Used Jeep Avenger 2023-present review

Given Jeep's legacy of producing large, rugged off-roaders, pairing the words “small” and “Jeep” might once have seemed like an odd mismatch. That changed in 2023 with the arrival of the Jeep Avenger – the smallest SUV the brand has ever made. It also marked a milestone as the first Jeep designed primarily for road use and European tastes.

You could argue that Jeep’s position within Stellantis helped make the Avenger’s creation possible. You see, the Avenger shares its underpinnings with several other small SUVs made by Stellantis, including the Fiat 600, Peugeot 2008 and Vauxhall Mokka, among others. It also enabled the creation of the Jeep Avenger Electric – another first for Jeep, marking its entry into the electric SUV market.

While the Avenger is more road-focused than Jeeps of old, you can have a four-wheel-drive version if that's what you want. Otherwise, all Avengers are front-wheel drive.

Engines: The Avenger is offered with a range of petrol, mild hybrid (MHEV) and electric power options. The lineup starts with a 99bhp 1.2-litre petrol unit, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. While its power figure might not sound like much, the engine has enough grunt to get you up to motorway speeds without much hassle.

If you want an automatic gearbox, there are several other options, including the Avenger e-Hybrid. It has the same 1.2-litre engine but adds MHEV tech. Performance is similar to the petrol version, with 0-62mph taking 10.4sec (as opposed to 10.6sec).

The 4xe gets the same gearbox and MHEV set-up as the e-Hybrid, but with two electric motors, each pumping out 28bhp, to give it four-wheel drive. That extra power cuts the 0-62mph time to 9.5 seconds, but you don’t notice a difference in everyday driving.

Last but not least, there’s the Avenger Electric. It’s powered by a 154bhp electric motor and a 54kWh battery. Performance isn’t as quick as a Smart #1, but it’s more than sufficient, with 0-62mph taking 9.0sec. The official range is 249 miles, which is good but the #1 and Hyundai Kona Electric 65kWh can travel slightly farther.

Ride and handling: Unlike most Jeeps, the Avenger feels most at home in urban environments, where its small dimensions and tight turning circle make it very easy to drive.

That said, it’s not a sporty drive. A Ford Puma grips harder, leans less and is much sharper in the bends. While the Avenger puts comfort ahead of dynamics, the balance between the two is very good.

As you might expect, the 4xe is the most capable off-road, with 10mm extra ground clearance compared with the front-wheel-drive versions (which have 200mm) and protective cladding. It also gets off-road drive modes (Sand, Snow and Mud) and hill descent control.

Interior and practicality: It’s very easy to get comfortable behind the wheel of the Avenger, with plenty of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel. If you want adjustable lumbar support, you’ll have to keep an eye out for it because it’s an option on new cars.

The Jeep Avenger’s interior is pleasing to look at, with a simple design and colourful design (on upper trims). The 4xe version gets a few rugged extras, including rubber floor mats and a more robust fabric on the seats.

Unfortunately, the dashboard and doors are mostly made up of hard and scratchy plastics, which gives the impression that the car’s been built to a budget. Alternatives, including the Lexus LBX and Volkswagen T-Roc, are plusher inside.

All Avengers have a digital driver's display, with a 7.0in screen in entry-level Longitude trim and a 10.3in version in other models. Meanwhile, in the centre of the dashboard there’s a 10.3in touchscreen that’s fairly easy to glance at while driving. The infotainment system within the screen isn’t the most intuitive to use, though, with a confusing menu layout and an occasionally slow touchscreen response. The system in the Renault Captur is better.

The Jeep Avenger is dinky even by small SUV standards, so it's not the most practical model in the class. As such, space upfront is fine for two six-footers to sit comfortably, but leg room in the back is very tight, especially if you’re sitting behind a tall driver.

In terms of boot space, front-wheel-drive petrol Avengers have the most room, with 380 litres of capacity. That trails the Puma and 2008, but it should be enough for a family weekend trip away.

The Avenger 4xe has the smallest boot in the range because of the extra electric motor, with 325 litres of space. The Jeep Avenger Electric beats that with 355 litres of storage.

No matter the version, the Avenger's rear seatbacks split and fold in a 60/40 format so you can extend the boot. That’s pretty standard for the class.

Trims and equipment: There are three main trim levels available with the Avenger.

The entry-level option is Longitude, which includes 16in alloy wheels, air conditioning, cruise control, automatic wipers and keyless entry.

Above that is mid-spec Altitude, which gets you a smarter interior with silver trim finishers, a faux-leather steering wheel, 17in alloys, adaptive cruise control and climate control.

Range-topping Summit is limited to the e-Hybrid version and comes with 18in wheels, rear privacy glass, heated front seats, a wireless phone-charging pad and a powered tailgate.

The 4xe version gets its own bespoke trim levels: Upland, Overland and the North Face Edition.

“Everyone wants an automatic gearbox these days, but I found the Avenger’s six-speed manual to be just as pleasant to drive as the auto. The shift action is neat and precise, which makes it a real joy to use.” – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

If you're interested in buying a used Jeep Avenger or any of the cars we've mentioned, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at a great price.

Despite being the most expensive version new, the Avenger Electric is one of the cheapest used versions, with prices starting from around £17,000 for range-topping Summit models. This is mostly because the electric model came out before the petrol version, with it arriving in 2023 as opposed to 2024.

The petrol manual Avenger comes in at the same price, but this will get you a 2024 car in entry-level Altitude trim. Longitude and Summit versions cost a bit more, with prices starting from £19,000 and £21,000 respectively.

The e-Hybrid and 4xe are the newest versions, so these cost a bit more. Prices start from around £22,000 for late 2024 models, with a range of trims available.

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MPG

The Avenger should be cheap to run, with the petrol version averaging 49.6mpg, according to official tests. The 4xe boosts official fuel efficiency to 52.3mpg, while the e-Hybrid version is the most efficient on paper, averaging 57.6mpg.

Road Tax

Most versions of the Avenger – including the Electric model – will attract the flat rate fee of £195 per year. Electric versions registered after 1 April 2025 will have a slightly lower rate of £190 per year.

Insurance

The petrol Avengers are the cheapest to insure, with these sitting in insurance group 22. That’s similar to the T-Roc, but it’s more than a Puma. The e-Hybrid versions are the most expensive to insure in group 28, while the electric models sit in the middle in group 25.

Servicing

Servicing costs for the Avenger are competitive with its small SUV rivals. We were quoted £150 for a basic service and up to £300 for a major one.

Safety

The Avenger didn't do very well when it was safety tested by Euro NCAP in 2024. It received just three stars out of five, with vulnerable road users and safety assist categories scoring particularly low, at just 59% and 53% respectively.

On the plus side, you do get plenty of safety aids as standard, including automatic emergency braking (AEB) with cyclist and pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, traffic-sign recognition and a driver attention monitoring system.

Warranty

From new, every Avenger comes with a standard three-year warranty, which includes 24 months of manufacturer's warranty and an additional 12 months provided by the retailer. That’s similar to what Ford and Volkswagen’s warranty offers, but Hyundai and Kia provide cover for much longer.

Reliability

The Jeep Avenger is too new to feature in our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, and Jeep didn’t receive enough responses to appear in our brand rankings. However, past data doesn’t inspire confidence – Jeep finished last in our 2023 brand rankings.

Our long-term test of an Avenger Electric also revealed issues. The driver display and infotainment went blank at start-up and required a software fix. More seriously, the car once refused to start or engage gear, needing 10 days at the dealer to resolve.

Find out more about Jeep Avenger reliability on our dedicated reliability page.

Engine

While we can see the appeal of the e-Hybrid, it’s still an expensive buy used, so we’d steer you towards the 1.2-litre petrol version. It’s one of the cheapest versions to buy and running costs are competitive. The manual gearbox is pleasant to use, too.

If you’re tempted by the Avenger Electric, we wouldn’t steer you away from it because it’s very well priced. It’s a good choice, but you will be getting an older example for the same money as the petrol version.

Specification

Attitude is the entry-level trim, but it still gives you a decent amount of kit, including cruise control, automatic wipers and keyless entry. It’s a popular choice and there are plenty available for a good price on the used market. Longitude and Summit models are more expensive, unless you’re going for the Electric version.

Our favourite Jeep Avenger: 1.2 Altitude

The Ford Puma is a cracking small SUV, especially when buying used. There are plenty available for a very good price, with many coming in cheaper than the Avenger. It’s also surprisingly practical, with a good amount of space in the back and a big boot.

The Toyota Yaris Cross is certainly worth your attention. It’s a hybrid, so fuel costs should be low, while practicality and reliability impress. It’s similarly priced to the Avenger when buying used, too.

If comfort is a top priority, the Volkswagen T-Roc is one of the best small SUVs. It has a very supple ride and interior quality is top notch, especially on later facelift models. Practicality is a strong point too, but it is expensive.

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If you're interested in buying a used Jeep Avenger or any of the cars we've mentioned, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at a great price.