In a sea of sameness, the 2009 Dodge Avenger stands out on style. New Car Test Drive says Avenger brings “some real style to the middle of the American car market, competing directly against a host of cars that are shaped like half-dissolved lozenges.” Dodge Avenger is an aggressively styled, economical alternative within the midsize sedan segment. Don’t overlook Avenger!
Many reviewers see the Avenger as a scaled-down Dodge Charger. For buyers with HEMI dreams and a V6 budget, that’s a real plus. New Car Test Drive goes beyond style and finds real value. “It has got real sex appeal, good fuel economy, a nice-looking, functional interior with reasonable family room…lots of ordering flexibility with three model lines and a host of interesting options.” The Kansas City Star says, “Even the nose with its cross-hair grille, large headlamps and vertical lines stamped into the hood carries hints of muscle.” Last, The Truth About Cars feels the Avenger “offers a distinctive design – especially compared to the boring (e.g. Honda Accord) and outright ugly (e.g. Toyota Camry) sedans that dominate the class.” The 2009 Dodge Avenger is more affordable than many rivals with the base SE model listing for $21,255 MSRP.
Those are bold observations, but Chrysler has equipped the 2009 Avenger to back them up. Take a peek inside and you’ll find Avenger’s spacious cabin provides 100.5 cubic feet of passenger space, more than the Ford Fusion or Honda Accord. Automobile magazine found the cabin “spacious enough for two six-foot-two-inch occupants to sit one behind the other in comfort.” As New Car Test Drive reported, “The front bucket seats are widely adjustable, comfortable and…supportive. A standard feature on all models is a tilting, telescoping steering wheel, not usually found in this price class, but welcome and useful.”
Avenger comes in SE, SXT and sporty R/T models. The SE and SXT come with a 173-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine (21 mpg city/30 mpg highway). A 186-hp 2.7-liter V6 is optional for SXT (21 mpg city/30 mpg highway). R/Ts have a 235-hp 3.5-liter V6 (16 mpg city/27 mpg highway). The 2.4 and 2.7 use a four-speed automatic transmission, and the 3.5 uses a six-speed automatic. R/Ts have a sport suspension.
Standard features on the SE include air conditioning, power door locks and windows, power trunklid release, cloth low-back bucket seats, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, an MP3-capable CD player with four speakers, keyless entry, cruise control, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, illuminated entry and a split/folding rear seat. The STX adds premium cloth bucket seats, driver’s seat manually-adjustable lumbar support, an eight-way power driver’s seat, a front-passenger fold-forward-flat seat, YES Essentials® stain/odor resistant seat fabric and six speakers (instead of four).
The R/T adds automatic climate control, AM/FM radio with in-dash six-disc CD/MP3/DVD changer, heated power fold-away mirrors, deluxe door trim panel, a leather-wrapped shiftknob, automatic temperature control, steering wheel-mounted audio controls and an automatically-dimming rearview mirror.
The Dodge Avenger can also be seen as a rolling showcase for Chrysler technologies and special features. Kelley Blue Book says the Avenger has the potential to be “one of the most entertaining cars in the category” when loaded with some of the available options. For example, car critics are duly impressed by Chrysler’s MyGIG® Multimedia Infotainment, an audio, navigation and entertainment system. It allows the front-seaters to download music and photos to a 30-gigabyte hard drive. Optional on all but the base model, it also includes JPEG image uploading via a high-speed USB port, auxiliary audio input, voice recognition, voice message recording and playback, SIRIUS Satellite Radio and Bluetooth hands-free cell phone connectivity.
The SXT and R/T models take technology even further with an optional rear-seat video system, an unusual amenity in an affordable sedan. Such systems are typically found on minivans and SUVs. The system includes dual headphones, a seven-inch color LCD screen, remote control and gaming capability. Buyers can also upgrade all but the base model with a high-power six-CD changer audio system feeding six Boston Acoustics speakers, as well as SIRIUS Satellite Radio with one year of complimentary service including Real Time Traffic Report capability.
Yet another unique feature found on the Avenger is called the Chill Zone – an air-conditioned storage box that holds up to four 12-ounce soda cans in the glovebox area. As part of the optional Premium Convenience Group Package, drivers can also get a special front center cupholder that can heat a beverage to 140 degrees Fahrenheit or chill it to 35 degrees. The Detroit Free Press reviewer predicted, “I have no doubt some people will buy an Avenger – and love it – for the cupholder alone.”
You’ll find a 13-cubic-foot trunk on the Avenger with most of the cargo room under the rear window and parcel shelf. Since the 60/40-split rear seats fold flat, the actual cargo carrying capability of the Avenger is impressive. Add the available fold-flat front passenger’s seat, and Avenger can fit cargo up to eight feet long. Additional stowage is found in front door storage pockets, rear door beverage holders, the air-conditioned Chill Zone beverage unit and a fold-down center armrest that contains dual cupholders.
Tired of seeing yourself coming and going? Well, wake up and check out the 2009 Dodge Avenger with its Charger-like looks and affordable price.
Source: IMN
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