The Jeep doesn’t feel right without all-wheel drive, but the Stellenbosch brand is promising to make up for the Avenger’s lack of better traction with a 4×4 setup. It is being previewed at the Paris Motor Show where the electric crossover has a different livery with blue accents along with additional LED lighting. Other notable changes include the adoption of a roof rack and slightly wider wheel arches that host different compounds with all-terrain tires.
Strangely, Jeep doesn’t go into any details regarding technical specifications. However, an Avenger with AWD can only mean that engineers have installed an electric motor in the rear. The standard version comes with a front-mounted motor for 154 horsepower (115 kW) and 260 Newton meters (191 pound-feet) of torque. It remains to be seen if the rear-mounted e-motor is the same, but that’s usually the case.
5 Pictures
This can translate to a combined output of around 300 hp and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) in an EV that is only 4.08 meters (160.6 inches) long. In fact, the new Avenger is 6 centimeters (6.3 inches) shorter than a Renegade. The all-power Avenger may use the same 54kWh battery as the front-wheel drive configuration. The latter is rated at 249 miles (400 km) in the WLTP combined cycle, but the 4×4 won’t be able to match it, being heavier. Using the same logic, the regular model’s 342-mile (550-km) range in the city would drop slightly.
See all news about the Paris Motor Show
For the Avenger 4×4, Jeep has improved the approach angle by 21 degrees, the departure angle by 34 degrees, and the breakover angle by 20 degrees. In addition, ground clearance is now over 200 mm (7.9 in).
As a refresher, Jeep says that three minutes of charging at 100 kW translates to 19 miles (30 km) of range while 24 minutes takes the battery from 20 to 80 percent. It’s unclear whether putting the e-motor in the rear will negatively affect cargo capacity, which is 13.4 cubic feet (380 liters) in the FWD-equipped Avenger, compared to 1.2 cubic feet (34 liters) in the front.
Jeep fans from the United States will have to look elsewhere as the Avenger is not coming to North America. Instead, the Wrangler-esque Recon and the larger and more luxurious Wagoner S are bound for America and will both be produced locally starting in 2024.