the knees of my passengers would press firmly enough into the seats ahead to act as accidental lumbar supports. With the seat in my driving position, the only way I could make myself comfortable would be to hack my legs off at the knee.

The boot is pretty small too, as it is on the Avenger EV. The hybrid battery fits neatly under the left-hand front seat (drivers’ side in the car we drove) which is the only real impact on interior space.

Petrol engines

Jeep’s engineers have slipped in a 48V mild hybrid system that gives a helping hand to Stellantis’ 1.2-litre PureTech petrol engine (also found in Citroen, DS, Fiat, Peugeot and Vauxhall). It’s a very mild hybrid system, though. A 0.9 kWh lithium-ion battery is paired to a 21kW motor, which itself is integrated to a 48V belt starter and the only gearbox you can have on the e-Hybrid – a new, double-clutch six-speed unit.

Combined, you get 130hp, which Jeep says is enough for a 0–62mph figure of 10.9 seconds. Like the EV and the pure petrol model, the power goes to the front wheels – only the upcoming 4Xe will be all-wheel drive. The e-Hybrid isn’t much heavier than the conventional petrol Avenger at 1,280kg, with Stellantis saying you pay but a 60kg weight penalty for the hybrid technology.

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Jeep also claims the electric motor of the e-Hybrid improves fuel consumption by 20% for combined WLTP economy of 57.6mpg.

What’s it like to drive?

I reckon the e-Hybrid is the pick of the Avenger range because it combines the best of the petrol and EV models. In Normal and Eco drive modes, it can potter around on electric power around town, so it’s super refined in slow-moving traffic – but because you can fall back on petrol power, you never fret about the next time you need to charge the EV’s, frankly inadequately sized, battery. Plus, it often turns off the engine when going downhill. In Sport mode, it’s a little more engaging, keeping the engine on at all times.

The Avenger e-Hybrid’s steering strikes a good mixture between feedback and lightness, and is well judged for a family SUV. In the same way, the brakes are solid and dependable and feel more connected than you’d expect given the hybrid system’s regenerative braking. The only downside? You can’t change the level of regenerative braking like you can in some other hybrids.

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The transmission is the final piece of the puzzle and does a decent if not astounding job. The car feels less interesting to drive than the manual petrol but still light enough to feel more dynamic than the EV. It sounds like it holds gears for a little longer than you’d expect, but that’s the case with many of its rivals.

What models and trims are available?

Whichever engine you choose, you get a choice of three trim levels – Longitude, Latitude and Summit. Not all the safety kit comes as standard in the lesser models, but the usual features and some driver-assistance technology is included in the Summit. Having said that, you can option up the Longitude and Latitude with these features. 

There’s little externally to tell them apart. The only difference outside is a green ‘e’ badge on the e-Hybrid’s boot and the lack of an exhaust tailpipe on the electric version. That’s not a bad thing though, as you’ll find the same surprisingly charming design on the outside, with modern lamps and a traditional-looking grille doing its best to pull in more youthful buyers.

Pricing is competitive. The e-Hybrid starts at £25,000, which isn’t that much more than the pure petrol at £23,600 – the electric version starts at £34,800. As such, I think both petrols look far more attractive than the EV. They’re both lighter and, although they’re slightly slower, they’re also far easier to live with and often more interesting to drive.

Click through to the next page to read the Parkers verdict on the petrol-powered and e-Hybrid Jeep Avengers.