You’re built like a car, oh yeah T. Rex (Get it on (bang a gong), 1971)

For Ismail, there is only his hammer and chisel and stone, which gradually transforms into a figure that already exists in his thoughts, which will soon be a smiling child climbing a vine. Ismail didn’t hear the soldier talking to his master, didn’t hear the commotion of the other artisans being driven from their tasks, didn’t notice the ladies entering the cloister, or the servants placing the wooden seat. with La Católica shield, pillows and fabrics. He didn’t notice the commotion and bowing as the queen entered, nor how she sat directly behind him. Ismail continues to separate the dust from the stone, stripping it and dressing it in intricate figures embedded in the columns that overlook the terrace. Meanwhile, the Queen gestures for the ladies to be quiet while she watches intently as Ismail’s calloused and white dusted fingers work tirelessly as the precise strokes of the chisel echo through the silence freed room.

Blow after blow, the stone child opens his eyes, draws a mocking grimace on his face, then Ismail carefully shapes his small, whitish hands, each little finger clinging to a stone vine that climbs upward. The queen then stands up and reaches out to the stone child who seems to be calling her and invites her to stroke his hair. Ismail sees the royal shadow lengthening over his work and without thinking raises his arm to push the queen away. “It’s not finished,” he says, looking Isabel in the eyes to the dismay of everyone present. The captain arrives, ready to slap the insolent craftsman, but the queen stops him. Ismail watches the scene for a moment as the queen slowly sits back down on the wooden seat with the help of the ladies surrounding her. Then she looks at Ismail and tilts her head and smiles at him. Ismail returns to his stone child, wipes it with a cloth, blows away the dust, and looks at it for a moment. Soon the sound of the chisel echoes through the cloister again.

The case of the Jeep Avenger is an interesting bet by the American manufacturer, which seems to have been very successful. It is a model that maintains the same aesthetic parameters as a series of off-road models of the brand, but in a compact body, measuring just over four meters. In a short time, it became the best-selling car of the brand, even surpassing the Renegade, which until now has maintained the status of the best-selling Jeep.

We already had the opportunity to test the version with the Avenger electric motor, and now we were able to disassemble the one with a gasoline engine, more affordable, but with the designation DGT C, which with its 1.2 liters delivers 101 horsepower. , compared to the 156th electric version. This is the same three-cylinder engine that is equipped with other compact urban models of the Stellantis group such as the Peugeot 208, Citröen C3 or Opel Corsa and compact Fiat models such as the 500 or Panda.

Jeep aesthetics

As we have already seen in the analysis of the electric version, the aesthetics of this Avenger are reminiscent of the most robust and adventurous Jeeps, but in a compact size, so that it almost seems that we are facing a miniature off-road vehicle, as we have already stated in the analysis of the BEV version. The aesthetic is casual and full of detail, nodding to the brand’s history with some areas where the unmistakable Willys silhouette has been placed, such as the wheels, the lower front air intake and the inner corners of the car.

The front grille of this version of the Avenger has more holes for cooling the three-cylinder engine compared to the electric version which only had two small holes, so the aerodynamic efficiency is somewhat lower. The design is the same, consisting of vertical elements surrounded by plastic strips. On the sides of the grill, we find front headlights divided into two elements and integrated into the grill and from an aesthetic point of view with their shape.

Another difference is the absence of the logo with the letter “e”, which identifies the electric version of this model, and which is also not found on the side of the car. Although some manufacturers opt for special wheels for the electric versions of their models to improve aerodynamics, in this case the petrol Avenger gets the same attractive five-spoke wheels that we could see on the previously tested BEV version.

tall car

The ground clearance is also the same and remains at that 200 millimetres, which supports this off-road aesthetic and doubles it with other SUVs such as the Yaris Cross, which has almost the same ground clearance and surpasses others such as the Peugeot 2008. it is separated from the ground by 170 centimeters . That, along with the shorter overhangs, means that on paper, with an approach angle of 20 degrees and a departure angle of 32, it’s not bad for some off-road use.

The two-tone bodywork, in this case yellow and black like the BEV model we tested, gives it a modern and urban look that effectively contrasts with the tough and adventurous off-road aesthetic we’re describing. The absence of a visible handle on the rear door, as it is integrated into the C-pillar hidden in the black strip, lightens the design and gives the impression that it is a three-door car.

Inside, this version of the Jeep Avenger does not present too many differences from the electric version that we have already analyzed. It’s a comfortable car with spartan but sophisticated finishes, exposing the sheet metal in many places to show its color and distributing hard plastics, but with a casual interior aesthetic with a soft touch for the most accessible areas of the dashboard and a rugged interior. which usually do not touch like the upper part.

Interior lighting

An interesting aesthetic detail is the LED lighting in some areas, such as that between the side vents and the doors, which can change color and actually do so depending on the type of driving on the dial that configures the car’s operating characteristics. . We liked the 10.25-inch infotainment screen, which also has a row of physical buttons just above the console where the shifter sits.

Using these buttons, we can control the air conditioning functions without going through the menus. There are many storage areas, but some are rather small. It has a charging port for mobile phones as well as a port for Android Auto and Apple Car Play screen mirroring system as well as multimedia playback. The driver’s position is somewhere between that of an off-road vehicle, which is more upright, and that of a car, which is more inclined.

In any case, we have to praise the good visibility and the abundance of driving assistance systems. There are details that give the interior a slightly more sophisticated touch in this Altitude + version, such as the JBL sound system, heated seats or wireless mobile phone charging. It also adds a feature not usually found in SUVs of this size, such as an electric tailgate.

Sound

The sound system is good, but the soundproofing of the car does not allow us to fully enjoy it if we are on the road or highway, because the aerodynamic noise is noticeable. The rear part allows comfortable travel for two people of a certain height. The legroom is similar to what we found in the electric version, as the interior design is identical in this case. There is also a connector for charging devices via USB for rear passengers.

As for the trunk, the capacity of this petrol version increases thanks to the fact that it does not have to leave space for the batteries. We will have 380 liters available for loading, compared to 355 for the BEV version. This space can be increased by folding the seats up to 1,275 litres, which is in line with similarly sized competitors. It has a double bottom that allows you to organize your cargo.

For the driving test, we remember that we are dealing with a model that has a 1.2-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine with an output of 101 hp and a torque of 205 Nm. Compared to the 156 hp and 260 Nm of the electric version, the difference is very big, of course the difference is also in the weight of more than 300 kilos, which is a lot, especially considering the size of the car.

A light and manageable car

Driving impressions in the city confirm that this is a very agile and manageable car that does not offer enormous starting power, but allows you to sail through traffic without problems with a certain joy, especially if we give up fuel economy and choose the Sport mode, which makes the accelerator react more quickly. The response is less smooth than that of the electric model, but it is enough for comfortable driving on city routes.

As we have already mentioned, on the road and the highway, the first thing we notice is the difference in acoustic comfort, both in the aerodynamic noise and when pressing the three-cylinder engine, which makes its vibrations and sound felt when revved. in the cabin. We also notice a difference in acceleration response as the power difference is large.

However, playing with the accelerator can be fun even on twisty terrain, and thanks to the difference in weight, we notice a little more lightness and controllability. We also notice greater lightness on off-road routes, where weight makes a big difference. Under these circumstances, it’s an even more fun car despite not having four-wheel drive.

To compensate for this, we can choose to drive on surfaces with sand, mud or snow within the optional driving modes. This last mode works quite well when we go through areas with very little grip, although it is not as effective as an off-road car. The already mentioned lightness helps ensure that four-wheel drive is not missing in many cases. Off-road trips aren’t normally part of the script for these urban SUVs, but in this case, the Avenger proved to be a bit more talented than its rivals.

Conclusions

The Avenger with a gasoline engine was a commitment with which Jeep wanted to offer an alternative for countries where the electrification of the vehicle fleet is not very intensive. However, we believe that this resource for the market can be successful for many buyers, as it lowers the entry price of a vehicle that, thanks to its features, presents unique possibilities.

It is a model with features and aesthetics that bring it closer to traditional off-road vehicles, which, thanks to the reduced weight, increases its capabilities off the asphalt and the result is a truly unique mix between an urban and off-road vehicle with the addition of a casual aesthetic and modern, as well as a good dose of technology in the assistance control systems.