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Driven: 2024 Jeep Avenger Petrol. Image by Jeep.

Driven: 2024 Jeep Avenger Petrol
Will the new petrol-powered Avenger impress as the electric version already has, or will it feel too olde worlde?

   



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2024 Jeep Avenger Petrol

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The Jeep Avenger has already impressed us as a solid little electric SUV, but will its petrol-powered stablemate prove anything like as compelling a choice? There's only one way to find out, so we put one of the smallest (and cheapest) models in the Jeep range to the test.

Test Car Specifications

Model: 2024 Jeep Avenger Altitude+ 1.2 100hp MT
Price: £27,600 as tested
Engine: 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol
Transmission: six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power: 100hp
Torque: 205Nm
Emissions: 131g/km
Economy: 50.4mpg
0-62mph: 10.6 seconds
Top speed: 114mph
Boot space: 355 litres

Styling

Differences between the electric and petrol versions of the Avenger are few and far between, at least on the outside. In fact, the only really obvious change is the pronounced exhaust tailpipe in the rear bumper. The basic design is pretty attractive, though, putting some of the Jeep hallmarks — chiefly the seven-bar grille — on a more compact body than usual for the brand, and the overall effect is pretty smart. Perhaps there’s an argument to say it’s a case of the body writing cheques the underpinnings can’t cash, particularly with the little mountain on the rear window and various other off-road touches, but there’s a certain charm in the Avenger’s styling.

Interior

The Avenger's cabin is little different from that of the electric Avenger, save for the rather obvious addition of a gear lever in the space previously occupied by a large cubby hole. But aside from that, it's much the same, with a big central touchscreen, a cool digital instrument display and a fairly modern and light design that mirrors the exterior 'Jeepness' without forcing the issue too much.

Quality is acceptable without being exceptional, so there's some evidence of cost cutting in the cabin plastics, particularly in the doors and the dash, but most of the stuff you touch regularly feels solid enough, and all the switchgear feels remarkably robust. There's nothing premium about it, but there are no bargain basement vibes, either.

Not even in the on-board technology. The digital instrument cluster is smart and moderately configurable, but most importantly it's clear and easy to use, while the touchscreen can be a bit fiddly, although it's generally fine. Because it's so big, it works well with the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto technology, and the graphics are good, but it occasionally feels sluggish, as though it keeps tripping itself up.

Practicality

From the front seats, the Avenger feels like a practical and roomy thing, but things all go a bit wrong when you move back. Four six-foot adults will find it cramped in the Jeep, with those on the rear bench suffering in terms of legroom, although headroom isn’t too bad. Boot space is a bit tight, too, with 355 litres of luggage space available behind the back seats. That sounds alright – it’s only a little less than you get in a VW Golf – but it looks a bit meagre alongside the VW T-Cross and Seat Arona.

Performance

The petrol-powered Avenger has a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder engine under the bonnet, which sounds a bit small, but it’s turbocharged to produce 100hp, which is much more like it. That heads to the front wheels alone (there’s no all-wheel-drive option here, despite the badge on the front) via a six-speed manual gearbox.

The whole set-up is pretty common across the Stellantis Group’s range of compact cars, so you’ll find this combination in the Peugeot 208 and Vauxhall Corsa, as well as some compact SUVs such as the Mokka. As a result, the engine is a proven one, and we’re big fans of it. It’s smooth and efficient, and it sounds great when you push it.

Naturally, pushing the engine doesn’t make the Avenger go much quicker – getting from 0-62mph takes more than 10 seconds – but it’s eager enough and the gearbox is light, so wringing the engine out is not a chore. Keeping up with traffic won’t be a problem.

The advantage is that the Avenger returns strong economy, easily managing efficiency in the mid-40s on a long run, even if you aren’t driving especially economically. Officially, it’ll beat 50mpg, and though that might be a bit of a stretch most of the time, it probably is achievable with care on the right journey.

Ride & Handling

Let’s get one thing out of the way immediately: the Avenger is not an off-roader. Yes, it may have a seven-bar grille and a Jeep badge, but there’s no all-wheel-drive system and it isn’t trail-rated – until the more rugged plug-in hybrid 4xe model comes along, that is.

This petrol option, then, is very much a road car, but it’s quite at home there. It’s small and manoeuvrable, and though the steering is quite numb, it’s pretty linear and predictable, which makes the car easy to place. The gearbox and pedals are all quite light, which makes them less effort to use in town, and although the manual transmission can be a bit loose and notchy, it’s generally quite pleasant to use. There’s just nothing about it that’s exciting in any way.

Similarly, the ride comfort is generally good, although sometimes the soft suspension can get caught out on very broken surfaces, but it’s a smooth motorway cruiser and it’s more absorbent than you might expect around town. Again, though, while body control is quite good and the Avenger is acceptably enjoyable on a winding B-road, there are far more engaging alternatives out there.

Value

The petrol-powered Avenger starts at £24,359, making it £10,000 cheaper than the electric option and more than £1,500 cheaper than the E-Hybrid version. So it's well priced, and the basic Longitude comes with a reasonable amount of kit. There's a 10.25-inch touchscreen and keyless entry and ignition, as well as automatic wipers, rear parking sensors and cruise control, as well as 16-inch alloy wheels. But our test car was an Altitude model, which starts at just over £26,000, and offers larger 17-inch alloy wheels, a 10.25-inch digital instrument display and climate control. But the top-of-the-range Summit (£28,259) gets even more kit, with 18-inch alloy wheels and a powered tailgate, as well as wireless phone charging and a reversing camera.

Verdict

If you can get past the application of a Jeep badge to something that patently is not an off-roader, then the petrol-powered Avenger has a certain charm. Despite the badge and the appearance, it's quite an honest, cheap little car that's good at what it does without trying to push boundaries or excite its driver in any real way. Given the competitive price tag, there's no shame in that.



James Fossdyke - 16 Aug 2024



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2024 Jeep Avenger Altitude 1.2 100hp MT. Image by Jeep.2024 Jeep Avenger Altitude 1.2 100hp MT. Image by Jeep.2024 Jeep Avenger Altitude 1.2 100hp MT. Image by Jeep.2024 Jeep Avenger Altitude 1.2 100hp MT. Image by Jeep.2024 Jeep Avenger Altitude 1.2 100hp MT. Image by Jeep.

2024 Jeep Avenger Altitude 1.2 100hp MT. Image by Jeep.2024 Jeep Avenger Altitude 1.2 100hp MT. Image by Jeep.2024 Jeep Avenger Altitude 1.2 100hp MT. Image by Jeep.2024 Jeep Avenger Altitude 1.2 100hp MT. Image by Jeep.2024 Jeep Avenger Altitude 1.2 100hp MT. Image by Jeep.








 

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