chicagotribune.com's view

Grab a blanket and something to eat and get down to your nearest Dodge dealer, where you’ll want to camp out to ensure you are at the head of the line when the new 1995 Dodge Avenger makes its debut Monday.

Dodge has another winner in a stable that includes the Neon sedan and coupe, Intrepid sports sedan, Caravan mini-van, Ram truck and Viper roadster.

Avenger, replacement for the Dodge Daytona, mixes the front-end styling of the Viper with the rear-end of the Dodge Stealth sports coupe.

It also erases doubt about Chrysler design guru Tom Gale and his staff being the trendsetters.

And Avenger performs like the looks advertise-an energtic compact sports coupe that, in ES form, straightens twisting roads and levels out bumpy ones.

We emphasize “in ES form” because Avenger is offered in base Hiline and ES versions. Two different cars. The Hiline is powered by a 2-liter, 140-h.p., 16-valve, 4-cylinder engine that you can team with 5 speed manual or 4-speed automatic. ES is powered by a 2.5-liter, 155-h.p., 24-valve, V-6 with automatic only.

The ES has more horsepower, a quieter engine/transmission, sportier suspension (fully independent double wishbone with front and rear stabilizer bars and 16-inch tires-14 on Hiline-for more aggressive driving). The ES also comes with four-wheel disc brakes and ABS standard (front disc, rear drum, ABSoptional on base model), deck lid spoiler and twin chrome exhaust tips.

Both models have an unusual lower rear end treatment-half-moon openings called scallops run the width of the car to act as “wake modifiers.” The openings allow for smooth flow of air under the car for better stability as well as improved fuel economy.

The ES is lively, even with automatic, though we’d prefer about 10 more h.p. for a little extra kick when going up inclines and more quickness from the light or into the passing lane. The V-6 is Mitsubishi-built and growls a little when you press the pedal hard. Avenger will get a quieter V-6 built by Chrysler after the engine is added in 1997-’98 to the Chrysler Cirrus/Dodge Stratus line.

Eye-popping looks, exceptional ride and handling and one of the best new names in the industry, yet Avenger stands out for one mundane feature-being the only compact two-door sport coupe with a rear seat that adults can slip into and out of without doing themselves bodily harm.

Once in back there’s room to stretch legs and arms and wiggle your head if you so desire without striking the roof or rear window. No small feat. Kudos.

Also worth noting are dual air bags; adjustable shoulder belts; ram’s head logo on the hood; soft optional leather seats for long-distance comfort; rear-seat higher than the front seat; anti-lockout doors to prevent power locks from functioning if the key is in the ignition; 30-second power delay soyou can close windows or sunroof after the ignition has been turned off; a sunroof that opens outside the roof (like Saturn); speed-sensitive power steering for more assist at low speed when parking, less when cruising the interstate; a single cupholder in the console, and dual cupholders in the center console armrest with cutouts for cup handles; a power plug in the dash for phone or radar detector; rear seat backs that fold flat so you can carry skis; and a small pedal on the floor that the occupant behind the passenger can kick to make the front seat scoot forward to ease exit.

And like Cirrus/Stratus, an ashtray is a no-cost option.

Two annoyances. You could get some glare off the steeply raked windshield, and the steering wheel blocks sight of the cruise and power mirror controls.

Avenger hasn’t been priced yet but the Hiline model is supposed to start inthe mid-teens, the ES in the upper teens.

Standard equipment in the ES we drove includes air conditioning, heavy-dutybattery, carpeting, digital clock, rear-window efroster, colored-keyed bumpers, fog lights, floor mats, tinted glass, AM/FM stereo with cassette, speed control, tilt steering, power brakes and steering.