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Times are changing. Until recently, Jeep traded on the ability of its cars to reach parts others couldn\u2019t, but under the umbrella of the Stellantis group, it\u2019s on a mission to break new ground and boost the brand\u2019s market share.<\/p>\n
One of the first cars to arrive as part of Jeep\u2019s range expansion is the Avenger small electric SUV. Although it\u2019s new, it uses plenty of traditional Jeep styling cues, but the latest electric running gear means it has a battery range that could make it an appealing choice in the class.<\/p>\n
One car that isn\u2019t quite so competitive for range, but certainly matches the newcomer for style, is the Mazda MX-30. The Japanese model offers something different in the small SUV class, and while the rotary-equipped range extender is making plenty of headlines at the moment, it\u2019s the full-electric model we\u2019re testing here.<\/p>\n
Can the Avenger deliver more than funky looks? And does the MX-30 offer enough style and versatility to cancel out the handicap of its limited range?<\/p>\n
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| Model:<\/td>\n | Jeep Avenger Summit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Price:<\/td>\n | \u00a339,600<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Powertrain:<\/td>\n | 1x e-motor, 154bhp<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0-62mph:<\/td>\n | 9.6 seconds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Test efficiency:<\/td>\n | 4.3 miles\/kWh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Test range:<\/td>\n | 219 miles<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Annual VED:<\/td>\n | \u00a30<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n While the Avenger is the smallest car in Jeep\u2019s line-up, its electric powertrain contributes to a starting price of \u00a335,700. This top-spec Summit costs \u00a339,600, although options including leather trim and metallic paint with a contrasting roof colour bump our test car\u2019s price up to \u00a342,425.<\/p>\n Tech highlights\u00a0<\/h2>\nJeep is a newcomer to the small electric SUV class, but the tech under the bodywork is familiar. That\u2019s because the Avenger uses the same STLA small platform as cars such as the Peugeot E-2008 and Vauxhall Mokka Electric, and it benefits from the second-generation EV technology that they have.<\/p>\n That means a 54kWh battery with an 11kW charging system is fitted, while the electric motor sends 154bhp and 260Nm of torque to the front wheels. Where the Avenger diverges from its relatives within the Stellantis group is in terms of size. At 4,084mm, the Avenger is 311mm shorter than the Mazda here, and is only slightly longer than a VW Polo supermini, making the Avenger one of the smallest cars in the class.<\/p>\n What the Jeep lacks in size it makes up for with style, because it uses the company\u2019s familiar design cues, such as the seven-bar grille, squared-off wheelarches and body-coloured C-pillars. There are lots of \u2018Easter eggs\u2019 in the design, too, such as the mountain peak that surrounds the rear wiper, a compass set into the lower front grille, and stylised Jeep logos dotted around outside. In some ways these neat touches remind us of a MINI.<\/p>\n Safety:<\/strong> The Avenger hasn\u2019t been tested by Euro NCAP yet, but uses the same tech as other STLA-based models. However you will have to choose top-spec Summit trim for advanced kit such as adaptive cruise with lane centring, a rear camera and auto main beam.\u00a0<\/p>\n Jeep\u2019s ability to build capable off-roaders is a given, but the Avenger feels accomplished on tarmac.<\/p>\n Around town: <\/strong>With its compact dimensions and relatively high driving position, the Avenger is well suited to urban driving. Light controls make it a doddle to manoeuvre, while the electric motor provides plenty of low-speed response.\u00a0<\/p>\n There are three drive modes \u2013 Eco, Normal and Sport \u2013 and in the default Normal setting, power is limited to 110bhp, although this is more than enough for town use and preserves battery range. Switch to the Eco mode and power drops to 80bhp, but the lack of power is counter-productive because you work the motor harder to make progress.\u00a0<\/p>\n As with other Stellantis EVs, the Avenger has a \u2018B\u2019 mode which boosts the brake regeneration when lifting off, so you only really need to touch the brakes when coming to a complete halt.<\/p>\n A & B-roads:<\/strong> Most of the time, Normal mode is fine on faster roads, too, while switching to the Sport setting sees throttle response become snappier, which takes a bit of getting used to. If you\u2019re in Normal mode and need the extra power for an overtake, there\u2019s an auto-style \u2018kickdown\u2019 in the pedal travel that unlocks maximum power.<\/p>\n The Avenger\u2019s steering is quick, while the ride is well resolved, with limited body roll in corners and good grip. Bumps are dealt with well, while the Avenger\u2019s relatively low kerbweight means it feels nimble when compared with other EVs.<\/p>\n Motorway:<\/strong> This agility doesn\u2019t come at the expense of refinement at higher speeds, where the Avenger feels stable and comfortable. There\u2019s not much wind noise, while even the 18-inch wheels don\u2019t have much of an impact on cabin noise.\u00a0<\/p>\n From behind the wheel, the Avenger feels like a small car, but not one that feels cramped. There\u2019s a good range of adjustment for the driver\u2019s seat, while the view forward is good. The flat bonnet will cause reflections in some light situations, although Jeep offers a matt-black bonnet graphic as an accessory if it bothers you.<\/p>\n The rear view isn\u2019t quite so good, with a narrow back window and thick C-pillars limiting visibility. However, all Avengers come with rear parking sensors, while a reversing camera is standard on Summit cars, and an option on other trims.<\/p>\n Cabin quality is a mixed bag. Other Jeeps use hard plastics to make a point about their ruggedness, but this doesn\u2019t really work in the Avenger and it feels lower rent next to the Mazda here. However, the Jeep\u2019s coloured dashboard trim gives the interior a lift, the screens look smart, and the multifunction steering wheel is good to hold and easy to use.\u00a0<\/p>\n Additionally, the various little design details dotted around the car help to counter the use of familiar Stellantis switchgear in other places.\u00a0<\/p>\n Efficiency: <\/strong>Where the Avenger steals a march over its rival here \u2013 and a lot of other small SUVs \u2013 is with its efficiency. The Jeep returned 4.3 miles per kWh during our time with it, and that included a couple of longer motorway runs; keep your speed down, and we\u2019d expect to see even better figures. Either way you should be able to cover 200 miles on a full charge without issue.\u00a0<\/p>\n Faster on-board charging tech means that while the Avenger has a bigger battery than the Mazda, it takes a similar time to top up, with a 20-80 per cent DC charge at 100kW taking 24 minutes.<\/p>\n We tested these two cars in late summer when the temperatures were in the high teens and low 20s, but both cars feature heat pumps as standard, which will limit the reduction in range when temperatures drop.<\/p>\n The Avenger is small and compromised for passengers, but boot space is fine.<\/p>\n Rear Space:<\/strong> The main factor limiting the Avenger\u2019s appeal is the small rear seats. Headroom isn\u2019t an issue, but legroom will be tight against the seatbacks for taller passengers.\u00a0<\/p>\n The platform\u2019s combustion-engined roots mean there\u2019s a transmission tunnel that eats into foot room, while a ridge in the floor beneath the front seats limits space, too. The middle rear seat is quite narrow, so having three passengers on board will be tight.\u00a0<\/p>\n Boot:<\/strong> The Avenger\u2019s short length means there\u2019s not much of a rear overhang, but boot space is reasonable. At 341 litres, it\u2019s a match for most superminis, and is bigger than the MX-30\u2019s by nine litres. The space is square and flat, while the back seats are simple to fold.<\/p>\n Which version we\u2019d choose<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n In an effort to make its first full EV affordable, Mazda has fitted the MX-30 with a small 35.5kWh battery. Prices are certainly competitive, with the range starting from \u00a331,250. Even this top-spec Makoto version undercuts the entry-level Avenger by \u00a3150.<\/p>\n The Mazda MX-30 dwarfs the Avenger here in every dimension, and it\u2019s one of the bigger cars to be classed as a small SUV. In fact, its overall length, wheelbase and width are identical to the combustion-engined Mazda CX-30, so like that car it sits in a part of the sector somewhere between small and compact SUVs \u2013 other rivals include the Volkswagen T-Roc and Toyota C-HR.<\/p>\n Of course, the big difference with the MX-30 is its electric powertrain. A battery capacity of 35.5kWh isn\u2019t much bigger than you\u2019ll get in some premium plug-in hybrid SUVs, while a WLTP-certified range of 124 miles is the shortest of any new electric car currently for sale in the UK.<\/p>\n A 143bhp electric motor sends drive to the front wheels, while a 0-62mph time of 9.7 seconds is only a tenth of a second behind the more powerful Jeep here. As ever, there\u2019s an automatic gearbox, but the Mazda\u2019s drive selection lever is more conventional than the Avenger\u2019s push-button set-up.<\/p>\n Safety:<\/strong>\u00a0Euro NCAP awarded the MX-30 a five-star safety score in 2020, and it comes with a host of safety systems as standard. All cars feature blind-spot monitoring, lane assist with lane-departure warning, road-sign recognition and driver attention alert, while Makoto models also add front cross-traffic alert and smart brake support for when you\u2019re reversing.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Jeep Avenger has yet to be tested by Euro NCAP, but comes with a similarly long list of safety kit.<\/p>\n Constant awareness of the MX-30\u2019s limited range spoils any driving enjoyment. Which is a shame, because it has plenty to offer.<\/p>\n Around town:<\/strong> Thanks to that short range, the Mazda is going to do its best work around town where speeds are kept low. Light steering means it\u2019s easy to manoeuvre at lower speeds, while standard-fit front and rear parking sensors go some way to make up for the car\u2019s small glass area.<\/p>\n The MX-30\u2019s low-speed ride is on the firm side when compared with the Avenger\u2019s, even though the Jeep is fitted with slightly lower-profile tyres on similarly sized 18-inch wheels.\u00a0<\/p>\n A & B-roads:<\/strong> Pick up the pace, and the firm edge to the MX-30\u2019s ride translates into better body control than the Jeep in corners, where it feels more stable. This stiffer set-up means the Mazda is more engaging to drive, but it comes at the expense of the car\u2019s ride, which is firm at all speeds.<\/p>\n Put your foot down, and the MX-30\u2019s electric motor tends to build pace rather than give you a shove in the back like some other EV set-ups \u2013 including the Avenger here when it\u2019s in Sport mode. At least that means the range isn\u2019t impacted too hard every time you floor the throttle.<\/p>\n As with the Jeep, there\u2019s energy recuperation on offer, which is controlled via paddles behind the MX-30\u2019s steering wheel. However, the system is counter-intuitive, with the \u2018+\u2019 setting offering two levels of coasting, and \u2018\u2013\u2019 boosting energy recovery. The latter isn\u2019t as strong as Jeep\u2019s \u2018B\u2019 mode, though.<\/p>\n Motorway:<\/strong> The MX-30 is well behaved at higher speeds, although you will see a drop in range the faster you go. A top speed of just 87mph makes it harder to deplete the battery, though.<\/p>\n Before you climb aboard the MX-30, you need to negotiate its other significant talking point \u2013 the doors. The front ones are conventional, although they can be opened to a 90-degree angle to boost access to the front seats. However, it\u2019s the rear \u2018half doors\u2019 that are of greater interest.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re getting in the back and are unfamiliar with the layout, you might not notice the internal handle that releases the back-hinged door, and you\u2019ll be cursing the lack of space to get in. Open them, and access to the back seats is clear of door pillars, but tall adults will still need to move the front seats forward to get the best access.\u00a0<\/p>\n One quirk of the Mazda\u2019s specification is that the driver\u2019s seat has electric adjustment to make more space, but the passenger seat doesn\u2019t. Once in, you\u2019ll need to half step out again so you can reach the handle to close the door. And of course, it\u2019s impossible to get back out of the rear seats before somebody opens the front doors first. With such a fiddly layout, and a relative lack of space, the MX-30 could grow to be a pain to live with if it was used as family transport.<\/p>\n Mazda has a decent reputation with owners, as evidenced by its seventh-place finish in our most recent Driver Power satisfaction survey. Jeep didn\u2019t appear in the latest poll, but past results haven\u2019t been particularly favourable, although the company will be hoping its four-year Jeep Shield after-sales package will boost the Avenger\u2019s appeal.<\/p>\n Storage:<\/strong> A pair of cork panels on the centre console flip up to reveal cup-holders, while the MX-30\u2019s armrest bin is deeper than the Avenger\u2019s. The Mazda\u2019s raised centre console makes space for a storage shelf ahead of it, while the front door bins are of a decent size, and so is the glovebox.\u00a0<\/p>\n In the back, the half doors have slim pockets, which is more than the Avenger offers, because there are no pockets at all in the Jeep\u2019s rear doors.<\/p>\n While the MX-30 is bigger overall than the Avenger, cabin space is similar to that in the smaller machine.<\/p>\n Rear Space:<\/strong> Once in the back seats, you\u2019ll find less headroom in the MX-30 than in the Avenger, but legroom is similar, although that means there\u2019s not much on offer, while foot space under the front seats is tighter, too. The Mazda\u2019s cabin is narrower, so travelling three-up will be cosy, while the small fixed back windows add to the claustrophobic feel.<\/p>\n Boot:<\/strong> A capacity of 332 litres lags behind the Avenger, and some of that space is taken up by a bag containing the charging cable \u2013 as with the Jeep, there\u2019s no room under the bonnet for storage.\u00a0<\/p>\n Folding the back seats creates 1,137 litres of space, which is 84 litres ahead of the Jeep, but if you\u2019re tall beware that the tailgate doesn\u2019t open very high.<\/p>\n Which version we\u2019d choose<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Which car comes out on top?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The Avenger is a charming little car that has plenty of appeal in terms of looks, equipment and driving ability. If you don\u2019t need space to carry passengers, then it could be all the electric SUV you need.<\/p>\n In a way it reminds us of the MINI hatch, with its style making up for its less practical elements. However, the efficient powertrain, competitive range and decent chassis mean the Avenger has substance, while Jeep\u2019s complimentary four-year after-sales package makes its higher price easier to swallow.<\/p>\n If you only do short journeys and are able to charge the MX-30 every time it\u2019s parked, then its limited range won\u2019t be an issue. However, the car\u2019s quirky door arrangement hampers its versatility, while the space on offer is no better than you\u2019ll find in the Avenger, despite the Mazda being a larger car.<\/p>\n Still, the MX-30 has lots of kit for a price tag that undercuts the Avenger\u2019s, and it\u2019s made even more attractive by Mazda\u2019s current zero per cent finance offer.<\/p>\n Which would you buy? Let us know in the comments section below\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n |
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