[suzq044]

From the article:

During a recent interview with Motor Trend, Broderdorf said he’s very interested in bringing the Avenger stateside, admitting he’s a big fan of how it looks and believes it could appeal to those looking for affordable crossovers.

“I will tell you flat out: I am looking at it,” he said. “I think the Avenger is an incredibly interesting product. I actually love the look of that car, and what it is. Man, that thing is cool. I’m trying to understand what the shortcomings might be. Why it wasn’t picked [to be sold in the US] to start with.”

Full article here:

Jeep CEO Is Really Interested In Bringing The Avenger To America

Maybe not as a Jeep..

The reality is Jeep has too much product right now, and it's almost all up in the upper echelon of $50k-110k$ (going by what dealers actually stock vs what is on the webpage)

The Grand Wagoneer should have been pinnacle luxury off-road. But it barely off-roads for something that's built on a truck chasiss. That was its mistake, besides avoiding almost anything they could to visually connect the modern version to the classic versions. Do we need a full crate wrapped around it? No. But maybe homage aside from chrome trim would've been nice as something that isn't an 'easter egg'. They could have made (and keep showing the same concept car to prove it) an off-road capable Grand. They didn't. They can rectify it, but the question is will they?

Grand Cherokee should have stuck with the short wheelbase only, and let the Durango take the 7-seater class. It was a dumb move, because people aren't going to pay for the big Jeep if they don't have to spend that much to do it. The Grand Wagoneer wasn't automatically going to be a vehicle that people buy for status, unless it had a little retro-flare to connect it to its heritage, and it does not. It doesn't even have a rear window that goes down into the tailgate. Aside from interior luxury it has very little going for it over the cheaper Grand Cherokee L.

Cherokee should still be in the lineup - I'm really not sure why they decided that they should keep the Compass over the Cherokee. It needed a redesign, no doubt. For people in that price range VALUE is important, and they cut off a lot of storage space with the odd rear end. The Compass was an odd choice to keep, IMO.

Renegade, when it comes back, had better not be worse off-road than its predecessor. It should be better off-road. Especially in trailhawk guise. They're far more capable than people give them credit for. But the drivetrain holds it back. Aside from the 2.4L being an oil hog that required engine replacements for some vehicles, and the other issues, like motor mounts going bad quickly and the MySky/Sunroof Failures, it really isn't a bad vehicle. Fix those things with quality parts that won't die if they aren't being maintained (because honestly nobody in this price range really maintains a sunroof, or thinks to do so).

Wrangler and Gladiator will always be the Halo vehicle for the off-road crowd. Hopefully they aren't thinking Recon is going to replace Wrangler. Because it won't. It's an EV alternative at best.

Gladiator needs to be a truck first and a Wrangler second. JMO. It's not, and it suffers for it. For being full of compromise. As it sits now, Scrambler would've been a better fit. The Gladiator was a truck first, and was never a Wrangler. It wasn't intended to be one.

I think a mini-truck might do well here, too. The Comanche concept wasn't a bad one. Too bad, like some of their better ones, it'll never see the light of day outside of the show circuit.

 

[Dave Z]

I think the Cherokee vs Compass made sense, the Compass was new, the Cherokee would have, as you say, needed a redesign. Cherokee was heavier and not all that much bigger or more comfortable. There's a new Cherokee but I think they are holding back to let the Recon come first, not wantnig to make the TC-by-Maserati mistake again (the cheap car comes after the expensive lookalike, not before it).

 

[MIKE3187]

Still convinced the Renegade was set to be the production Dodge Hornet concept until they decided to throw all their eggs in Jeeps basket/move Dodge to Hellcats only. The shape and (lack of) capability is uncanny

 

[Powdered Toast Man]

Because it is the WORST Jeep I have ever seen. No ground clearance, no capability, no electronic lockers or competent AWD system.

This CAR should never wear the Jeep badge. It is the total destruction of the Jeep brand when you bring vehicles like this and Wagoneer S to the market.

This just demonstrates that the Jeep CEO, Broderdorf, has NO CLUE what the Jeep brand really means.

This would be fine as a Chrysler. But such tiny vehicles do not sell well in North America unless they are priced really low.

Could have said the same about the original Compass.

 

[suzq044]

I think the Cherokee vs Compass made sense, the Compass was new, the Cherokee would have, as you say, needed a redesign. Cherokee was heavier and not all that much bigger or more comfortable. There's a new Cherokee but I think they are holding back to let the Recon come first, not wantnig to make the TC-by-Maserati mistake again (the cheap car comes after the expensive lookalike, not before it).

I honestly think the Cherokee is going to be more like the Wagoneer S than the new Compass or Recon.

 

[suzq044]

Still convinced the Renegade was set to be the production Dodge Hornet concept until they decided to throw all their eggs in Jeeps basket/move Dodge to Hellcats only. The shape and (lack of) capability is uncanny

Except that it's still tiny compared to the Renegade. It wouldn't sell as a Jeep here. A Dodge, sure. Or even a Chrysler. I really think a lot of Americans are overestimating its size by A LOT, but the design itself is solid.

 

[aldo90731]

Except that it's still tiny compared to the Renegade. It wouldn't sell as a Jeep here. A Dodge, sure. Or even a Chrysler. I really think a lot of Americans are overestimating its size by A LOT, but the design itself is solid.
View attachment 108342

That photo really shows how tiny Avenger is! Geez!

 

[aldo90731]

Could have said the same about the original Compass.

Just wait. There's always tomorrow...

 

[77 Monaco Brougham]

That photo really shows how tiny Avenger is! Geez!

Since Avenger seems to be one size smaller than the outgoing Renegade, then MAYBE there is a chance it could be sold at a price low enough to put it among the ranks of entry-level vehicles...especially if they keep it FWD only and make NO pretense to it being an off-road machine of any kind.

The object here is that Avenger should be fun, efficient and CHEAP!

 

[aldo90731]

Since Avenger seems to be one size smaller than the outgoing Renegade, then MAYBE there is a chance it could be sold at a price low enough to put it among the ranks of entry-level vehicles...especially if they keep it FWD only and make NO pretense to it being an off-road machine of any kind.

The object here is that Avenger should be fun, efficient and CHEAP!

Hence, NOT A JEEP!

 

[suzq044]

Since Avenger seems to be one size smaller than the outgoing Renegade, then MAYBE there is a chance it could be sold at a price low enough to put it among the ranks of entry-level vehicles...especially if they keep it FWD only and make NO pretense to it being an off-road machine of any kind.

The object here is that Avenger should be fun, efficient and CHEAP!

Exactly - as a Dodge and/or a Chrysler but not a Jeep.

 

[suzq044]

I think the Cherokee vs Compass made sense, the Compass was new, the Cherokee would have, as you say, needed a redesign. Cherokee was heavier and not all that much bigger or more comfortable. There's a new Cherokee but I think they are holding back to let the Recon come first, not wantnig to make the TC-by-Maserati mistake again (the cheap car comes after the expensive lookalike, not before it).

But, it had the v6, which was better for towing, and power in general. The Compass and Renegade feel slow and heavy. They shouldn't. /jmo. (Granted the swb grand cherokee feels heavy compared to a Durango too but still)

We may be looking at replacing our Durango, and the Cherokee 'hawk is on the shortlist (along with a 'better' Durango, since we already have a Renegade 'hawk.

 

[MIKE3187]

Except that it's still tiny compared to the Renegade. It wouldn't sell as a Jeep here. A Dodge, sure. Or even a Chrysler. I really think a lot of Americans are overestimating its size by A LOT, but the design itself is solid.
View attachment 108342

Sorry, I meant the Renegade looked an awful lot like the Hornet hatchback concept from 2007(?).. the Avenger is much smaller, not what most expect of Jeep… in North America at least.

Maybe their angle is Gen Z who aren’t as in-tune with what makes a Jeep a Jeep, thinking the name alone will get young buyers to consider them, especially if the price is low on entry and high on tech features?

You’d almost think this should have been a Fiat for NA if it weren’t for that brand’s bad rep

 

[suzq044]

Sorry, I meant the Renegade looked an awful lot like the Hornet hatchback concept from 2007(?).. the Avenger is much smaller, not what most expect of Jeep… in North America at least.

Maybe their angle is Gen Z who aren’t as in-tune with what makes a Jeep a Jeep, thinking the name alone will get young buyers to consider them, especially if the price is low on entry and high on tech features?

You’d almost think this should have been a Fiat for NA if it weren’t for that brand’s bad rep

The Chery-made one?

It's still smaller than the Renegade is. I think it's more comparable to the Jeep Avenger in scale.
Edit: They are pretty close --

Jeep Avenger:

Dodge Hornet Concept:

In 2006, Dodge was preparing for entry into the European market with a B-Segment model and began the European Car Show circuit displaying the Dodge Hornet mini MPV concept. The objective was to launch the Dodge nameplate and produce a mini-sized vehicle aimed exclusively at young urban consumers in Europe.

.. all I remember is that the concept lights didn't all work, and that it had some cool interior that reminds me of the Rampage concept from a similar era.

 

[Erik Latranyi]

I honestly think the Cherokee is going to be more like the Wagoneer S than the new Compass or Recon.

I agree.

They already gave us glimpse with the Wagoneer S Trailhawk:

I expect slightly altered styling, but that is about it.

 

[Erik Latranyi]

Except that it's still tiny compared to the Renegade. It wouldn't sell as a Jeep here. A Dodge, sure. Or even a Chrysler. I really think a lot of Americans are overestimating its size by A LOT, but the design itself is solid.
View attachment 108342

Thank you! Great picture.

Having seen Avenger in-person several times, it is very, very small and most do not get that.

 

[suzq044]

I agree.

They already gave us glimpse with the Wagoneer S Trailhawk:

View attachment 108349

I expect slightly altered styling, but that is about it.

That's exactly it. I expect some harder lines, maybe actually a square hatch (instead of faux-square like the S with the giant wing), along the lines of the upcoming new-Compass, but that's about it.

 

[Erik Latranyi]

Hence, NOT A JEEP!

THAT is the fear.....Avenger is the $25,000 Jeep they said would come to North America.

 

[Dave Z]

But, it had the v6, which was better for towing, and power in general. The Compass and Renegade feel slow and heavy. They shouldn't. /jmo. (Granted the swb grand cherokee feels heavy compared to a Durango too but still)

We may be looking at replacing our Durango, and the Cherokee 'hawk is on the shortlist (along with a 'better' Durango, since we already have a Renegade 'hawk.

True. They did want to drop the 3.2, I can't help but wonder why it was always a 3.2 anyway. Would the 3.6 not fit, or could the powertrain not handle the power? I strongly suspect the latter.

 

[Dave Z]

THAT is the fear.....Avenger is the $25,000 Jeep they said would come to North America.

And the head of Jeep looked stunned. “Whaaa?”