Jeep Avenger 4xe Review (2024 - )

Jeep has always attracted a dedicated fanbase, writes Tim Barnes-Clay. Some folks love the off-roading ruggedness and unique look – and some appreciate the brand's history. After all, the U.S. marque, now under the Stellantis umbrella, has been linked with toughness and capability for years, all the way back to World War II when it was the American light four-wheel drive vehicle of choice for both the U.S. Military and its Allies. 

Fast-forward to current times, and the Jeep product model line-up focuses on sport utility vehicles (SUVs), some of which are two-wheel drive and others off-road-ready. 

The latest model, the Avenger 4xe, follows the standard Jeep Avenger - a two-wheel drive all-electric vehicle introduced in 2023, tailed by a hybrid variant a short while later. 

The new four-wheel drive 4xe (pronounced “four by e”) has a hybrid powertrain with two electric motors – one that, along with the petrol engine, drives the front wheels, and one on the rear axle that gives power and added grip to the back wheels. So, let's see what you can expect from this new addition to the Jeep family.

The Jeep Avenger 4xe is equipped with sleek yet strong outer armour designed for optimum protection in any condition on or off the road. It also sports novel anti-scratch bumpers for the front and specially created fog lights and roof rails, providing increased carrying capability. All-weather mud and snow tyres (Vector 4Seasons GEN-3 from Goodyear) are fitted to the 17-inch black wheels for year-round driving grip, too. 

Other touches, such as underbody protection, enhanced off-road capability, and the rear tow hook, will please Jeep purists. The X pattern on the front bumper, Jeep badges on the wheel hubs, and 4xe lettering on the rear hatch provide a unique flair.

The Avenger 4xe is available in three trims: Upland, Overland, and the exclusive flagship North Face Edition, which is driven for this review. 

Inside, the SUV features a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display and an identically sized touchscreen that offers integrated infotainment and a sat-nav; however, the system occasionally lags. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto operate wirelessly for enhanced connectivity, and the navigation is better on your phone.

Adaptive Cruise Control helps you keep a reasonable, safe distance from other vehicles, while Hill Descent Control ensures smooth descents on steep terrain. A 180-degree rear camera facilitates parking, and the auto-dimming mirror reduces glare at night. Keyless start helps with convenience, too. 

The Overland trim adds premium features such as LED headlights, privacy glass, and advanced driver assistance systems, including 360-degree parking sensors and a blind spot monitor.

The North Face Edition is a limited release, with only 4,806 units produced, representing the height of Mont Blanc. It has gold details on black alloys, a signature grille, and an anti-glare bonnet sticker with The North Face logo, which combines the identity of the two brands. Topography lines feature on the dashboard, and there's a silhouette of Mont Blanc bearing the phrase "One of 4806" boldly under the Avenger logo, symbolising the limited edition's connection with the mountain height. 

Furthermore, the seats have a gold outline and are made from washable materials like those used to create The North Face's puffer jackets. On the back of the seats, you get elastic straps that remind you of backpacks. The Jeep also boasts multi-colour ambient lighting, a heated windscreen, and heated front seats. Passive entry and a hands-free power tailgate enhance practicality for outdoor adventures. 

The Avenger 4xe features a 48V hybrid system. Its 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine produces 134bhp and is supported by dual 21kW electric motors at the front and rear. The powertrain offers a combined output of 144bhp.

The Jeep is more entertaining off-road than it is on the tarmac. No surprise there, given this is a car with all-wheel drive. On the tarmac, the SUV – the smallest in the brand's line-up, rolls a bit – and when pushed hard, the engine is far from refined. The six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is a bit highly strung – and not what you'd describe as slick. The Avenger 4xe doesn't always know when to be in electric or petrol mode – but it does eventually settle down, and you can start to have some fun with it, even if getting to 62mph takes 9.5 seconds. (You'll top out at 121mph if you keep going). 

We only drove two up on the launch, so the car might feel sluggish and fully laden with a couple of extra people in the back seats. However, with only some carry-on luggage in the boot, the Jeep feels relatively light and agile enough to thread through narrow city streets. It has sufficient poke to join faster roads without worrying that an articulated lorry will be up your backside, too. Furthermore, it shines on rural routes – and especially off the beaten track. Indeed, this is where any grin you have on the blacktop turns to joyous laughter. Why? Well, we took it along a rutted, muddy, gritty, rocky, hilly, soggy trail, and it coped admirably - thanks in no small part to its optimised off-road angles and decent 210mm ground clearance.

A key element of the Avenger 4xe's capability off-road is the 22.7:1 reducer on the rear axle, delivering excellent rear-wheel torque and ensuring brilliant grip even on steep hills. Speaking of which, the SUV will handle slopes up to 40 per cent on challenging, gravelly terrain and keep up to 20 per cent traction when the front axle has hardly any grip.

The car's intelligent all-wheel drive system ensures that 4x4 capabilities are always on hand when needed. Indeed, Jeep's 'Selec-Terrain' technology enables you to toggle between settings. The Auto mode provides all-wheel drive only when needed, balancing performance and allowing electric driving up to just over half a mile under 18.5mph; Snow boosts grip and stability - as you'd hope - in wintry weather, while Sand & Mud is great for uneven terrains. This mode features a specific gear map and traction control to keep you pointing in the right direction. Then you have the Sport setting, which gives you everything the 4xe system has to offer. This is for on-road driving - because it includes an E-boost function for rear-wheel torque to provide faster acceleration.

The Avenger 4xe is also fitted with Jeep's Multilink rear suspension. This enhances rear axle articulation, resulting in smoother rides on rough roads and across hardcore terrain.

The Jeep is fine for four adults, but if you're tall and sit behind someone with long legs, you won't have much legroom in the back – and your knees will be pressed hard into the seatback. It's a similar story if you're broad – two big blokes will constantly bump elbows. The front isn't too bad, though, to be fair. 

If you're after a compact SUV like this for family adventures and have a couple of tots, then the Avenger 4xe will be fine because Isofix anchor points are in the two rear outer seats. If pushed, you could even fit a third child on a booster seat in the middle, but really, this car is best suited to a family of four. 

The boot isn't massive at 325 litres, but as mentioned earlier, you'll fit a couple of flight bags. It's also large enough to accommodate a bunch of shopping bags and a folded baby buggy. Without rear seat passengers, space expands to 1218 litres if you put the rear seats down.

The North Face edition Avenger 4xe tested costs £34,999 and will officially do 52.3mpg; its CO2 emissions are 122g/km. We got late 40s mpg, but we were hooning the car about and gave it ‘what for’ on the off-road trail. Yes, the Avenger 4xe stood up to everything we drove up, down, across, and through. 

The compact SUV should be reliable – after all, Jeep has had decades to get the off-road bit sorted. Whether the interior will stand the test of time is another thing, but then again, it’s easy to wipe down and keep clean. The flappy magnetic pad covering the cubby in front of the automatic gear selector buttons feels particularly fragile and will probably wear and break over the years – but it's removable and, therefore, easily replaceable for a not unreasonable amount of money. 

The Jeep Avenger 4xe has a three-year/ 60,000-mile warranty and an eight-year/100,000-mile battery guarantee.

Apart from the few minor flaws on the road we’ve mentioned and the rear seats more suitable for skinny shorties than bulkier lofty folk, the Avenger 4xe is a blast – especially off-road. Even if all you ever do is go camping once a year – the Jeep will more than cope with whatever you have to drive over to get to your pitch – and you won’t be the one stuck going uphill in winter if there’s snow overnight. 

The Jeep has bags of character, and The North Face edition looks particularly impressive - and isn’t too bad on the efficiency front, either. The car won’t be to everyone’s taste – but it’s bound to appeal to those who have a sense of adventure and want something that stands out in the supermarket car park – or a mud-ridden campsite.