The platform on which the Avenger is based on is the Common Modular Platform, developed by the French PSA alliance (Peugeot-Citroen), and is now used by many models from the Stellantis Group, such as the Peugeot 2008 and the Alfa Romeo Junior. Besides the technical platform, it is the responsibility of each individual carmaker to optimize it accordingly to the brand's characteristic features.

A revised engine for higher reliability

Jeep Avenger shares not only the platform, but also the engine choice with other models from the Stellantis Group, thus we have here a 1.2 liter 3 cylinder engine developed by the French manufacturers that produces 100 horsepower and a torque of 205 Nm. In the past, this engine was known to not be the most reliable out there, because of the drive belt and the issues were actually caused by late revisions.

To fix the issues, PSA engineers replaced the belt with a chain, but only for the hybrid powertrains on the Avenger, so the car with a gasoline-powered engine still comes with a drive belt that requires more careful maintenance. So, the hybrid powertrains are more durable and this is a good thing for sustainability, as well, since fewer replaced parts and a car that lasts longer help us save on money and materials.

Besides the gasoline engine we also have a 48-volt electric motor on the Avenger that produces 29 horsepower and 55 Nm of torque and which is integrated into the transmission, getting its power from a 0.9 kWh battery.

Jeep Avenger is an easy and pleasant car to drive

What really surprised me is the fact that this electric motor can move the car on its own at speeds of up to 30 kilometers per hour and even above that, if you accelerate gently or you just maintaining the speed, which normally isn't the case for a mild hybrid.

The explanation is a bit more complex for this, but just to keep things simple, the idea is that the electric motor is able to use all the 6 gears independently from the combustion engine, which is why you'll hear that the car shifts gears even in electric only mode. This is even more noticeable when you decelerate and you can effectively hear the electric motor downshift, giving you sort of a sportier feel.

The gearbox is a dual clutch model and it's a comfortable unit, meaning that you don't feel the shifts, because the electric motor is able to cover the "gaps" and also because the gearbox itself is very responsive. Thus, the Avenger is very comfortable in the city, where it will mostly shift between the first gears, but also on a longer trip, where you might need quicker accelerations, as it has quick response times and downshifts where it needs to in order to offer the optimal performance.

Because it's a fairly lightweight car, the 1.2 liter engine does more than good enough, you aren't left empty-handed even when overtaking and the fuel economy is good, especially since the electric motor is able to cover quite a bit of the usual loads.

In the city, the car is silent and feels more than nippy enough for quick accelerations and this is true also for highways and express roads, while the sound proofing is more than good enough even at higher speeds, another pleasant surprise from a subcompact model designed primarly for the city.

Jeep Avenger sits well around corners, as well, despite having a high ground clearance at 20 centimeters, but at higher speeds you might feel a bit more roll, because the suspension is softer, so comfort-oriented. Speaking of which, the car is comfortable and deals with road imperfections very well, also thanks to the 18 inch rims, which have more rubber.

On the 4xe version, which comes with an all-wheel drive (AWD) system thanks to an additional electric motor on the rear axile, you also get independent suspension and that one is even more comfortable, especially for passengers in the back.

One thing that I appreciated was that after you turn the engine off, the computer will display shows the distance, the overall duration of the trip, the average fuel consumption, as well as how much of that particular trip was done in electric mode only, which again for a mild hybrid is an exceptional thing. Basically, if it had a more powerful engine, the car would have been able to drive in pure electric mode even longer.

When the gasoline engine starts, you feel it very subtly, being a 3 cylinder engine, but the car doesn't vibrate much, not even when keeping the front doors fully opened. Also, for car enthusiasts, this engine sounds pretty nice and the turbocharger also has a blow off valve which makes a fine whistle sound when you take the foot off the accelerator, but which is only audible with the windows open and without any music playing, so it won't bother you if you're not into these things.

The utility of this part is that it allows for immediate dispersion of the gases from the turbine when they're not needed for boost anymore, basically reducing the mechanical stress from the turbocharger and the engine, contributing to better reliability and ensuring that the mechanisms run under optimal conditions for longer.

I was able to get an average fuel consumption of 6.6 liters/100 kilometers when driving in the city, highway and on express roads, as well as 6.8 liters/100 km when driving only in the city with a 33% and 48% share of electric mode on each trip.

The fuel economy could have been better, but I adopted my usual spirited driving style, I didn't sacrifice the thermal comfort and the trips outside the city weren't the easiest, given the snowy and icy roads.

Jeep Avenger is not just another subcompact SUV

Jeep Avenger has a difficult mission, as it needs to differentiate itself in a more packed market than ever before, since we have a lot of subcompact SUVs that want to be good in the cities, as well as for occasional off roading. I think that this car manages to come out on top in this market segment and you'll see this even before you get behind the wheel.

Most subcompact SUVs have lengths that go beyond the 4.1 meters threshold and top up at nearly 4.3 meters, which brings them close to the compact category. Avenger's length reaches just 4.08 meters, so just under 4.1 and thus, it is a veritable city-focused model that's also fairly square-ish, which helps when learning the dimensions of the vehicle.

It is more compact than the likes of the Toyota Yaris Cross, a Fiat 600 or even a Volkswagen T-Cross, for example. So, a big bonus from the get-go, because you can park it very easy and it's also very maneuverable around tight city streets and alleyways and the weight on the mild hybrid model is just under 1.2 tons, making it more fuel efficient and easy to brake, with nippy accelerations.

The Avenger impresses with the space it has for its small size

What I didn't expect was to find a spacious interior, given the car's reduce dimensions. I was easily able to get in the back, even with the front seat sitting behind the B pillar (the pillar in the middle of the chassis) and with the front seat set for a 1.73 meters-tall adult like myself there was plenty of legroom and space for the head.

In the front, there's even more space, as this is the case for pretty much any other car, and there are lots of storage spaces in the center console, as well as on the doors, while the dashboard is sculpted in a way that allows you to store things like your phone or wallets easily. I would have liked to see some rubber there, as the objects tend to slide when taking a corner. The glovebox is pretty decent in itself, while the central armrest, which slides front-back, is a bit smaller in terms of the space it offers on the inside, but there are plenty of other places to store objects and more importantly, it is comfortable even on longer trips.

The boot is 355 liters in size and it can be expanded by folding the rear seat, which can be done partially or completely. For its standard size, the boot seems pretty spacious to me, given the reduced size of the car and this is thanks to the square-ish design of the vehicle.

Even if it has a flatter design to keep the aspect of a Jeep, the Avenger gives the impression of a modern design that's very chic, but also practical and while it's a subcompact car, I feel like the design would fit a man very well.

Durable and good quality materials on the Avenger

Unfortunately, Jeep added on the Avenger more of the hard plastic than soft materials, but I personally think that this will help the car in the long run. Firstly, I'd like to mention that the materials are good quality and the plastic added both on the inside and outside is matte and has a more rugged texture, so it will hold up better against dirt and you'll be able to clean it easier. However, there are companies, like Renault, which despite adding quite a bit of plastic on the inside of their cars, at least managed to install the recycled varieties, enabling better sustaiability for their vehicles. Two of those models are the Renault Megane E-Tech and the Scenic E-Tech, both which have been tested here on Green Start-Up.

Also, since this is a model that is likely to see some off roading from time to time and in which you might get some dirt, the rigid materials make it easier to maintain. Also, the seats are made from a textile material and with eco-leather on the sides, so just as easy to clean. Both of the front seats and the backseat are comfortable, while the front ones have manual adjustments and are heated, which happens very quickly.

I've had the top-end Summit version for my testing, but there are two other trims available, namely the entry-level Longitude and the mid Altitude version. Summit offers 18 inch alloy wheels, which still behave very well on off road scenarios, the heated windshield and seats, as well as the full LED headlights.

On the front doors you'll find some softer materials, which feels very nice and it's similar to the one on the armrest, while the dashboard is covered with a fine plastic that's of the matte variety, so it will hold up better against dust and fingerprints.

Practically, I can't fault the car with regards to its materials and I can't complain that we don't have more premium materials, because the price would have gone up and they would have been more difficult to clean, given that this is a model that will encourage you to drive it off road. I like that the plastic installed on the car doesn't flex or vibrate and that there are no gaps that would give a cheap look and feel, which I feel are more important than having poorly-installed higher-quality materials.

With Jeep Avenger, the fun begins where the asphalt ends

I said that Jeep kept the company's DNA when designing the Avenger and that's true especially when you leave the road with the car or when authorities do the usual job whenever any bit of snow falls. Yes, the car behaves nicely on the road, but that's where pretty much any car will perform well, so the differences emerge when there's snow on the road, under icy conditions or on country roads.

I was lucky enough to test the Avenger hybrid right after the only snowfall we got this season around Bucharest and although I didn't find much snow in the city, there was plenty in the villages around the city. Basically, I drove the avenger for a few tens of kilometers on national or county roads that were covered at least partly, if not totally, in snow, ice or muddy snow and despite me having the front-wheel drive version of the Avenger, the trips were a breeze. The suspension did its job perfectly, the high ground clearance didn't give the impression that the floor would scratch any obstacle and the traction control systems implemented by Jeep didn't leave the impression that I could lose control.

This is where the difference between other subcompact or compact SUVs and the Jeep model comes into play and I didn't need to use the snow mode, which basically optimizes the ESP, traction control and steering to offer better control and helps you get out of trouble easier. I only activated it once to see how it works and indeed it gives you even more confidence in case you find deeper snow, but I think that if you are slightly more experienced and you have good tires, you won't even need the 4xe version, unless you live in the mountains or around harder-to-access roads.

Being a modern car with many safety systems and advanced traction control, I was afraid it was going to try and take control over me when I was driving on snowy and icy roads. But Jeep once again proves that it optimized the system in such a way that the car lets you have control more than an ordinary car would, while still keeping an eye out.

As I said, the 4xe version is for sure even more fun and more capable in off road situations and can even get better fuel economy, because it packs an additional electric motor on the back axile, while also sporting that independent suspension. Additionally, the ground clearance is one centimeter higher, at 21 cm, being identical to the Duster 3, but on a shorter and lighter car.

Jeep Avenger is packed full with technology and fun on the inside, as well

When it comes to technology, Jeep Avenger has all the latest tech on board that you need in 2025 and the systems work very well, without being too obnoxious. In some modern cars, the safety systems and the sensors make their presence felt way too much and make a bit too many corrections, which may become tiring, even if you can configure them in such a way to act with a delayed response.

Out of the factory, it seems that Jeep engineers hit a sweet spot, so that the systems for traction control, lane departure warning or emergency braking do their job very well, but without beeping continuously. Also, the car doesn't make excessive corrections when it comes to keeping the lane, so it lets you get a bit closer to the markings and it allows you to drive your way, while monitoring your actions, still, in case of an emergency.

The parking sensors also work well and the camera has a good quality, while the sensor for road sign recognition does a good job at updating the display in real time. Additionally, the sounds for the safety systems, such as the one for excessive speed have a nice and playful tone and I really liked them here, because usually, they are quire annoying. The turn signal indicator has a very funky, beatbox-like sound to it and it almost makes you dance every time you use it.

The audio system on the Summit version is a 6 speakers JBL one and it sound excellent, with a preference towards bass, but with a fairly balanced sound overall. So, if you like listening to more modern music with plenty of bass, you will be very pleased with what you find on the Jeep Avenger.

You can equalize the sound to your liking from the 10.25 inch tablet installed in the center of the dashboard, which has a simple and fairly intuitive design, but you'll have to spend some time when you first get the car to learn it. In the climate section you will also find settings for the auto air conditioning system with one zone, as well as for the heated front seats, also available on the Summit version.

I would have liked to see heated steering, as well as to have more accessible buttons for activating the heated seats, with buttons installed on the center console, for example, but at least the heated windshield can be easily turned on from a button found on the left side of the steering column.

At the same time, the driver display can be customized from the central tablet by accessing system and screens, where you can also customize the display of the tablet.

At first, it was a bit difficult to figure out how to navigate the display of the driver display, which can be done like this: on the left and right sticks found besides the steering wheel, you will find two buttons. The one on the left switches between the display pages to show the map, the engine and battery configuration, as well as the consumption, while the one on the right is used to switch between complications, meaning the submenus from one of the main pages.

I would have liked it if these changes could have been made easier, with the help of up-down-left-right arrows, like it's the case in Renault, Suzuki, Mercedes, Dacia and other car brands. In fact, even Jeep has this sort of simpler navigation system installed in other models, such as the Gladiator or the Wrangler, which have a slightly different layout for the steering.

Once you find your way around the buttons in the Avenger and the customization that can be done from the central consolr, you won't have any more trouble, but this is a fairly specific system. It's far from a dealbreaker, though and you will get used to it fairly quickly, you just need to give yourself some time to adapt.

Otherwise, as far as the systems and the software are concerned, the Jeep Avenger comes with all the safety systems that you find on other cars in 2025 and they work very well, but they give you more control, so for those that want a car that feels more like "the good old days", this is definitely one to consider.

Prices and conclusions for the Jeep Avenger mild hybrid

I was talking at the beginning of this test drive about the Avenger's competition, which isn't very broad considering the class and even more restrained considering off road capabilities.

The price for the Summit model that I've had for testing is almost 33.000 euros, while a Volkswagen T-Cross reaches around 30.000 euros, but lacks a hybrid powertrain and the Yaris Cross reaches nearly 33.000 euros in its Exclusive trim with front-wheel drive, as well, while it can reach over 36.000 euros for the GR Sport edition.

So, Jeep Avenger fits the market fairly well considering the price and is a very compelling model, especially for those who want a more compact car that doesn't fully sacrifice the space on the inside. Avenger differentiates itself from its rivals with better ground clearance than the T-Cross and with traction systems that are better optimized for off road scenarios than the other two, even on the version with FWD.

Compared to other compact and subcompact SUVs, which can be driven on less accessible roads, but which weren't specifically designed for this, Jeep Avenger is the result of the know-how implemented by a traditionally off road-focused manufacturer. So, cars designed for people who take off roading even remotely seriously and who want to have among the best performance on such tracks.

Jeep Avenger is efficient in the city, playful and fun to drive, very comfortable, fast and fairly dynamic and the real fun begins on roads where you might not feel the most confident in other cars, since it has something in its DNA from the bigger brothers, the Wrangler or Grand Cherokee.