Scottsdale, Arizona - Having just completed a full day of rigorous driving, I was asked by DaimlerChrysler's Vice President of Canadian Marketing, Judy K. Wheeler, what I thought about the new Avenger. My response, perhaps slightly glib, was, "I thought we were doing fifty, when we were actually doing seventy." What I simply meant was this: The inexpensive Avenger is so well mannered at seventy miles per hour that one could easily be lulled into believing they were holding the line fifty miles per hour: translation- speeding ticket.
Power Up
A choice of three engines awaits the Avenger buyer. The base unit is DaimlerChrysler's new 2.4 litre, inline four-cylinder "world" engine, developed in cooperation with other notable manufacturers. This engine is the most fuel efficient among the three and is capable of producing 173 horsepower and 166 foot-pounds of torque. Next up is the company's long-serving 2.7 litre V6, revised to produce 189 horsepower and 191 foot-pounds of torque while burning any blend of gasoline and fuel-grade ethanol, up to and including E85.
The bad boy of the trio is the 235 horsepower, 3.5 litre V6, which earns the Avenger the right to wear "R/T" badging. This punchy mill can generate 232 foot-pounds of twist. Both smaller powerplants are fused to a four-speed automatic transmission while the R/T setup finds a six-speed, manual-mode AutoStick bolted to the hotter V6. No manual transmission is available anywhere across the Avenger lineup however the availability of all-wheel drive (AWD) will be added to the R/T later this year.
Climbing Aboard
After taking-in the Avenger's attitude-laden, Charger-esque exterior styling I was pleasantly surprised by the accurate fit and finish of its attractive, two-tone cabin. Sure, plenty of hard plastic continues to exist, but it does so in a much better thought-out, more upscale way than in previous exercises. Textured surfaces, brushed alloy appliques and chrome bezels add to the improved ambience. Unique cabin features include Chill Zone, which is a cooled beverage storage bin built into the dashboard.
Heated and cooled centre-console cupholders are also available along with MyGIG, which is a multimedia, navigation/audio/entertainment and communication system enabling the digital storage of music and photos etc. Final lauding goes to Chrysler's, YES Essentials anti-microbial hi-tech cloth upholstery, which repels stains and odors. I was careful not to spill my cup of joe, despite assurances that it would not stain the lightly hued seats. Leather seats are optional.
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| Keep an eye on the speedometer or the Avenger might get you into trouble. |
Power Up
A choice of three engines awaits the Avenger buyer. The base unit is DaimlerChrysler's new 2.4 litre, inline four-cylinder "world" engine, developed in cooperation with other notable manufacturers. This engine is the most fuel efficient among the three and is capable of producing 173 horsepower and 166 foot-pounds of torque. Next up is the company's long-serving 2.7 litre V6, revised to produce 189 horsepower and 191 foot-pounds of torque while burning any blend of gasoline and fuel-grade ethanol, up to and including E85.
The bad boy of the trio is the 235 horsepower, 3.5 litre V6, which earns the Avenger the right to wear "R/T" badging. This punchy mill can generate 232 foot-pounds of twist. Both smaller powerplants are fused to a four-speed automatic transmission while the R/T setup finds a six-speed, manual-mode AutoStick bolted to the hotter V6. No manual transmission is available anywhere across the Avenger lineup however the availability of all-wheel drive (AWD) will be added to the R/T later this year.
Climbing Aboard
After taking-in the Avenger's attitude-laden, Charger-esque exterior styling I was pleasantly surprised by the accurate fit and finish of its attractive, two-tone cabin. Sure, plenty of hard plastic continues to exist, but it does so in a much better thought-out, more upscale way than in previous exercises. Textured surfaces, brushed alloy appliques and chrome bezels add to the improved ambience. Unique cabin features include Chill Zone, which is a cooled beverage storage bin built into the dashboard.
Heated and cooled centre-console cupholders are also available along with MyGIG, which is a multimedia, navigation/audio/entertainment and communication system enabling the digital storage of music and photos etc. Final lauding goes to Chrysler's, YES Essentials anti-microbial hi-tech cloth upholstery, which repels stains and odors. I was careful not to spill my cup of joe, despite assurances that it would not stain the lightly hued seats. Leather seats are optional.
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| Dodge still uses a lot of hard plastic, but it looks much better than in other models. |