Jeep toughens electric Avenger with rugged look

Jeep has endeavored to give the standard Avenger some off-road ability despite it having only front-wheel drive.

A special ‘Selec-Terrain’ system offers six driving modes, three optimized to help traction in mud, sand or snow.

The number of small crossovers offering all-wheel drive is far smaller than the category itself, which this year overtook small cars to become Europe’s biggest.

The only electric all-wheel-drive small crossover currently available is the Smart #1 Brabus, focusing more on outright performance than off-road ability.

The Avenger 4×4’s electrified competitors will include Jeep’s own Renegade 4×4 plug-in hybrid, which six-inches longer than the Avenger.

The only other electrified all-wheel-drive small crossovers are the Toyota Yaris Cross hybrid and Mini Countryman plug-in hybrid.

The standard Avenger will be Jeep’s first full-electric model and go on sale in Europe in the spring. It will also be offered as a gasoline version in Spain and Italy but not with all-wheel drive.

The Avenger is built on a second-generation version of the Stellantis group’s eCMP electric platform that also underpins cars such as the Peugeot e-208, Opel/Vauxhall Mokka and Citroen e-C4.