About 3 months after the launch of the Jeep Avenger in Israel, another version is joining the showroom. This time, it does not have an electric drive, but rather a gasoline engine with electric reinforcement of a 48V battery, which is called the mild hybrid or moderate hybrid. In these cars, the electric motor, usually combined with the starter or between the gearbox, allows for light electric assistance for short periods at the start of movement and also extends the periods in which the vehicle can operate its systems even when the gasoline engine is off. According to the manufacturer's data, the 0.9 kWh battery can propel the vehicle with electric power for a single kilometer.
Behind the 7-slot grille of the Jeep, the 1.2-liter turbocharged engine with 3 cylinders of the Stellantis group is refined. The gasoline engine produces 100 hp and 20.9 kg-m of torque, while the electric one generates 28.1 hp and 5.6 kg-m. Jeep does not publish combined power data, but in the Alpha Junior twin, this combination produces 136 hp.
The drive is front-wheel, and power comes through a dual-clutch gearbox with 6 transmission ratios. The performance is moderate - 10.9 seconds to 100 km/h and a maximum speed of 183 km/h.
The official combined fuel consumption stands at 20.4 kilometers per liter, a figure that is much closer to that of hybrid models than to those of gasoline models of this size. The question is whether this really happens in real life.
In terms of external dimensions, there are no differences between the two versions: 4.08 meters in overall length, 1.78 meters in width, 1.59 meters in height, a wheelbase of 256 centimeters, and a cargo compartment volume of 380 liters. However, the weight stands at 1,280 kilograms for the gasoline version compared to 1,595 for the electric one.
The Avenger with the gasoline engine will come in two trim levels: Altitude will be the entry version and Summit the higher-end one. The equipment includes a 10.25-inch instrument cluster and a multimedia screen of the same size, Apple and Android connectivity, LED lighting, gear indicators behind the steering wheel, and more. The higher trim level will replace the 17-inch rims with 18-inch ones, feature ambient lighting, keyless entry, and an electric cargo compartment door.
The safety equipment includes lane departure warning, automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, integrated speed limit recognition in the cruise control, and in the higher trim level, also vehicle detection in "off-road mode," lane departure prevention, a reverse camera (sensors only in the entry version), and automatic light control.
The price for the Altitude trim level is NIS 155,000, and the Summit trim level will cost NIS 170,000. This pricing not only makes it the cheapest model in Jeep's offerings but also significantly expands its range of competitors and its relevance in the market. These price ranges include competitors such as the Hyundai Kona, higher-end equipment versions of its sibling platform Fiat 2008, the hybrid version of the Nissan Juke, and more. The Avenger is slightly smaller, but it comes with a more distinguished brand.