New Jeep Avenger e-Hybrid and petrol models, available from £27,600

• e-Hybrid model added to the lineup
• Limited edition Altitude Plus model gets 1.2-litre petrol engine
• Available to order from December

A petrol-powered model of the Jeep Avenger has just gone on sale in the UK with a starting price of £27,600, a chunky £8k saving over the electric version. A hybrid model is to follow soon, expected to cost around £30k.

What is the Jeep Avenger?

We were fans of the Jeep Avenger small SUV – the brand’s first fully electric model – when we tested it earlier this year. Its combination of low price, compact size and useful tech is a far cry from the thirsty off-roaders once synonymous with the brand.

It’s not just us who were impressed by the baby SUV either. The Avenger has proved quite the sales hit with buyers in Europe, with over 40,000 units sold at the time of writing. With such momentum behind the Avenger, Jeep has expanded the lineup to include new hybrid and petrol engine options to appeal to a wider audience at a lower price.

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What’s new with the Jeep Avenger e-Hybrid?

Let's start with the e-Hybrid model, which features a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine assisted by a 28bhp electric motor. The petrol engine alone manages an output of just 99bhp, but the electric motor should be able to provide some extra shove at low revs to help with its getaway from a standstill. The motor is integrated into the six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, a setup shared with its sister car, the Peugeot 2008.

It’s important to note that this is a mild-hybrid system, so you’re not able to plug in the e-Hybrid to charge the battery. Instead, small cells are topped up internally via a regenerative braking system that recovers waste energy during deceleration. The e-Hybrid can switch to pure-electric driving under 18mph, but don’t expect to be travelling far. Jeep quotes an electric-only range of 0.6 miles, after which the petrol engine kicks back in.

e-Hybrid models are available in three trim levels – Longitude, Altitude and Summit – and buyers can select from a choice of new options, including an electronic-opening sunroof, massaging driver’s seat and leather upholstery.

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What about the petrol-powered Avenger?

The other new addition to the Avenger lineup is the petrol-powered Altitude Plus model. Featuring the same 99bhp engine as the e-Hybrid, minus the battery, the Altitude Plus is a limited edition model and should be a cheaper alternative to the pure-electric and hybrid options. It comes fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox and plenty of kit, such as a JBL sound system, heated seats, 18-inch alloy wheels, blind-spot monitoring and automatic high-beam headlights.

How much will the new Avenger models cost?

The new petrol-powered Jeep Avenger Altitude Plus is now available from £27,600, a hefty £8,100 saving over the electric model. The previously announced entry-level Altitude petrol model will start from £25,630 when it goes on sale next year. The e-Hybrid model should sit somewhere between the Altitude Plus model and the £35,700 pure-electric model, at around the £30k mark.

Read our in-depth review of the pure-electric Jeep Avenger, or check out our list of the best small SUVs…