Why We Wish the 2023 Jeep Avenger Would be Sold in America
The most American car company isn’t selling the first EV Jeep in America. But here are a few reasons we wish they were.
Jeep, creating some of the world’s most rugged and capable off-roaders since the 1940s, won’t be selling the brand’s first true EV in their home country, even though any fan of bald eagles and apple pie wants it as soon as they see it. There’s definitely a market here. But, maybe Jeep knows something we all don’t. The mini Jeep EV had more than 10,000 reservations made when it was first unveiled at this year’s Paris Motor Show, so it’s sure to be a raging success overseas.
The 2023 Avenger is exclusively front-wheel drive for now, but a 4×4 concept was shown in Paris, so an off-road variant could be on the way — perfectly blending exciting tech with the ruggedness Jeep is known for. It almost looks like a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Renegade had a baby. Which is one of the reasons we wish it was being sold here. Unlike most EVs, that boast ridiculously curvy and jagged lines to make them look futuristic, the Avenger doesn’t give off ostentatious EV vibes. It looks just like a normal, compact Jeep – which makes it appealing to more audiences who don’t like the typical EV aesthetic.
The CMP platform it will be built on has been refined to have better approach and departure angles without altering the overall width of the car, making the Avenger a little more off-road friendly than those who came before. Under the hood is a powerplant that’s popular in other European Stellantis EVs, like the Peugeot e-308 and Opal Astra Electric — the 54 kWh battery, split up between 10 cells under the rear seats and 7 under the front. The electric motor mounted up front generates a fairly impressive 154 horsepower and 191 lb-ft of torque. Jeep states that the Avenger’s range is typically around 249 miles between charges. In stop and go traffic, where kinetic energy can be recovered by braking, it can go up to 342 miles.
It’s what’s on the inside that counts, right?
Instead of a traditional shifter, the Avenger will have tactile buttons that allow the drive to choose between Park, Neutral, Drive and Reverse. The infotainment system is a tad smaller than what we’re all used to at 10.25 inches, but it does come standard with both Android Auto and Apple Car Play. Additionally, smart watches will be able to connect to the system to reap some benefits, though those aren’t exactly clear yet.
The Avenger will have three distinct drive modes that reconfigure the entire car to better suit the road type. Eco mode, for instance, will lessen the car’s overall power output significantly — going from 154 horsepower to 81 — to squeeze every mile out of the compact EV. The “normal” mode also reduces the power to 107 horsepower, to give the driver a little more power around town, without sacrificing mileage.
It’s very disappointing that the little EV that could won’t be available to Americans. Americans are becoming hungrier and hungrier for EVs, especially for compact SUVs. Maybe one day, if we all pray loud enough to the Jeep gods.
