Jeep's first electric vehicle lands in NZ, pricing confirmed

Monday, 13 November 2023

The Jeep Avenger launches in New Zealand with a single model and a single price.

The local arm of American carmaker Jeep has confirmed that the brand’s first fully electric vehicle, the Avenger compact crossover, has joined its line-up.

For the moment, there is just one Avenger model being offered; the Limited Launch Edition. It is priced from $67,005, or $59,990 drive away after the $7,015 Clean Car Discount rebate is applied.

The Jeep Avenger will represent the first all-electric offering from the brand.

At that price, the Avenger goes toe-to-toe with the likes of the BYD Atto 3, MG ZS EV, Opel Mokka-e, and Peugeot e-2008.

The brand notes that it has a “very limited number” of 50 Launch Edition Avengers in stock, and that the model’s introductory pricing will only last until December 31 of this year.

From its 54kWh li-ion battery pack, the Avenger boasts a 402km range on the WLTP cycle. For the moment, the model is only available in front-wheel drive format, powered by a 115kW/260Nm electric motor.

The Launch Edition gets dual screens, a massaging driver’s seat, an electric tailgate, and more.

Standard kit on the model includes 18-inch polished wheels, a 10.25-inch digital cluster, 10.1-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, heated front seats, a massaging driver’s seat, kick-to-open electric tailgate, wireless device charging, and more.

“The impending arrival of the award-winning, all-new BEV Jeep Avenger to New Zealand is very timely and is the right choice for those who are looking for a compact, robust, and stylish SUV that exudes state of the art technology, space, and comfort, while staying true to Jeep design,” said Jeep general sales manager Todd Groves.

“All of this while offering the satisfaction of a zero-exhaust emission SUV, which compliments Jeep NZs already established clean car position in the industry and will continue to help with New Zealand’s overall goal of decarbonisation.”

The Avenger has been on sale in Europe for most of 2023, where it’s already collected numerous accolades, including the European Car of the Year gong, and Women’s World Car of the Year’s Best Family SUV.

“We’re honoured and proud that this distinguished jury of European automotive experts, has chosen the first-ever Jeep brand fully-electric SUV as European Car of the Year,” Jeep chief executive Christian Meunier said earlier in the year.

“This is the first time that the Jeep brand has been both a finalist and a winner in this competition and it showcases the significance of the Jeep Avenger as a key component in our global electrification strategy, as the brand moves towards becoming the world leader in zero-emission SUVs,” he added.

“Congratulations to all the other finalists in what was a tough competition.”

Whilst the Avenger is the first dedicated EV to be offered by Jeep, it isn’t the brand’s first plug-in model. Earlier this year the brand added three plug-in hybrids to its range; the Renegade 4XE, Compass 4XE, and Grand Cherokee 4XE – priced from $69,990, $77,490, and $154,990 respectively.