Jeep’s first EV wins Europe’s top new-vehicle award

What happened? Jeep’s first all-electric model wins Europe’s top new-vehicle trophy.

What is it? The Jeep Avenger, a subcompact SUV.

How much will it cost? Prices start at €39,500 (US$42,430).

When can you buy it? Now, if you live in Europe. Probably never in the United States.

Jeep scored a surprise victory as its first all-electric vehicle, the subcompact Avenger, was named 2023 European Car of the Year. Production of Avengers just began at the former Fiat Chrysler assembly plant in Tychy, Poland that also builds the Fiat 500 and Lancia Ypsilon subcompact cars.

The win is an early endorsement of strategy and product development at Stellantis, the massive new automaker formed by the merger of French-based PSA and Italian-American Fiat Chrysler.

The Avenger is unlikely ever to be sold in the United States. It’s too small, measuring just over 160 inches long, more than 6 inches shorter than the little Renegade SUV that’s the smallest Jeep sold here.

It won over about 50 of Europe’s top automotive writers, however. Based in 22 countries, the jurors tested the Avenger in December. Vehicles had to be for sale to the public at announced prices in at least five member countries by Dec. 31 to be eligible for the award.

Developed in Europe

The Avenger isn’t based on one of the new architectures Stellantis is developing for eagerly awaited EVs like the recently revealed Ram pickup that was unveiled at the CES show in January. It uses the PSA-developed CMP architecture that underpins conventionally powered vehicles including the Peugeot 208 and Opel Mokka.

The Avenger was engineered and designed in Europe.

Key development elements to make the little Avenger a credible Jeep include:

7.8 inches of ground clearance.
Approach, departure and breakover angles that enable off-road capability.
Short overhangs.
Big wheels.

Visually, the Avenger is immediately recognizable as a Jeep, including hexagonal wheel opening, seven-slot grille and Grand Cherokee-style C-pillar.

The grille slots are closed, though. Unlike internal combustion engines, the Avenger’s electric motor doesn’t require a constant flow of air to cool it.

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Other aspects of the Avenger:

Front-wheel drive only now, AWD coming in 2024.
400-volt electrical system for quick charging.
115 kW/154 hp electric motor.
192 pound-feet of torque.
248-mile range on WLTP test cycle, which tends to be more generous than U.S. EPA estimates.
24 minute 20%-80% charging time at 100 kW.