The Dodge Avenger shores up Chrysler’s midsize-sedan lineup. The Avenger succeeds the Stratus and plays a sportier second fiddle to Chrysler’s Sebring sedan. Trim levels include the midlevel SXT and sporty R/T. The midsize-sedan market is populated with dozens of able competitors; comparable Avenger sedans include the Kia Optima and Ford Fusion.
The 2010 Avenger has standard antilock brakes. The base SE trim level has been dropped.
The Avenger sports a racer-boy look, complementing the Sebring’s styling. The rear end looks much like the one on the full-size Charger, and the side profile draws elements from the compact Caliber. Up front, the Avenger sports a chrome crosshair grille.
- Body-colored handles, front and rear body parts
- Standard rear spoiler
- Standard 16-inch steel wheels with full covers
- Optional 17-inch aluminum wheels or 18-inch chrome-clad wheels
Inside, the cabin trades the Sebring’s metallic textures for varied shades of plastic. A 60/40-split folding rear seat accommodates longer items from the trunk. For even more-oversized cargo, a fold-flat passenger seat is standard.
- Seats five
- Standard cabin air-filtration system
- Standard power windows, locks and mirrors
- Standard in-dash 12-ounce can cooler
- Available leather-trimmed seats and shift knob
- Available heated seats
The Avenger is available with one of two engines: a four-cylinder or a V-6.
- 173-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 166 pounds-feet of torque
- 235-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 with 232 pounds-feet of torque
- Four (four-cylinder) or six-speed (V-6) automatic transmission
Safety features include:
- Standard front-seat-mounted side airbags
- Standard side curtain airbags
- Standard antilock braking system
- Standard Accident Response System that turns on interior lights, unlocks doors and cuts fuel to the engine after airbags deploy
- Optional electronic stability system and traction control
