- sedan
- Saucier, MS
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- autoshopper.com
2008 dodge avenger review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. All-new mid-size sedan is like a scaled-down charger. introductionthe dodge avenger replaces all models of the old dodge stratus cab-forward front-drive sedan with an all-new chassis, body, suspension and powertrain lineup. It comes with a host of new standard equipment items never before seen in this segment and a wide range of options. It will compete at the heart of the american market with the honda accord, nissan altima, toyota camry, ford fusion and pontiac g6, among others. the avenger shares all of its major mechanical systems and components with the chrysler sebring, although it is by no means just a clone. The avenger chassis shared with the sebring was designed from the beginning for a convertible as well as a sedan, and that means that it is extraordinarily stiff and strong compared to the old stratus sedans, 1. 7 times stiffer in twisting and 1. 6 times stronger in bending. It's also designed to meet all of the coming crash regulations aimed at pedestrian safety and get multiple five-start crash ratings, too. the sibling entry, the chrysler sebring, although it starts at about the same price, is a rounder, more traditional design for a different customer. The sxt's performance can be boosted considerably with the optional 2. 7-liter v6 engine that will also run on e85 ethanol fuel. The r/t comes with the 3. 5-liter v6 engine and a new six-speed overdrive automatic transaxle. The avenger is front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive will also be available. lineupthe dodge avenger comes in three models the base se model, the middle sxt version, and the high-performance r/t. later in the model year, avenger will become the first dodge-brand front-drive car to offer an optional all-wheel-drive system. The awd, which uses a simple power-takeoff from the six-speed automatic, will be fully computerized and capable of delivering up to 95 percent of drive torque to either front or rear wheels. The se versions have body-colored grilles, while sxt and r/t models have black-and-chrome grilles. That's how they made a dodge out of a chrysler platform. interiorbecause of the redesign, the interior package of the charger is substantially better than that of the outgoing stratus. The driver sits 2. 5 inches higher than before. There's 2. 5 inches more headroom, 1. 2 inches more shoulder room, and one inch more hip room in the front seat, and the cabin in total measures almost 101 cubic feet by epa method. one of its unique items is the chill zone, standard in all models, which uses the car's air conditioning system to cool a bin in the passenger side upper instrument panel. An optional center console cup holder has a two-way switch that will either heat a beverage container up to 140 degrees or cool it down to 40 degrees, a very american feature. the interior environs of the new dodge avenger were quite pleasant in all three of the models we drove, the se, sxt and r/t. The front bucket seats are widely adjustable, comfortable, and generally supportive, although the thigh support is lacking for tall drivers. A standard feature on all models is a tilting, telescoping steering wheel, not usually found in this price class, but welcome and useful. the instruments are laid out in an orderly, good-looking array, white on black with chrome trim rings, and the brushed-metal center stack presented no challenges to understanding and use. There is even some news in the upholstery, because dodge has used yes essentials fabric treatment that is anti-stain, anti-static, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, another first. The nav system features 2d or 3d display, and can display real-time traffic information when paired with sirius satellite radio. the rear seat area is adequate, but not more. One thing that may make the rear seat area more inviting is the optional dvd entertainment system with a small swing-up screen mounted at the rear end of the center console. there's plenty of cargo room inside the car with 60/40 split folding rear seats and an optional folding front seat that enables carrying eight-foot-long cargoes. It's extremely solid now after the chassis improvement, and that solidity translates into a quiet cabin, very good suspension isolation, and accurate steering inputs and response. the 3. 5-liter v6 engine in the r/t version we spent the most time in was smooth, quiet, powerful and responsive, now equipped with a drive-by-wire electronic throttle that smoothes out the bumps. At a rating of 235 horsepower, this engine is well below the state of the art in power production for 3. 5-liter v6s, but the ultra-smooth six-speed transmission's ratios help the car to feel light and sprightly. Quiet competence personified. the brakes on the r/t are disc/disc abs brakes, and they worked extremely well, with a nice, progressive action and pedal feel, but be aware other models use front disc and rear drum brakes without abs (se), and disc/drum brakes with abs (sxt), making disc/disc abs brakes an optional extra, and worth the money. summarya three-quarter-scale replica of the charger in many ways, the dodge avenger is about twice the car the stratus was, with more style, more guts, and more verve. We really like the way the new avenger is styled and put together. It's got real sex appeal, good fuel economy, a nice-looking, functional interior with reasonable family room (although the fast-sloping rear roof doesn't leave a lot of head room or leg room), lots of ordering flexibility with three model lines, and a host of interesting options. Heated Seats✔ Bucket Seats✔ Air Conditioning✔ DVD Entertainment System
Saucier, MSSaucier, MS at autoshopper.com