Dodge Avenger Review

2009 Dodge Avenger SE Sedan

Thus far, Dodge has used the name "Avenger" on two wholly different cars from different time periods. First to use the name was a midsize, two-door coupe born in the mid-1990s. Noted mostly for its stealthy good looks, the original Dodge Avenger also featured a reasonably roomy cabin and an appealing blend of handling and comfort. It enjoyed some success both with critics and consumers, though at decade's end it faded away with little notice.

After a long hiatus, the Avenger name resurfaced in 2008 when Dodge deemed it fitting for the successor to the Stratus sedan. In other words, the Avenger is once again a midpriced, midsize car that aims for a balance of attributes -- just in a more family-friendly four-door package.

Names notwithstanding, we find the new Dodge Avenger to be an improvement over the sedan it replaced. The redesign brought a strong 3.5-liter V6 and six-speed automatic transmission, as well as optional all-wheel drive -- a fairly distinct feature in the midsize sedan class. Thanks to its longer wheelbase, the Avenger also features a roomier interior, and Dodge introduced several electronic gadgets to spice things up, not the least of which is a hard drive-based navigation and audio system.

However, the Dodge Avenger has some fundamental flaws that hamper its ability to compete in the midsize car class. The driving experience is lackluster in terms of acceleration and handling, and the interior comes up short on the quality front. If you're merely looking for a basic commuter car, the Avenger will meet your needs. But most consumers will be better off looking elsewhere for their next family sedan, as the majority of the Avenger's rivals, both import and domestic, offer better performance, nicer cabin furnishings and a higher level of refinement.

Current Dodge Avenger

The current Dodge Avenger debuted for 2008. It shares much of its engineering with other Chrysler products, most notably its platform mate, the Sebring sedan. The differences between these two come down to styling, as the Avenger's more aggressive shape is aimed at a younger audience.

Dodge Avenger buyers have a choice of three engines. The first is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder rated at 173 horsepower. This engine is impressively fuel-efficient, but we've found it unacceptably weak and noisy for daily driving. A better bet is the 189-hp 2.7-liter V6, which is more refined and provides adequate performance. At the top of the Avenger food chain is a 3.5-liter V6 good for 235 hp. The first two engines send their power through a four-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels, while the big V6 gets a more efficient six-speed auto with a manual shift mode. It also earns the option of all-wheel drive.

The Avenger's trim lines are SE, SXT and R/T. The four-cylinder SE starts out with air-conditioning, a CD stereo with an auxiliary audio jack, full power accessories and cruise control. The Avenger SXT adds antilock brakes and 17-inch alloy wheels; it's the only trim to offer the optional 2.7-liter V6. The top-line R/T upgrades to the 3.5-liter V6, all-disc brakes, firmer suspension tuning, 18-inch wheels, automatic climate control, and a six-disc CD/DVD changer. The all-wheel-drive version of the R/T adds traction and stability control -- optional on most other Avengers. Front-seat side airbags and side-curtain airbags come standard on all Avengers.

While the Dodge Avenger offers common options like a sunroof, leather seats, audio upgrades and remote engine start, some features deserve special mention. One is the industry's first heated/cooled cupholder set. Another is a rear-seat DVD system, an item rarely found in midpriced sedans. Finally there's Chrysler's MyGIG system, whose 20 GB hard drive combines a navigation system with room to store 1,000 songs of the Avenger owner's choosing.

Despite the Avenger's lengthy list of amenities and powertrain choices, the core product is unexceptional. The driving experience is tepid, owing to lifeless steering, excess body lean and underachieving brakes. The 3.5-liter V6 engine may be fairly smooth and powerful, but it returns poor gas mileage, and the other engines feel coarse alongside competitors' offerings. The old-tech four-speed automatic transmission doesn't do them any favors during passing attempts either. Ride quality at least is acceptably smooth, and the Avenger remains quiet at highway speeds. Inside, the Dodge's cabin is marred by mediocre materials, below-average shoulder room and an unsupportive rear seat. The trunk is on the small side as well.

Overall, the Dodge Avenger fulfills the minimum expectations of its class, but anyone looking for a sporty midsize sedan would be best advised to first check out the more refined Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion, Nissan Altima and Saturn Aura, just to name four.

Past Dodge Avenger models

The first Dodge Avenger was sold from 1995-2000. Heavily derived from the Mitsubishi Galant and Eclipse, the Avenger featured an identical interior and rolled off the same Mitsubishi assembly line. This generation had the Chrysler Sebring coupe as its twin.

The Avenger debuted with two powertrains. The first was a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 140 hp mated to a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic -- all borrowed from the Dodge Neon. The step-up engine was a 2.5-liter, Mitsubishi-built V6 with 155 hp, mated to a four-speed automatic. The Avenger's trim lines were base and ES.

Initially, the base model opened with the four-cylinder engine, 14-inch wheels, a radio and dual airbags. The V6-powered ES model came with an upgraded suspension, antilock all-disc brakes, 16-inch alloy wheels, rear spoiler, air-conditioning, a cassette deck and cruise control. Base models could add most of the ES's items, while ES models could add leather seats and a sunroof.

The Avenger's biggest changes came in 1997, when meaner styling adorned the body and new 17-inch wheels were made available to ES models. More significantly, both the base and ES now had the four-cylinder standard, with the V6 optional. For the Avenger's final year in 2000, Dodge made the V6 standard on both, and also loaded up the ES with a power driver seat, leather and keyless entry.

Regardless of year, we'd call the Avenger a fairly appealing coupe so long as you get the V6. While neither powerhouse nor especially refined, the V6 was reasonably energetic and offered decent gas mileage. Further benefits of the V6 were the better disc brakes and wheels, which complemented the Avenger's unique double-wishbone suspension and natural agility. While the Dodge Avenger's overall personality wasn't hugely more exciting than the milquetoast Galant's, the helpings of upgraded hardware made it a little more fun.

The Avenger was even more faithful to its source material in interior design -- no bad thing. Displays and controls were generally attractive and high in quality, and Mitsubishi's shapes and curves were a little more interesting than most Japanese designs. The front seats were comfortable, and unlike in most cars sporting two doors, the Avenger's rear seat actually offered some semblance of comfort to adults.

The Avenger's competitors were few but fierce, mainly comprised of the two-door Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. At first, a V6 Avenger gave up little to either car in any area. It also held the advantage of actually looking like a coupe instead of a blatantly bland sedan with two fewer doors. By the later years, however, the Accord and Camry (now Solara) coupes had found their own style grooves, and their engines had the Avenger outgunned and outclassed. In addition, the Avenger's record for reliability was the lowest of the lot. The Avenger was a sexy and substantial coupe, but the others might prove smarter pre-owned purchases.

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* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.