I wasn't a fan of the 2001-2006 Dodge Stratus Sedan for a number of reasons: quality control issues, poor reliability, and lack of driver involvement are to name a few. So, when Dodge discontinued their Stratus sedan in 2006 and reintroduced their Avenger as its replacement for 2008 I had high hopes that Dodge would create a midsize sedan that was more than just a pretty face. Like the very first Avenger that graced Dodge dealerships from '95-'00, the 2008 Avenger is aggressively styled, but can it offer enough refinement and performance to compete against the herd of family sedans on the market?
Performance: SXT 2.7-liter V6
The 2008 Avenger is available in five time levels: the base SE, two SXT trim levels, R/T, and R/T AWD. While the SE and the base SXT come standard with a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder making 173 horsepower, a flex-fuel ready 2.7-liter V6 boasting 189 horsepower is optional on SXT trims. The top of the line R/T and R/T AWD come with the biggest engine of the bunch: a 3.5-liter V6 that is good for 235 horsepower. I drove the Avenger SXT equipped with the flex-fuel ready 2.7 V6; an engine that can also be found in a multitude of Chrysler/Dodge vehicles i.e. the Chrysler Seabring.
Acceleration: 6/10
Although the Avenger's 2.7-liter V6 makes a decent 189 horsepower and 191 lb.-ft of torque, it's sheer mass soaks up most of this power. I certainly couldn't imagine this car getting by with the less powerful base 4 banger. Like many 4-cylinder powered family sedans on the market, the Avenger's 2.7 6 cylinder needs to be revved hard to feel any sort of power, and even then acceleration is merely adequate. Though the Avenger does make do with its small V6, most cars in this class and price range, i.e. the Nissan Altima 3.5 SE, the Hyundai Sonata V6, and the Mazda6 S all feel much quicker off the line. On a positive note, the FWD Avenger exhibits very little wheel spin on full throttle take-off and torque steer is not nearly as noticeable as it was in 2nd generation Stratus sedan.
Engine Quality: 6/10
Dodge hasn't had the best reputation for producing smooth engines, and the DOHC 2.7 V6 in the 2008 Avenger SXT is no exception. The Avenger’s small V6, though quiet at cruising speeds, is buzzy while accelerating from stoplight to stoplight, or anytime the throttle is provoked for that matter. But I digress, this small V6 idles almost silently, and though it doesn't offer much in the way of power, it is more refined than the 2.5 V6 in the 1st generation Avenger.
Transmission: 5/10
No matter what trim level you choose, the '08 Avenger is only available with an automatic transmission. While the top of the line R/T receives a 6-speed auto with sport shift, my SXT came with an old fashioned 4-speed auto (the only transmission available with this trim level). It’s not this transmission’s minimal gear ratios or the lack of technology that has me complaining, rather it's this transmission's lack of refinement. Although the Avenger’s automatic does a decent job holding gears when power is needed at low speeds, it becomes skittish while driving over steep terrain: frequently down-shifting and up-shifting to maintain highway speeds. Needless to say, a transmission made for the 2008 model year shouldn't feel this discombobulated.
Handling: 7/10
The Avenger isn't a small car, in fact it's longer than both the Toyota Camry and the Volkswagen Passat Sedan. Despite its large size, I found handling to be quite good. My SXT came with the touring suspension (standard with the optional 2.7-liter V6 engine), and while this didn't make the Avenger a sports car by any stretch of the imagination, I found the Avenger to a competitive handler in this class. Driving into sharp turns at high speeds results in very little body roll and the optional 18" wheels wrapped in 215/55 Bridgestone Turanza all-season tires do an excellent job keeping the Avenger glued to the pavement. The only rant I have in this category is the Avenger’s somewhat vague steering: an unfortunate issue with many vehicles in this class.
Braking: 9/10
The Avenger stops a lot better than it goes. Though I can't comment on the base SXT's standard front disc/rear drum brakes, the standard 4-wheel discs with ABS equipped with the SXT V6 do an exceptional job stopping this hefty vehicle: braking is smooth and more importantly the Avenger stops quickly with no fade or vibration.
On the highway: 7/10
At cruising speeds the Avenger quiets down substantially: wind, engine, and general road noises are all kept fairly isolated from its cabin (so long as the terrain is flat). Even at highway speeds upwards of 75 MPH, I found noise levels to rival many well-known names in this category, i.e. Ford's Fusion sedan and the Mazda6 S. However, Dodge still has a ways to go if it wants to compete in with the smooth nature of the new Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.
Ride quality has also improved. Though the Avenger’s suspension is a bit tighter than the Stratus sedan that it replaces, driving over rough road surfaces is less punishing: equaling the solid ride quality offered from its better known competitors i.e. the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.
Alas, I have one major gripe with the Avenger's highway manners. While the Avenger is able to cruise silently over flat terrain, accelerating up steep inclines brings out a not so favorable personality. The Avenger's engine screams is popular 4-cylinder fashion while attempting to maintain highway speeds up mountainous terrain and its poorly built transmission rears its ugly head, never feeling as if it’s in the right gear. I certainly don’t recommend the SXT with its 2.7-liter V6 if driving over steep terrain is part of your daily commute.
Fuel Economy:
If fuel economy is more of a priority than performance, the SE or SXT with its 2.4-liter 4-cylinder is probably the way to go: boasting a relatively frugal 21-MPG city/30-MPG highway. Step up to the 2.7-liter V6 and fuel economy drops to 19-MPG city/27-MPG highway (about average for this class). However, if you plan on running E85 fuel in this engine, economy dips to a V8~ish 14-MPG city/20-MPG highway. As expected, the performance oriented R/T and the RT AWD are the thirstiest of the bunch (at least when running on regular 87 octane) receiving an EPA rating of 16 MPG city/26 MPG highway and 15 MPG city/24 MPG highway respectively.
Interior:
Quality: 6/10
Interior quality in this class is more competitive these days than ever before. With the likes of the new Honda Accord, the Toyota Camry, the Ford Fusion, etc. all offering premium interiors, its no longer acceptable for a company to toss a bunch of cheap low grade plastics in a car and then call it a day. Having said that, Dodge has upped their game this year, but is it enough to compete against the quality of its rivals? Not quite. The Avenger’s cabin does boast some high quality materials, i.e. solid switchgear, however most of the cabin is filled with flimsy plastics and cheap faux leather surfaces. Note- leather trim is a $925 option, replacing the standard cloth seating surfaces.
Interior Styling: 6/10
The Avenger’s cabin, with its light gray on an even lighter gray color scheme gives the interior a washed out look. Dodge has tried to dress up the dash by using a gratuitous use of titanium and glaring chrome accents, but this interior still fails to excite the senses. I am not quite sure if Dodge was trying to go with a vintage look, but the design scheme simply doesn't work well and highlights the cost cutting materials used throughout the cabin.
Ergonomics: 7/10
Ergonomics are generally good, but I do have my gripes. Despite the options of an 8-way power driver’s seat and the Avenger’s tilt/telescoping steering wheel, I could not find a good driving position to save my life. With the optional rear spoiler, much of the rear vision is blocked. Couple that with a huge blind spot in the rear quarter and backing up and making lane changes can be downright dangerous. .
Seats: 6/10
Comfort ranks about average. Though the leather quality is pretty lame, the seats do offer adequate cushioning. I unexpectedly found the Avenger’s seats to be more comfortable than those in the 2008 Accord EX-L. The rear seats in the Avenger are equally as comfy, but unfortunately the leather is the made of the same cheap material as the front buckets. Seat support could also be improved. Dodge markets the Avenger as a sports sedan, but the lack of good bolstering makes these seats more suitable for a Ford Taurus than a sedan that is supposed to excite.
Equipment: 8/10
While none of the Avenger’s trim levels are exactly bare bones, the base SE should probably be avoided if you are looking for more than just the necessities. All Avenger’s come with notable amenities such as power windows and locks, AC with filter, Chill Zone storage area above the glove box (holds 4 soda cans) for keeping drinks cool (not cold) via the AC, 4 cup holders, CD/MP3 player with 1 year service to Serious radio, manual tilt and telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, front, side, and curtain, air bags (a novel safety feature that Dodge has taken awhile to provide). Upgrade to the base SXT trim and you get a little more equipment: upgraded seat fabric, a punchy six speaker sound system (instead of 4 speakers in the SE), and an 8-way power driver’s seat. Opt for the 2.7-liter SXT (dubbed the M package) and you get basically the same standard amenities as the base SXT, save for upgraded brakes, upgraded alternator, and a tuned suspension. The most notable difference with the amenities between the SE and SXT or R/T trim levels is the available options. If you want virtually any of the packages that Dodge has to offer, you will have to upgrade to the SXT or R/T trim levels.
Storage and room: 9/10
The EPA ranks the Avenger as a midsize sedan, but its interior is quite cavernous, feeling more like a full-size sedan. Like the new Accord and Camry, leg room and head room are about as good as it gets in this class, ditto that for head and legroom in the rear of the cabin. With that being said, large families (the Avenger seats up to 5 adults) should have no problems squeezing into this vehicle. Storage space, however, is a bit limited. Though there is the Chill Zone area to store drinks, 4 cup holders (front heated/cooled cup holders with the premium convenience package), and a few cubbies throughout he cabin, the Avenger isn't a car that was meant to haul around anything more than grocery bags. With 13 cubic feet of trunk space, the Avenger’s trunk is less cavernous than the Honda Accord's, the Pontiac G6’
s, and the Nissan Altima's. On the plus side, the Avenger's rear seats fold flat increasing cargo volume substantially, and instead of those old fashioned hinges that tend to squash groceries, the Avenger’s trunk is opened via unobtrusive link hinges.
Price/Warranty:
The Avenger starts at around $18,500 for the stripper model SE and tips the scales at around $25,000 for the top of the line AWD model with no options. My SXT had a starting price of $19,520, however with the 2.7 V6 ($1,350), the premium convenience group ($940), the sport appearance group ($555), The Leather Group ($925), the Convenience group ($300) and a sunroof ($725) raised the MSRP to a whopping $25,035 (about $900 less than a comparably equipped 2008 Accord EX V6). Like most Japanese brands, Dodge offers a stingy 3-year/36,000 miles bumper to bumper warranty, however Dodge offers, at no charge, a lifetime powertrain warranty to the original owner that is non-transferable under any circumstances.
Overall: 6/10
While the 2008 Avenger SXT 2.7 is a step up from the dowdy 2006 Stratus sedan, boasts aggressively styled sheetmetal, and offers an impressive lifetime powertrain warranty, it still falls short of its competitors, especially when it comes to refinement. The Avenger’s 2.7 V6 is buzzy, acceleration is uninspiring, and the interior is still lacking the quality of its competitors. At $25,000 for my test vehicle, a comparably equipped Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, or the Ford Fusion V6, all offer more bang for the buck.
Note: Looking for a more refined family sedan? Check out
my review on the 2008 Honda Accord
Thanks for reading!
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