Road tested by Hugh Maguire.
Price: Avenger 4xe from €39,995
Pros:
Actually quite capable off-road.
Flexible practical interior.
Reasonable amount of standard equipment.
Cons:
Not as economical as I expected.
Cramped in the rear seats. Smaller boot than FWD models.
Quite a lot of cheap looking hard plastics inside.
The Jeep brand is famous for making rugged 4×4 vehicles with real off road ability, not like many SUV’s which often look like off roaders but most certainly are not.
It may come as no surprise to many that most of the models in the Jeep range sold here are 2 wheel drive. That is because like most brands Jeep recognise that very few buyers actually take their SUV off road.
The Avenger range is available as a petrol, an EV or as tested here a self charging mild hybrid called the e-hybrid.
This model though is different from the ones I just mentioned in that unlike them it is actually all-wheel drive. So the real question I want to answer here is this: Is it worth paying the substantial premium to have the 4×4 version over the 2 WD version?
The all wheel drive version is called the 4xe and it comes in three trim levels namely, UPLAND, OVERLAND, (as on test here) and the range topping NORTH FACE Edition.
So how does it look?
My test car was finished in white with black alloy wheels, a black roof, roof rails and green accents to the front. With further highlighted black trim around the wheel arches, and door frames it all gives the new Avenger a very attractive style. Its compact but has a bit of presence in the car park so I give it praise for looking a bit distinguished.
What’s it like inside?
Slip inside and you are greeted with a generally well finished if somewhat unimaginative interior. You don’t have to look far to find some rather cheap looking hard plastic trim but otherwise its all quite good.
The driving position is fine and the digital instrumentation delivers what you need to know in a clear and concise fashion. However it is pretty simple and frankly unimaginative. Yes it gives the necessary driver info but Jeep could have put more effort into the driver display.
The central touchscreen functions well with good graphics but thankfully there are a row of buttons for the climate functions. The screen does however look like a bit of an afterthought as it is literally perched on top of the dash whereas it could have been better designed and integrated into the overall dash design.
There is good storage space with a large bin in the centre console and a wireless phone charging pad under the centre console.
There is no gear shift lever rather a push button drive selector and being a Jeep there are drive modes for Snow, Mud and even hill descent control. Standard kit is decent too with 360-degree parking sensors, adaptive cruise control with lane centering, blind spot monitoring and privacy glass.
The rear is best described as compact, knee room is tight for an average sized adult and headroom is similar. Best suited to short journeys unless the kids are your passengers. The boot is compact too with about 325 litres of space with the rear seats in place or some 1,218 litres with the 60/40 split rear seats folded down.
This is on the smaller side for a compact SUV but that is due to the fact that the rear electric motor and AWD hardware reduce luggage capacity compared to the front wheel drive versions.
What’s under the bonnet?
The 4xe uses a unique 48-volt mild hybrid all wheel drive powertrain that combines petrol and electrical assistance. The engine is a 1.2 litre petrol 3-cylinder driving all four wheels in combination with a 21 kW electric motor. This motor is integrated into the gearbox to assist the engine and enable low speed electric driving for limited periods. Combined power output is some 136 bhp.
A second 21kW electric motor then cleverly powers the rear axle providing the on-demand all wheel drive without the need for a prop shaft linking front drive to rear drive. This has the benefit of saving weight.
I found performance to be quite acceptable but fuel economy was not quite as good as I had expected. Over my 500km or so I returned an overall test average of 6.9 litres per 100km. That is by no means a bad result in test conditions but I would have expected to achieve closer to 5.5 litres per 100km with this engine.
What’s it like to drive?
I took the Avenger 4xe to some relatively mild off-road areas I use for testing cars like this and it proved surprisingly capable. So in that respect the Avenger 4xe won’t embarrass you in a muddy field or a steep slippery incline. Around town its compact dimensions and 360 view cameras make parking very easy. The mild hybrid system allows you to pull away in electric mode while the 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox shifts seamlessly through the gears. However it can occasionally hesitate when pulling away from junctions or when you plant your foot to accelerate from low speed. This happens as it switches from electric to engine mode. You do get used to it but it is also a bit annoying.
The 4xe is certainly not an engaging drive but it acquits itself pretty well in most areas on the road. Noise levels are about average for a car in this class.
Hugh’s Verdict.
So to my initial headline question: Great idea but is it worth it?
At €42,995 the Avenger 4xe OVERLAND I tested commands a premium of a whopping €13,000 over the entry level petrol model. Frankly unless you truly need the 4×4 capability I would have to give you my honest verdict and say it is not worth that substantial premium. In particular as the entry level petrol offers most of what the 4xe does but with just 2 wheel drive and a little less standard kit.
In summary then the Avenger 4xe commands a premium that can only be justified if you really will use it’s off-road abilities. If you really don’t need all wheel drive then the 2 wheel drive version is an excellent choice and a considerable saving financially.