US auto company Jeep has cut the Australian pre-launch price for the Jeep Avenger, its first ever battery electric vehicle (BEV), which now starts from $49,990, before on road costs.
The first models of the BEV Jeep Avenger compact SUV are expected to arrive in local dealerships this month, but Jeep announced on Tuesday that it was cutting the pre-launch price by between $3,000 and $4,000, depending on the variant.
The move follows intense price competition in the Australian EV market, from the lower cost sub-$40,000 models all the way through to premium cars. Polestar is the most recent to cut its prices with the release of the updated Polestar 2, and the Polestar 4.
Jeep announced a year ago that it would bring the Avenger to Australia after it was officially unveiled in late-2022. Since its launch, the Avenger has already taken home a raft of awards including European Car of the Year for 2023, Electric Car of the Year in the TopGear.com Electric Awards 2023, and Best Small Car at the 2023 Autocar Awards.
Initial pricing was confirmed in March, with a starting price from $53,990 (excluding on-road costs) for the base level Avenger Longitude, stepping up slightly to $57,990 for the Limited variant and up to $63,990 for the Summit edition.
Jeep announced new pricing for all three new models, with the base level Longitude getting a $4,000 cut, now starting at $49,990. Both the Limited and Summit have seen price cuts of $3,000, now starting at $54,990 and $60,990, respectively. (All prices are excluding on-road costs and dealer delivery.)
All three models boast the same 54kWh battery powering a 400V electric motor putting out 115kW and 260Nm of maximum torque.
All this allows for an electric range of up to 396km (WLTP) for all three models, and standard fast charging can add 30 kilometres in around three minutes and go from 20 to 80 per cent in approximately 24 minutes on a 100kW DC charger.
The company says the Jeep Avenger Longitude and Limited offer energy consumption at 15.6 kWh per 100 km in the WLTP cycle.
The difference in model and pricing, therefore, is down to the various extras, which nevertheless build on a relatively substantial list of features as standard on the base level Longitude.
A 10.25-inch infotainment display is paired with a 10.25-inch full digital cluster for the driver, satellite navigation, keyless start, and 12-inch alloy wheels. The Jeep Avenger comes standard with a number of safety features, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, lane keep assist, and rear parking sensors and camera.
Image Credit: Jeep Australia
Additional safety features are included as standard for the Limited and Summit models, as well as extra quality-of-life add-ons like heated exterior mirrors and wireless charging for phones and tablets on the Limited, and heated windshield, heated front seats, and a massaging driver seat.
The Jeep Avenger is available in seven distinct colours with an optional bi-colour roof on the Summit model.
Those interested in reserving a model can do so through local dealers or on the Jeep Australia website here.
You can check out all EV model options in Australia on our EV Models page.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.