Jeep has just unveiled its $71,995 Wagoneer S, and while it is an amazing EV for many reasons, its price tag will be out of reach for many people. Thankfully, the dream of conquering the trails in a budget-friendly EV with nothing but tire tracks and a whisper of electric hum left in the wake is much closer than we thought.
Jeep’s $25,000 Electric Promise
Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares confirmed at the investor conference that a $25,000 EV is coming to the U.S. very soon. While the Wagoneer S is taking care of the luxury end of the spectrum, the cheap, no-frills electric off-roader would be a dream come true for budget-minded explorers. Will it be an all-electric version of the Wrangler? Or will Jeep bring the Avenger from Europe? For now, the company remains tight-lipped on the specifics.
Jeep’s audacious plan to offer an EV at this price point is a direct challenge to its competitors. As long as you consider the Nissan Leaf or Ariya in the same segment as an off-road-ready Jeep. Leaf and Ariya’s starting prices are $27,956 and $35,556, respectively. Frankly, neither of those vehicles nor their prices match what Jeep is proposing.
Electrifying Future Of Off-Roading
If Jeep brings this secret EV to the market relatively quickly, it’ll enjoy a bit of a head start. Volkswagen plans to join the game of affordable EVs with its sub-$22,000 electric hatchback and a small crossover. Kia has just unveiled the $30,000 EV3, and the Volvo EX30 and Chevy Equinox EV are ready for customers. While all of them are exciting, none of them is strictly a 4×4 vehicle.
Jeep’s plans to bring affordable electric cars to the masses align with a growing trend among global automakers. Battery technology is progressing steadily, and production costs are coming down. All that translates to more budget-friendly electric cars hitting the market soon.
While Jeep is keeping quiet on the specifics of its $25,000 EV, it doesn’t take much to figure out what we should expect to see. Based on the automaker’s current lineup, it’ll be a compact SUV with a range between 200 and 250 miles. A comfortable interior will come with a smart infotainment system, and there will be just enough cargo space for all the camping gear you can think of. The European Jeep Avenger might be a tad too small for the U.S. market, but we wouldn’t mind something resembling it.