When the small Jeep Avenger was announced for 2023, it represented something once unthinkable in the Jeep world. It was a single-motor EV that only turned the front wheels. Jeep purists cried sacrilege. Rocks at Moab allegedly wept. It was an off-road nightmare come true.
But the world didn’t end. In fact, the Avenger is incredibly popular in Europe. That popularity was elevated with subsequent 4xe models introuding hybrid powertrains and actual four-wheel drive. Orders topped 200,000 units last year, numbers we’re sure Jeep would love to have in North America. And now, an updated model is on the way.
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Lots Of Camo Hiding Small Changes
Jeep Avenger New Spy PhotoCarBuzz / Valnet
The CarBuzz spy photographers nabbed all kinds of photos of a new Avenger prototype, testing its little heart out in the snowy north. We have some nice photos of the little crossover on the move, but ironically, the best shots come from a gas station where the prototype was parked and unattended.
As such, the camera gets very close, allowing us to suss out some changes we wouldn’t normally see. The front fascia, for example, has slightly different lines for the faux corner vents.
Jeep Avenger New Spy PhotoCarBuzz / Valnet
They appear to be a bit smaller, and trim from the wheel arches appears to swoop down, blending into the front fascia instead of stopping abruptly. Further up, the small driving lamps are still there, but the housings look squared off. Heavy camo covers the grille, suggesting some changes to the seven-bar motif are coming.
Everything along the side looks the same, and nearly everything at the back does, too. Even the taillights, which are often swapped out during a refresh, look the same. The only thing that might change is the way the rear fascia lines up with the rear hatch. But the camo conceals enough body line to confirm anything. It’s quite possible Jeep is just playing games here.
More Camo For Minimal Changes Inside
Jeep Avenger Interior Spy PhotoCarBuzz / Valnet
We feel confident the interior will also have minor changes despite the heavy covers over just about everything. From what we can see, the center console, steering wheel, door panels, and general dash design will carry over from the current model. The center touchscreen looks to be the same width, but it might be a bit taller. The Avenger presently has a 10.25-inch display, which isn’t small for a small crossover. But there is certainly room to expand if Jeep sees fit.
Aside from that, trim variations could be hiding under the covers. It’s also possible Jeep has some controls relocated. There are already a reasonable amount of physical controls; hopefully Jeep doesn’t relegate more functions to touchscreen operation.
Expect Current Powertrains To Carry Over
Jeep Avenger New Spy PhotoCarBuzz / Valnet
The Avenger first launched as an electric vehicle, but this prototype has a gas engine. There’s no missing the small exhaust pipe on the passenger side of the rear fascia, and we think this is a 4xe trim based on the snow we see in the rear wheel wells. Our spies don’t have any information regarding powertrain changes, but sticking with the current arrangement is highly likely.
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For electric-only versions, that would mean a single motor turning just the front wheels with apprximately 150 horsepower. All other Avengers have a turbocharged 1.2-liter gas engine, which in 4xe trim can generate a combined 136 hp that goes to all four wheels. Lesser versions are still front-wheel drive, though you can get a manual tranmission for shifting your own gears. And when it comes to refreshes, some tweaks for a bit more power are always possible.
This is our first sighting of the updated Avenger. At this time, there’s still no plan to bring it into the US market, and we doubt that will change. Stellantis recently announced it was dropping all Jeep 4xe models in the US, and a 100-hp FWD Jeep, no matter how inexpensive it might be, doesn’t sound like something that would fly in US dealerships. For Europe, the new Avenger should arrive in 2027.
