Its non-press-fleet siblings are common sights on rental car lots at most major airports in North America. The Dodge Avenger SXT is the mainstream version of the car that, for all intents and purposes, looks as though it is a growth-stunted version of the Dodge Charger, even if it doesn’t quite move like one.
What is it?
In our case, the Avenger SXT is a flex fuel-capable five-passenger sedan powered by Chrysler’s 2.7-liter V6 engine. Classified by the EPA as a midsized car, it is situated in a field that contains many of the finest vehicles made today.
It’s a kissing cousin to the Chrysler Sebring, a sedan that didn’t exactly enthrall us last year – but the Avenger’s more sporting pretensions might help a little.
What’s it up against?
The Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, Mazda Mazda6, Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry are the mainstream class leaders that the Avenger comes face to face with on the playing field.
The big question is, how well does it match up?
Any breakthroughs?
Flex-Fuel? Been there, done that. Homelink? Ditto. Electronic Stability Control? Yawn. Where the Avenger SXT shines is in the packaging of all these features into preferred option groups that help to bring down the overall price. On paper, there’s a lot of car for the cash here – especially when you consider the discounts that are commonly applied to these.
On the negative side, although our SXT version was offered with ABS as standard equipment, it is rather disconcerting to see it as an “available option” on the lesser trim-level models.
How does it look?
As we mentioned previously, the Avenger looks like a Dodge Charger that consumed too much coffee and too many cigarettes when it was just a lowly Hot Wheels car. The cross hair grille is there. The slant back roofline also makes the scene. And the big, polished chrome 18-inch alloys offer just the right amount of bling. But it seems a little misshapen overall.
Standard on the SXT model is a rear spoiler, which adds to the Avenger’s sporty look credentials. Broad crease lines down the rear fenders impart a muscular look to a car that really doesn’t have the look, otherwise. It’s not offensive looking. It’s just that so much more good might have been done to help it rise above the level of rental fleet royalty.
Fog lamps help to dress up the lower portion of the front fascia, while a splitter-type leading edge helps to channel air into the engine as well as under the car. Drop the car a couple of inches (which in turn will help the optional 18-inchers fill up the wheel wells) for an overall better appearance.
And on the inside?
This isn’t going to be pretty.
The Dodge Avenger’s interior is awash in plastics that seem more at home on a model car than in the interior of one of the Detroit Three’s finest. A hard plastic dash covers the gauge binnacle and stretches across the door panels, covering the area where you would normally rest your arm when the window was open. Padded in many of the Avenger’s rivals, the hard panel is possibly Chrysler’s way of telling you, for your own safety, to keep the windows closed.
We liked the nicely bolstered front driver and passenger seats, with their non-skid cloth facings to keep butts firmly in place. The back passenger seats were comfortable for around town jaunts of up to a couple of hours.
We have had occasion to rent the Avenger from rental car companies, and feel our SXT version was much quieter than the rental fleet vehicle we drove for a week recently. Dodge attributes this to increased insulation throughout the car.
On the plus side, we really do like the uConnect operations found on the Sirius-equipped in-car navigation/entertainment system. Easily connected with most Bluetooth-equipped cell phones, it enabled voice dialing, recall, and hands free operations for most phone functions. So too, the navigation system with GPS, which quickly got us to our destination. And finally, the heated and cooled cupholder helps to keep a cold drink cold, and hot drink hot, over a long drive. Nifty touch, but it hardly helps to elevate this bare bones cabin.
But does it go?
The Avenger’s 2.7-liter V6 pumps out 186 horsepower and 191 lb-ft. of torque, figures that are just above four-cylinder levels these days. Add in the decidedly low-tech four-speed automatic transmission and you’re looking at 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, hardly impressive figures.
The Avenger’s suspension bits include MacPherson struts in front with a multi-link package in back. Speed proportional power assisted rack and pinion steering transmits good road feel, but also the grumble of bad roads through the wheel. As we mentioned previously, the car now operates in a much quieter fashion than previous models due to increased attention being paid to the Department of NVH.
Braking power is about adequate for a vehicle this size. To that end, Dodge has equipped the Avenger with 11.5-inch rotors in front, and 10.3-inch rotors in back. Clamping both ends of the vehicle are single pot calipers. Dodge has gone middle of the road on ride quality, too, neither supplying a supremely firm ride for the sporty enthusiast types, while at the same not supplying a pillow soft ride on the other end of the spectrum.
We wanted to try the Avenger’s flex fuel capabilities. To that end, we tried to find a gas station selling ethanol but gave up after six tries.
Why you would buy it:
You love the looks of the Avenger’s big brother, the Charger, but can’t afford the extra scratch.
Why you wouldn’t:
Because alternatives like the Hyundai Sonata, Mazda Mazda6, and Chevrolet Malibu exist.
Leftlane’s bottom line:
In a sentence: The sum of its parts is not as great as some of its parts.
2009 Dodge Avenger SXT base price, $21,500. As tested, $27,995.
Deep Water Blue paint, $225; Premium convenience group, $1,495; Ultimate Performance wheel and tire group, $295; Stability control, $425; 2.7-liter V6, $1,300; Power moonroof, $1,200; Destination, $740.
Words and photos by Mark Elias.
10/19, 12:04 PM
posted by:
2WheeledSpeed
Fix it or replace it Dodge… Preferably replace…
10/19, 12:07 PM
posted by:
tastyorange
The only good things about this car are the non-generic styling and the metallic orange paint (which they don’t offer anymore)…. oh well… if they only tried harder…
10/19, 12:14 PM
posted by:
Szabla
Non Generic?
This like most Chrysler products looks like a modernized K car.
Bleh.
10/19, 12:14 PM
posted by:
CiNO
Kill it for ur own sake.
10/19, 12:24 PM
posted by:
JSi
lol! this car is pointless, just like the caliber…
10/19, 12:27 PM
posted by:
BuyUSA
Great car! One of the best mid size sedans in terms of styling, quality, handling a and reliability. Much better than a blandmobile Camry. Can’t wait for this to get the Phoenix V6.
10/19, 12:32 PM
posted by:
key4wheels
I wouldn’t put the sum of my parts into the sum of those parts. Partly because it’s not particularly attractive on the parameter, not to mention the particular particles that partake in the area of passengers positively doesn’t provide or provoke any particular passion.
10/19, 12:33 PM
posted by:
key4wheels
there’s 2 minutes of my life I’m not getting back…
10/19, 12:47 PM
posted by:
vicdub85
28k???? LOL!!!
10/19, 12:48 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
this is as worse as the dodge neon!
10/19, 1:05 PM
posted by:
teahead
Epic fail.
Not as bad as the Sebring sedan, but still bad.
I’m a big Chrysler fan too, but I can admit failure. Thanks to Daimler and Cerebrus for being so darn cheap, the car exudes cheapness.
Korean cars’ interiors are 10x superior to what Chrysler is putting out (’cept the new Dodge Ram), it’s pathetic.
And Dodge just needs to get rid of the cross-hair grille theme. So stale. Leave that to the Ram trucks.
10/19, 1:05 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
I know times are tough and LLN is trying to get people work, but really? Why even bother reviewing this?
10/19, 1:08 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
My parents just traded in an 07 Sportage and were looking for a reasonably priced/packaged midsize sedan…. Guess what they bought for more than $9k less than this? A Honda Accord LX…I don’t blame them for not looking at this – the Honda’s trade in value is still within $1000 of what they paid since driving off the lot – this one would be, what, 25% off the price paid?
10/19, 1:33 PM
posted by:
worst 3
this is one car from dodge that I don’t like it like a dodge magnum, charger bastard child when it comes to styling it just dose not look as good as either one did, it looks better then a Camry and has more unique styling then most midsize cars but it could/should be much better. the interior need major updated as dose the power train. a 4 speed is just too old to be competitive and the 2.7 just dose not have the fuel economy it needs if it had 30mpg it would be justified and a decent mid road power plant but it not.
hopefully the “face lift will address these major issues”
still love there there cars and trucks my self just not this car.
10/19, 1:41 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Mark… so when do the stitches in your tongue come out?
OK, I’m going to play devil’s advocate here… well, just a little. Don’t blame the current regime in any way for either this or the Sebring. I recently read a quote from Marchionne in which he stated he could not believe how little had been in the 24 months leading up to the deal with Fiat. In other words most Chrysler products were left to rot on the vine. And while it’s a given this should not have been allowed to come out of the box the way it did… which was Daimler’s deal… Cerberus did have time to fix it but for whatever excuse chose not to.
I’m with Jake here. Except I’m more at a loss to understand why Chrysler would release this car to be reviewed in the first place than as to why LLN would review it.
10/19, 1:58 PM
posted by:
comp.mode
Man, Avenger and Sebring used to be really good looking cars. I’m not Mopar but Sebring convertables in thier previous generation still look beautiful coasting down the road. Thier interiors were’nt half bad but very much the opposite of the obvious despare within Chryslers means here . As car guys you really just want to enjoy engineering, luxury and performance. It’s when you are dissapointed in each category to the point of handing over the almost 30 large just to get them building better ones you feel so empty. I have a BMW 750il. You could give me the cost of this car and purchase the Bimmer from me. This car is an empty shell at most to my 750. Heck most modern cars I get into are as well. But to choose to buy this new is terribly unfortunate. I couldnt imagine how it would feel to have to produce it.
10/19, 2:02 PM
posted by:
cocojoe53
Sad effort’s such as this will not save Chrysler
10/19, 2:14 PM
posted by:
American_Cars_Crap
Ugly, bland, cheap looking, cheap feeling, unreliable car. I remember a few months ago in road and track, or motor trend, can’t remember, but they did a 6 car comparison and the avenger scored dead last. I feel sorry for anyone who was or is stupid enough to buy this uninspiring car. Everyone will think your driving a rental car! If for some strange reason you actually like this car, atleast buy a one year old Avenger, the resale value on these things is a total joke, you will be able to pick one up for about the same price as a high end mountain bike.
10/19, 2:17 PM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
28k hurt to read, but i dig hot and cold cup holders…
10/19, 2:20 PM
posted by:
Elvacano
What’s a Dodge Avenger?
10/19, 2:54 PM
posted by:
comp.mode
LWA: haha
10/19, 3:02 PM
posted by:
Blakkarr
I try to find the bright spot in every car,just so as to vindicate the effort put into bringing it to market…
But this car doesn’t ever rank as an “also ran”.
CHRYSLER needs to ditch this car and replace it ASAP. Hurry up and build the 200C already. The Avenger itself is too much a sore spot for DODGE and needs to go.
Why didn’t they make the VENOM? At least the mechanicals, from the PT Prowler, would have justified it and it would have been a solid jumping off point for better things.
10/19, 3:12 PM
posted by:
NRG
Poor attempt to garner possible sales from it’s competitors. They are so far ahead in terms of quality, that Chrysler/Fiat needs to get rid of this car and start over.
10/19, 4:01 PM
posted by:
DenverGuy217
$28,000? Bahahahahahahahahahahahaha that’s even funnier than seeing a Hyundai for over $60,000
10/19, 4:10 PM
posted by:
save saab
This car makes me die a little inside whenever I see one on the road because of how bad this car is. Hell, I’ll even buy a Chevy Aveo over this because it’s actually cheap. Jeez, when will Chrysler/Fiat actually start building the Fiat 500 and 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
10/19, 4:42 PM
posted by:
iluvamcars
While this car does suck big time, people automatically assume that cars are not relaible if they have plastic interiors.
-iluvamcars
10/19, 5:16 PM
posted by:
S-60-driver
My brother-in-law drives this car. I’ve been in his car several times a month. It’s really bland. Not that sporty. The dashboard…… oh my god….. too much plastic!!! On doors, too. Everywhere!
Hopefully the update for next year will look better! If not, the all-new version in few years will!!
10/19, 5:18 PM
posted by:
S-60-driver
Plus…. 28 grand???
You can get a 2010 Fusion HYBRID for 27 grand with even better, softer interior and tons of gadgets!! Not to mention 41 mpg in city over this pathetic 19 mpg for the Avenger. That’s in crossover terriority.
10/19, 6:25 PM
posted by:
CanadaCraig
IF it only had SOMETHING to brag about. If it had fantastic gas mileage or very good handling or something. But this car doesn’t have anything going for it. It doesn’t even LOOK good. [That is a nice shade of blue though - I'll give it that!! lol] But think of it this way….. chances are – no matter what Fiat comes up with to replace it – it will probably be a much better car. So I’ll just keep holding my breath until then.
10/19, 6:40 PM
posted by:
09Accord
28k? No.
I wouldent even want to pay 18k for this.
10/19, 8:36 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
I’m going to test drive one. Not because I want one, but because it will reinforce the good points about other cars that I actually want to buy.
10/19, 11:18 PM
posted by:
g93
over priced? yes..needs to step it up? yes..would i buy one? no…people bash on chrysler automatically and way too much? YES
10/20, 12:45 AM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
chrysler is in a very bash-able position, no doubt…i’m not one to pile on, but 28k is a lot for this car…just hit carmax.com for a second and look at what late model used bmw you can get for 28k…’07 328xi with 19k miles, for example…which would you choose?
10/20, 9:46 AM
posted by:
g93
bmw haha..im just saying ppl seem to always bash chrysler…even if they made a car that got 40 mpg and had 400 hp and 400lbs of torque(hypothetical) and a really nice look and interior..im pretty sure ppl would still bash them
10/20, 10:01 AM
posted by:
F50
Build the 200C as is, make this on the C-Evo platform to split them up even more, the only thing good in this damn car is the Chill Zone.
They should build a new Stealth with refreshed Venom. The Venom is a cheesy name while the Stealth is a badass name. It should be a back-to-basics car ala Viper or RX7. Turbo charged DI Phoenix engine would top it off as an SRT6. BUY THE DAMN KAPPA PLATFORM TO MAKE IT.
and for now, update this dan thing until the new mid-sizer is ready. set a new standard to the Interior’s of Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep.
10/20, 11:40 AM
posted by:
A4
$28 GRAND? HOLY HELL!
10/20, 12:01 PM
posted by:
BuyUSA
@leftwingagenda
I would choose the Avenger but it would be an R/T model instead
10/20, 6:53 PM
posted by:
elmdodge
god please let chrysler have some dignity left and let them die!
10/20, 7:03 PM
posted by:
superman
garbage
10/20, 9:46 PM
posted by:
85ZingoGTR
I can see Fiat eventually fading the chrysler and dodge name away. Good ridance. What a waste of a company. They cant do anything right without needing someone to hold their hand like Daimler Benz or Fiat.
10/21, 12:56 AM
posted by:
g93
@Zingo..they were actually doing ok until daimler stepped in…id be ok with the chrysler name gone but not dodge…especially ram
10/21, 6:28 AM
posted by:
VictorRaikkonen
Someone’s said it already but, ‘epic fail’.