Dodge Avenger 2008

By René Gervais

I would think that for automobile engineers, conceiving a car would be a lot like a writer who is only as good as his latest book. One could be tempted to leave the mainstream in order to find the mother lode idea. In the recent past, we’ve seen Chrysler models off the beaten path like the famous 300 and even the Dodge Charger combining contemporary and retro. In the Avenger’s case, great powers of observation are not needed to notice the similarities with the Charger. The soundness of, once again, taking up a design which had limited success is debatable.

Road-test likes:

•  fuel economy (4 cylinders);
• the trunk’s surprising roominess;
• all-in-one door remote starter and keyless entry;
• excellent Boston Acoustic sound system;
• whitish glow in the cabin;
• spacious interior;
• ergonomical controls

Road-test dislikes:

• uncomfortable seats
• very mediocre visibility for rear passengers
• poor materials coordination
• anaemic acceleration (4 cylinder, 2.4 litres)
• loose steering
• dubious look
• outdated and insecure handling
• monotonous motor music

Driving impressions

Because it’s behind the wheel that counts, I’ll spare you, to say the least, the vehicle’s mediocrerish aesthetics . My sense of fair play, however, took over and I determined to give it a fighting chance.

To be honest, the first minutes brought back my negativity but as I rolled along it became clear that the Avenger SXT 2.4 wasn’t all bad. Certain positive aspects cropped up and no, I’m not referring to the metallic blue of our tryout model. Once we abandoned all hope of finding in this car the spirit that drove the sporty Dodge products of yesterday, we settled for this new calm version. If you can appreciate this demeanour, you’ll soon discover an Avenger that loves neutrality, especially in its handling and if not pushed too much, it will negotiate turns with a little more ease.