2008 Dodge Avenger SXT Review
After nixing the Stratus after 2006, Dodge needed to gain back some market share in the mid-size sedan segment with a new and exciting model. Meet the 2008 Dodge Avenger. Taking the mechanical underpinnings from the Chrysler Sebring, Dodge gave the Avenger the aggressive masculine styling of the Charger and named it after the completely unrelated Avenger coupe sold from 1995 to 2000.
All-new for 2008, the Dodge Avenger offers a decent alternative to the mid-size superstars in the segment, but will appeal to a slightly different buyer.
Trims and Options
Trims:
Dodge starts the Avenger line-up with a base SE model, coming standard with the basics – air conditioning, cruise control, 16-inch steel wheels, anti-theft, power accessories, and some standard niceties such as two power outlets, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, an auxiliary jack for MP3 players, and the cooled glovebox, called the “Chill Zone.” ABS is an option on base SE models.
Stepping up into the mid-level SXT bags you 17-inch alloy wheels, a chrome front grille (instead of the SE’s body-colored grille,) a premium cloth interior, two more stereo speakers, power driver’s seat, and the honor of being able to pay more with an extensive options list. Both the SE and SXT come standard with a 173 horsepower 2.4 liter 4-cylinder engine with a 4-speed automatic transmission, or in the SXT you can opt for the worthless 189 horsepower 2.7 liter “Flex Fuel” V6 we had in our test car (more on that later.)
Getting into the top-of-the-line R/T gets you 18-inch alloys (with the option of chrome wheels,) rear spoiler, sport suspension, fog lamps, automatic headlights, auto-dimming rearview mirror, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and a few other nice-to-have’s. The R/T comes with a 235 horsepower 3.5 liter V6 and a 6-speed Autostick transmission. All versions of the Avenger are front-wheel-drive, or you have the option for an AWD R/T.
Options:
The starting price of $19,520 isn’t bad, but the options list is huge on the Avenger, mostly coming in the form of Packages. A rear-seat DVD entertainment system is optional on all but the base SE, as is the “MyGIG” Entertainment system which includes a 20GB hard drive for storing your own music, and a navigation system with real-time traffic info. Also optional are heated and cooled drink holders, a high-end stereo system, sunroof, heated seats, Bluetooth connectivity, stability and traction control, LED interior lighting, and loads of other options dedicated to bring you into the $30K price range.
Our test vehicle was loaded with features, which brought the SXT to $28,900. With the rear-seat DVD entertainment system, LED lighting, heated and cooled drink holders, leather seats, remote start, Bluetooth, navigation, you could consider our loaded Avenger a mini-minivan; a spacious mid-size sedan with decent fuel economy meant for a small family.
Engines:
Design
The 2008 Dodge Avenger was obviously inspired by the design of the Dodge Charger, which has a love-it-or-hate-it aggressive styling that most people love. The masculine lines, chrome “cross-hair” grille, and rear spoiler bring out a tinge of muscle car flavor, but the Avenger falls a bit short of the sporty expectations. Instead, it serves its purpose as a capable family-hauler with an attitude. The aggressive styling serves as a nice change from the bland lines on most mid-size sedans.
Surprisingly, I don’t have any complaints about the interior design either. While not exactly exciting, the interior serves its purpose well, provides very simple controls, pleasant aesthetics, and a few nice standard features. For one, the notch placed in the center console storage area wall is a nice and often overlooked detail. Since that’s where one of the power outlets are, it allows you to run the cable to whatever you’re charging outside of the storage area without pinching the cord with the armrest. The standard “chill zone” is a nice addition, and the multiple power outlets shows that Dodge realizes the needs of most consumers, which have multiple gadgets that all need to be charged. These fine details are what could push some consumers over the fence into the Avenger.
Driving
For our review, we took the Avenger into the Great Smoky Mountains for a two-day camping trip. The drive through the mountains was comfortable and smooth, but we had to make sure and take care around corners, as the Avenger doesn’t have an exceptional hold on the road, and feels uneasy going around tight corners too fast. A driver information display in the instrument panel shows compass heading, outside temp, average fuel economy, distance to empty, and elapsed trip time. The steering wheel-mounted controls were strangely on the back of the steering wheel, making it difficult to remember which button did what.
The interior provided plenty of comfort, and the trunk had more than enough space to hold all of our camping gear. The LED lighting emits a high-class, comforting glow. I’d prefer all cars have LED interior lighting, actually. The rear seats, along with the optional DVD player provided a nice late-night viewing of Superbad when we wanted a break from the insects.
The SE and SXT standard 173 horsepower 4-banger does what it needs to, and provides a basic ride with good fuel economy (21 city / 30 hwy.) Most people will choose that engine. Our model, however, was equipped with the 189 horsepower FlexFuel V6, which gets 19/27 mpg. I’m not sure what the point of this engine is, as it gets noticeably worse fuel economy and barely any more power. Worse yet, when you fill up with the ethanol-based E85 fuel, your fuel economy will drop even further (by 20%-30%, according to the EPA.) Numbers aside, the engine wasn’t any more pleasant to drive. Passengers thought it had a 4-cylinder engine and were disappointed to hear that it was a V6.
Before You Buy
The Avenger’s Japanese competitors have an overwhelming hold on this segment, so it’s worth your time to consider the Nissan Altima, Honda Accord, and Toyota Camry. We really liked the Ford Fusion as well.
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Overview
While it may not be quite as good as some of its competitors, the 2008 Dodge Avenger is a very capable mid-size family sedan with great looks and a quality fit and finish. Some standard features and details bring it a notch above some rivals. A good value at any trim level, but be sure to step up into the R/T model if you’re looking for any sort of performance to match the looks.
Filed Under: Car Reviews • Dodge