What is the best electric Jeep?
An electric Jeep sounds like something way in the future – but there are impressive models that you can buy right now
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Jeep is a brand steeped in history and is one of the world’s go-to manufacturers for rugged and capable off-road vehicles.
The fact that the company now has a range of electrified vehicles – including one electric-only model – is a sign that it means business.
Continue reading to find out more about Jeep’s eco-friendly electric and hybrid models, including some serious off-roaders.
Jeep Avenger
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The Avenger is Jeep's first electric car, which was introduced after several years of selling plug-in hybrids, but don’t let that put you off.
Because Jeep is part of the same company as other manufacturers like Peugeot and Vauxhall, the Avenger uses the same electric underpinnings as the likes of the Peugeot e-2008 and Vauxhall Mokka-e.
There’s only one option in the Avenger – a 156hp electric motor that's good for almost 250 miles of range thanks to a 54kWh battery, which charges at speeds of up to 100kW.
It can also take advantage of quicker 11kW chargers in places like supermarkets, which are generally cheaper. Many electric cars only support up to 7kW at these types of chargers.
Despite any associations you may have with the name, the Jeep Avenger is a front-wheel-drive model, which boosts efficiency compared with a 4x4.
It does have six very capable driving modes, however, including ones for snow and mud, plus hill descent control as standard.
It’s around 16cm shorter than the Jeep Renegade, but this small crossover has a family car-rivalling boot space measuring 380 litres (the same as a Volkswagen Golf).
Because there’s no option to change the motor, we recommend seeking a higher-spec model, which means you could get things like a powered boot lid, wireless charging for your phone, and a heated windscreen that makes defrosting and deicing much quicker.
Is the Avenger the best used Jeep electric car?
Jeep announced the Avenger toward the end of 2022, and it didn’t go on sale until 2023, but you can already find top-spec ‘1st Edition’ models for less than the cheapest brand-new Avenger, which makes them exceptional value.
Jeep Renegade
 "Jeep Renegade")
There are a few variants of the Jeep Renegade, but it’s the plug-in hybrid that offers the closest experience to owning an electric car.
It has an 11.4kWh battery, which means it should charge up in just a few hours even with a standard domestic three-pin plug, but it can do more than 20 miles without using the petrol engine.
The engine is a 1.3-litre unit, which, when combined with the electric motor, produces 190hp. The top-spec Trailhawk model gets a more powerful 240hp system.
Jeep says that the Renegade can exceed motorway speed limits on electric power alone, but because the electric section of the setup only produces 60hp, you’ll have to be careful not to put your foot down (which will wake up the engine).
Because the PHEV model is a 4x4, it can handle itself off-road. In fact, because it has more torque than the diesel models, in many cases it’s even better.
The plug-in hybrid model, badged 4xe, makes up around 25% of the model’s sales in Europe, but there’s also a mild hybrid version for those without access to a charging point.
It’s powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine, but the 20hp electric motor promises zero-emission manoeuvres to help improve efficiency.
Who is the Jeep Renegade hybrid best for?
Typically, buying a 4x4 means drivers will be faced with higher running costs, but by opting for a plug-in hybrid version of the Renegade, you can have the added grip, which is good for wet and icy conditions in a small crossover form factor.
Jeep Compass
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The Jeep Compass is a larger model and is much more similar in size to other hybrid SUVs like the Hyundai Tucson and Ford Kuga, which is built on the same platform as the sporty-looking Alfa Romeo Tonale.
The 4xe plug-in hybrid model shares all of the same underpinnings as the Renegade 4xe, which means a 190hp and a 240hp version of the setup.
There’s also a 1.5-litre mild hybrid model for those after something that requires less commitment with regards to charging, but it’ll be far less efficient than the PHEV.
Its 438-litre boot is far smaller than some other similar SUVs, which have more than 500 litres of space, but the plug-in hybrid model also has the same size boot.
Many of its rivals have smaller boots in PHEV form to accommodate the battery.
Like the Renegade, the Compass 4xe is a 4x4 that has various driving modes to tackle different terrain types.
What makes the Jeep Compass plug-in hybrid stand out?
The Jeep brand has a lot of appeal for those after a rugged-looking off-roader, but its larger models tend not to be so efficient.
This plug-in hybrid model changes that by offering impressive mpg figures and an electric range of around 30 miles.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
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When Jeep unveiled the latest-generation Grand Cherokee for 2022, it confirmed that it too would get a 4xe variant.
Because it’s a much larger vehicle, it gets a more powerful 2.0-litre petrol engine. Together with the electric motor, it makes 380hp.
It also gets a bigger 17kWh battery, which Jeep reckons is good for around 25 miles of emission-free motoring.
Despite its eco-credentials, it’s still a capable off-roader. It has 278mm of ground clearance and can wade through 610mm of water, which Jeep says is best-in-class.
Many regular SUVs can manage about 450mm of wading.
Every car gets a reversing camera, parking sensors, and adaptive cruise control, but higher-spec models also get the option of a night vision camera and a 360-degree camera setup with built-in camera washers – all in a bid to maintain its appeal as a serious off-roader.
The Summit Reserve trim costs more than £85,000 new, but lower-spec models will join later.
If you’re not in a rush, it’s worth waiting a few more months for used models to appear, which can save you thousands when compared with buying new.
Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee PHEV the right one for you?
The Grand Cherokee is one of the most capable SUVs out there without going for a serious off-roader like the Wrangler, but it’s also a comfortable and luxurious place to be when you’re driving around town.