Jeep Avenger gets a new base engine and fresher tech
Jeep updated the European market Avenger and added a new 1.2 litre Turbo 100 petrol engine to the range. The brand’s smallest SUV remains available with a combustion engine, hybrid power, four wheel drive in 4xe form and as a fully electric model.
New petrol engine comes with a manual gearbox
The new entry point to the Jeep Avenger range uses a 1.2 litre three cylinder Turbo 100 petrol engine. It produces 101 bhp and 205 Nm of torque, and drives through a six speed manual gearbox. According to Jeep, the engine uses a variable geometry turbocharger, direct injection and a timing chain instead of a belt.
Jeep also points to longer service intervals. With the new engine, the Avenger needs scheduled maintenance every two years or roughly every 25,000 kilometres. That suggests Jeep wants to improve not only the way the Avenger drives, but also the cost of living with one.
The Avenger is not going electric only
The updated Avenger keeps a broad choice of powertrains. Alongside the new petrol engine, buyers can still choose the 110 bhp e Hybrid, the 145 bhp all wheel drive Avenger 4xe and the 156 bhp fully electric version. The electric model uses a 54 kWh gross battery and offers up to about 400 kilometres of WLTP range.
That matters for Jeep. The Avenger sits at the centre of the brand’s European line up, and Jeep says it received more than 270,000 orders since launch. Electrified versions accounted for 60 per cent of them, which is a useful reminder that even a small Jeep now lives in a rather different world.
Styling and equipment also move on
The refreshed Avenger can be spotted by its revised bumpers, new 17 and 18 inch wheels and, on higher trim levels, an illuminated version of Jeep’s seven slot grille. Matrix LED headlights also joined the kit list, along with a 360 degree front camera to help with parking and tight manoeuvres.
Inside, Jeep used softer trim materials, reworked the door panels and dashboard, and added an 85th Anniversary special edition. That version brings unique detailing, gold accents and chequered seat upholstery.
Jeep has not tried to reinvent the Avenger here. It simply gave its smallest SUV a broader base, a cleaner set of options and just enough extra polish to keep it looking busy in a crowded European market.
