Jeep Avenger

As well as an EV, Jeep's baby ius available as a modest petrol manual, an electrified petrol auto and a 4WD hybrid off-roader Having attracted more than 280,000 customers since its launch in 2023, the Avenger has been far and away Jeep’s biggest European hit. Right-sized for the continent and with rugged styling, decent driving dynamics and wide choice of powertrains, it’s not hard to understand why it has found so many willing buyers.So in order to maintain interest in its big seller, Jeep has treated it to a mid-life update that keeps things fresh without diluting the winning formula. Subtly revised looks and an interior that has been sprinkled with some enhanced premium appeal are the most obvious changes, while under the skin there have been some tweaks aimed at improving reliability and, in the all-wheel drive 4xe’s case, adding some extra off-road capability. As before, the Avenger is available in four main trim levels (Longitude, Altitude, Summit and Skyview), plus there’s the option of a limited-run version that celebrates the firm’s 85th anniversary (it’s called, erm, the 85th Anniversary). Not all the prices for the facelifted model have yet been revealed, but expect it to start from somewhere around £26,000 –slightly more than the admittedly less trendy Peugeot 2008 with which it shares its underpinnings.The entry-level powertrains is a revised turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol; the same engine can be paired with a mild hybrid assistance and six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox for an expected uplift in price of around £1,000. Finally, the fully electric Avenger, with its 249-mile range, starts at around £30,000 (before you take into account the Government’s plug-in grant), and that car is reviewed separately here.For buyers wanting to head off the beaten track there is also the Wrangler-imitating 4xe, which gets all-wheel drive by way of a second electric motor on the rear axle – along with a Scrappy-Doo character from its raised ride height, beefier bumpers, roof bars, tow hooks and underbody cladding. The 4xe model range features Upland and Overland trims, as well as that 85th Anniversary birthday special. Not all pricing has been announced, but expect to pay around £33,000 for the privilege of all-paw traction.