Watch out super heroes! Is it a bird, is it a plane? No it’s the Dodge Avenger! It’s not a Sebring, though under its skin they’re almost identical, and it’s not a soon (hopefully) to come Charger, although with the styling cues it’s hard to miss that they are related. It’s a Dodge Avenger!
The Avenger is the third addition to the Dodge family in Australia, a midsize car in a market where it will stand out as a stylish alternative to the segment’s bland best-sellers. There is absolutely no mistaking this is a Dodge, with the brands large crosshair grille complementing the quad shaped front lights. It’s a car that Batman’s Alfred could easily slip into the Bat cave.
The Avenger’s side profile shares strong family characteristics with the Caliber and Charger. A distinctive kick up in the metalwork in the rear doors gives Avenger that muscular look, a look which continues to the rear of the car, large rear lights adding to Avenger’s bold appearance.
In the inimitable words of Gerry Jenkins, Managing Director of Chrysler Group, Australia: ‘How good is this? The all new Avenger truly has Dodge adrenaline pumping through its veins. There isn’t a car in its segment that looks this tough – finally a car the consumer won’t feel embarrassed driving.’
Unlike its sibling the Sebring, Avenger will be available in three engines and two models the SX and SXT. Currently two engines sizes are available, 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre 4-cylinder petrol, with the 2.7 V6 due in Jan ’08. With the 2.0 litre it’s far from being faster than a speeding bullet; in fact it will struggle on an incline even without a car load. The 2.4-litre does better, and I’m looking forward to a spin in the V6 when it arrives.
When it comes to grip, we gave it a work out around the windy highways near Queenstown, NZ. Our SXT with 18inch alloys and four wheel independent suspension, stuck to the road like Spiderman to a wall.
The 2.4-litre is available in both SX and SXT. The difference between these two can be essentially reduced to the following items which come as standard in the higher grade model: heated/cooled cup holder, premium audio system, 18-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, multi-function display with trip computer, tyre pressure-monitoring, leather trim, electrically adjustable driver’s seat, front seat heating, rear spoiler, body colour mirrors and leather-bound multi-function steering wheel.
Whilst we mostly find mid sizers are fine in the front and fiendishly cramped in the back, the Avenger is space, space, space all ‘round for a whole comic book of Marvels. And you’ll be able to toss a couple of Hulks in the boot too if you must.
Happily while a mid-size sedan doesn’t need to handle the likes of Lex Luthor every day, the Avenger will certainly hold its own against those daily Jokers we all come across on the road. And if you’re a canny little Robin holding a current drivers license, your Dodge will also come with 2 years comprehensive insurance.
AUTO FACTS
- Price: $28,290-$34,990
- Engine: 2.0-litre DOHC petrol, 2.4-litre DOHC petrol; 2.7-litre V6 petrol (Jan ‘08)
- Max Power: 115kW@6300rpm; 190Nm@1900rpm, 125kW@6000rpm; 220Nm@4500rpm, 137kW@5500rpm; 256Nm@4000rpm
- Transmission: 5-speed manual; 4-speed automatic with auto stick
- Fuel Consumption: 7.8,8.9,9.7L/100kms
- Good: Great looks
- Bad: Sluggish 2.0-litre when the road isn’t flat
