2008 Dodge Avenger

The Dodge Avenger borrows its styling heavily from its larger sibling, the Charger, which isn't a bad thing. It commands a bold road presence with its large headlamps, crosshair grille, pronounced wheel arches and broad shoulder lines.

The overall style is attractive with a dash of pizzazz.

The Avenger nameplate was originally used on a Dodge sedan between 1995 and 2000, then it took a break but returned for the 2008 model year as an all-new replacement for the Stratus.

To appeal to various tastes and budgets, the Avenger comes in several different trim lines with several different engines.

The base motor is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 173 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque, good for 21 miles per gallon in the city and 30 on the highway. It is connected to a four-speed automatic transmission.

Also available is a flex-fuel gas-ethanol 2.7-liter V6 with 189 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy is 19 mpg in the city, 27 on the highway. This engine is also connected to a four-speed automatic transmission.

A 3.5-liter V6 tops the lineup in the sporty R/T Avenger, boasting 235 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque. Mileage is estimated at 17 city and 26 highway mpg. The R/T comes with Dodge's six-speed AutoStick automatic transmission, which allows for do-it-yourself shifting.

For sure-footed traction, especially on wet, snowy or icy roads, an all-wheel-drive system is available with the R/T.

Some of the Avenger's available features include a ChillZone beverage cooler, heated and cooled cupholder, stain-resistant fabric seats, and a 20-gigabyte MyGIG infotainment system with voice-activated navigation, DVD playback and more.

Unfortunately, the Avenger has not rated highly for its road manners, often criticized for incommunicative steering, an average ride and high body roll in corners. The interior quality could also be better. However, few disagree that the Avenger represents a very good value in its class.