What the Heck Is a Baby Jeep? No, It's Not a Toy
Jeep has a new electric vehicle headed to buyers in 2023. Its size has earned it the nickname “baby Jeep.” Will it stick?
Like pretty much every automaker, Jeep plans to start making
electric vehicles
. The Stellantis-owned brand unveiled its Wrangler Magneto concept in 2021, and in March, it teased its first original EV design
. Nicknamed the “baby Jeep,” the upcoming subcompact crossover will take over the Renegade’s position as the brand’s smallest model when it arrives in the first half of 2023.
What we know about the next Jeep EV
Stellantis didn’t offer too many details when it first revealed the Jeep crossover EV in March. Two images showed a small
electric SUV
with a similar grille to the Grand Cherokee. No official name, dimensions, or powertrain specs were released.But since then, more has been discovered. Spy shots shared by
Motor Authority
confirmed the EV’s size, and its powertrain is said to be the same CMP platform Stellantis plans to use for the similarly sized models coming from Alfa Romeo and Fiat in the coming years.Rumors have also surfaced that Jeep plans to resurrect its classic “Jeepster” nameplate for the vehicle, though the brand hasn’t confirmed anything and is still referring to the model as “Project 516,” or “Junior” according to
Autoblog
. The site also said it learned that the EV will be built at Stellantis plants in Poland and India.
How the baby Jeep fits in the brand’s EV goals
Last year, at Jeep’s 80th birthday celebration, the brand’s CEO Christian Meunier announced the company’s goal to become "the
greenest SUV
brand in the world." But in order to prove that the objective is more than a PR stunt, Jeep has a lot of work to do.Without an all-electric model available, Jeep has fallen behind domestic rivals like Ford and GM, international competitors like Hyundai, Volkswagen, and Volvo, and newcomers like Rivian and Tesla.
So far, the Wrangler Magneto is the only other electric Jeep in the works, and it’s unclear whether it will beat its smaller sibling to production or arrive later in the year.
Earlier reports claimed that the brand plans to have five electric models by 2025, but no details on the other three EVs have been shared.
MORE:
10 Cool Jeeps We Love
What to expect for Jeep EV car insurance
Obviously, it’s too early to collect data on average car insurance for the upcoming electric Jeep. But a look at rates for similar models might give you an idea of what to expect.
Electric variants of vehicles are always more expensive than their gas-powered siblings, and car insurance tends to follow that price increase. But it doesn’t always rise at the same rate, especially for EVs on the more affordable side of the spectrum.
Average rates for a Hyundai Kona Electric, which has a similar starting price to what’s expected for the upcoming Jeep EV, only increases by 10% compared to the gas-powered Kona.
No matter where average coverage lands for Jeep’s EVs, you can always save by shopping with Jerry. A licensed broker that offers end-to-end support, the Jerry app gathers affordable quotes, helps you switch plans, and can even help you cancel your old policy.
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