2008-2014 Dodge Avenger cars: cheap, comfortable performance
The 2008 Dodge Avenger replaced the popular Dodge Stratus, cutting the starting price to $18,895; it applied Dodge's current truck-like to a mid-sized car. The car had optional all wheel drive and stability control, and, originally, a cooled glove compartment, and a side profile similar to that of the Dodge Charger.
Sales of the Avenger never quite made it to Dodge Stratus levels; the Chrysler-engineered Stratus sedan maintained around 100,000 sales per year until its final year of production, when sales fell to half their prior levels, aided by widespread talk of Chrysler's financial woes. The first generation Stratus' best year was its first year on sale (2007), and from there it fell until a 2011 redesign.
Designer/stylist Ryan Nagode said that part of the reason for the exterior resemblance to the Dodge Charger (from the side) was the desire to sell the Avenger in Europe; they wanted the Avenger to have clearly American styling when sold abroad. But, in the end, he said, "It's all about getting rid of the boring sedan."
Ryan noted that he was looking for a sinister, aggressive appearance, and was most strongly influenced by his sunglasses; the grille wraps all the way around the front of the car to the headlamps, providing a full graphic of the front end. The corners, he said, are like boxing gloves - protective forms in all corners.
Seven-day Dodge Avenger test drive results.
Dodge Avenger forums.
Ryan tried to move the headlight elements up to tuck the lights under the grille, and the linear lights beneath the dual headlamps added to the impression of height. Unlike typical Chrysler headlamps, the Dodge Avenger clearly showed both of the dual lamps. Ryan noted that the R/T used black headlight fills, while the other models used silver and chrome on the others; and in the grille, the base model was body color, while the others were chrome. That means any Avenger should be easy to differentiate from the front.
"Muscular rear shoulders" and a sleek rear spoiler were meant to show the "Dodge brand attributes of bold, powerful, and capable," according to press materials of the time. Avenger's greenhouse was meant to be visuaully lengthened by black appliqués on the B-pillars.
At launch, four models were sold in the United States: SE, SXT, R/T, and R/T AWD.
Ben S. Chang, senior designer, was lead stylist for the interior; he can be credited for the bright climate-control knob surrounds, which later spread throughout the Chrysler and Jeep lines.
The instrument panel top pad and center stack grain had a low-gloss finish to match the defroster grille and driver cubby. The center stack was supposed to have a ram's horn shape that surrounded the shifter bezel. Like the Caliber, Avenger had a chilled beverage storage bin that could hold and chill (if the air conditioning was on) four cans.
Drivers sat 2.5 inches higher than they did in the Dodge Stratus, and enjoyed 101 cubic feet of cabin space (7 cubic feet more than the Stratus). There were 2.5 inches more headroom, 1.2 inches more shoulder room, and an inch more hip room in the front seat. Luggage volume in the trunk was 13.35 cubic feet, and entrance/egress to the front and rear seats was easier than in the prior car.
Dodge Avenger engines, powertrain, and specifications
Sales of the Avenger never quite made it to Dodge Stratus levels; the Chrysler-engineered Stratus sedan maintained around 100,000 sales per year until its final year of production, when sales fell to half their prior levels, aided by widespread talk of Chrysler's financial woes. The first generation Stratus' best year was its first year on sale (2007), and from there it fell until a 2011 redesign.
Designer/stylist Ryan Nagode said that part of the reason for the exterior resemblance to the Dodge Charger (from the side) was the desire to sell the Avenger in Europe; they wanted the Avenger to have clearly American styling when sold abroad. But, in the end, he said, "It's all about getting rid of the boring sedan."
Ryan noted that he was looking for a sinister, aggressive appearance, and was most strongly influenced by his sunglasses; the grille wraps all the way around the front of the car to the headlamps, providing a full graphic of the front end. The corners, he said, are like boxing gloves - protective forms in all corners.
Seven-day Dodge Avenger test drive results.
Dodge Avenger forums.
Ryan tried to move the headlight elements up to tuck the lights under the grille, and the linear lights beneath the dual headlamps added to the impression of height. Unlike typical Chrysler headlamps, the Dodge Avenger clearly showed both of the dual lamps. Ryan noted that the R/T used black headlight fills, while the other models used silver and chrome on the others; and in the grille, the base model was body color, while the others were chrome. That means any Avenger should be easy to differentiate from the front.
"Muscular rear shoulders" and a sleek rear spoiler were meant to show the "Dodge brand attributes of bold, powerful, and capable," according to press materials of the time. Avenger's greenhouse was meant to be visuaully lengthened by black appliqués on the B-pillars.
At launch, four models were sold in the United States: SE, SXT, R/T, and R/T AWD.
The instrument panel top pad and center stack grain had a low-gloss finish to match the defroster grille and driver cubby. The center stack was supposed to have a ram's horn shape that surrounded the shifter bezel. Like the Caliber, Avenger had a chilled beverage storage bin that could hold and chill (if the air conditioning was on) four cans.
Drivers sat 2.5 inches higher than they did in the Dodge Stratus, and enjoyed 101 cubic feet of cabin space (7 cubic feet more than the Stratus). There were 2.5 inches more headroom, 1.2 inches more shoulder room, and an inch more hip room in the front seat. Luggage volume in the trunk was 13.35 cubic feet, and entrance/egress to the front and rear seats was easier than in the prior car.
Dodge Avenger engines, powertrain, and specifications
2.0 I4 | 2.4 I4 | 2.7 V6 | 3.5 V6 | 3.6 V6 | Diesel | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US hp | 172 | 189 | 235 | 283 | 140 | ||
US torque | 191 | 232 | 260 | 310 | |||
US mpg * | 21/30 | 19/28 | 19/29 | ~ 29/40 | |||
Euro kW | 115 | 125 | 138 | 103 | |||
Euro Nm | 190 | 220 | 256 | 310 | |||
l/km | 7.8 | 8.9 | 9.7 | 6.2 | |||
0-62 mph | 10.8 | 10.4 | 9.0 | ~ 7.0 | 6.5 *** | 10.5 | |
80-120** | 13.9 | 7.3 | 6.8 | 9.6 | |||
* 2008 figures, which are about 2-3 mpg lower than 2007 ** Second from top gear *** 0-60 |