February 22, 2008
FTLOD Review:
'08 Dodge Avenger R/T

By John LeBlanc

See more Avenger R/T pics here

Dodge is pitching its mid-sized Avenger R/T – its muscle-car profile copied after the Dodge Charger – as the big man on campus in a class of nerdy-looking family sedans. But after spending a week with the front-wheel drive Avenger R/T, not only does it not pull off the mini muscle-car act very well, it has a hard time pulling off the role as a competent family sedan.

By taking its design riffs from the rear-wheel drive Charger – itself based on a 40-year-old two-door coupe motif – the Avenger R/T's resulting Coke-bottle hips cut into the rear doors with a convoluted B-pillar covered in black plastic, which prevents rear occupants from seeing the light of day.

If you're considering the Avenger R/T for its sedan utility, forget about getting your 3-year-old daughter out of her baby seat without needing to book an appointment with your chiropractor afterwards.

Up front, the Avenger R/T's dated personality doesn't go away. Against rival family sedans like the Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata or Pontiac G6, the Avenger R/T's cubist rough-hewn plastics (which already look low-rent in a sub-$20k Dodge Caliber) put it squarely in the back of the family sedan pack in sophistication and quality.

The large diameter of the Avenger R/T's leather steering wheel, automatic-transmission gear-shifter's slippery chrome-laden handle, and mushy front seat cushioning only add to the rental-car aura.

Even with plenty of rear legroom and a flat-folding front passenger seat to accommodate extra-long items, the Avenger R/T's tall chunky trunk is still 82 L smaller than the Sonata's.

Looking for positives, as a commuter car, the Avenger R/T does have some merit. Its optional cooled/heated cup holders, Boston Acoustics sound system, and navigation/audio system with satellite radio, Bluetooth, and 20 gigs of hard-drive storage for MP3s and photos, are features not available on some of its family sedan competition.

One can get a four-cylinder Avenger SE (albeit without all of the above) for $21,995. But if you're still with me, the only Avenger that even remotely cashes the cheques its mini muscle-car looks are writing is this R/T model. With the V6's 235 hp and 232 lb.-ft. of torque, the Avenger R/T starts at a reasonable $28,895. The chrome clad wheels and the above-mentioned interior packages add $1,975. Optional all-wheel-drive is available for an extra $2,000, available on the R/T only.

Unlike lesser Avengers, with their antiquated four-speed slush boxes, the R/T comes standard with a six-speed automatic. It incorporates Chrysler's AutoStick manual-shifting feature. Responsive and smooth in its actions, the six-speed helps the Dodge get from rest to 100 km/h in less than eight seconds. However, the Dodge's fuel economy is less than stellar among its peers, with an as-tested figure of 11.8 L/100 km.

Beneath its faux-retro costume, the Avenger R/T's chassis is a near clone of the Chrysler Sebring that debuted last year. And like the somnambulant Sebring, the highway is where the Avenger R/T feels most at home.

Although its ride is controlled, the suspension feels overwhelmed by its 18-inch rubber when driven hard. Large bumps cause plenty of suspension noise, and the V6 constantly tugs on the front wheels when aggressively cornering. For a supposedly sporty car, more precise steering would be nice too.

Unless price is your primary objective for buying a family sedan with sporty pretensions, the Avenger R/T is hard to recommend over just about any competitor.

Smart consumers want well-built, durable products so they don't have to replace them frequently. In this area, the Dodge's lack of refinement and quality fit and finish means it's bereft of any day-to-day delights that endear consumers to its products over a longer term than merely when the lease payments are up.

There's no hiding behind its aggressive styling. Despite the "all-new" hype, the Avenger R/T feels cheap and dated, reminding one of its dollar store pricing every turn behind the wheel.

Ironically, Dodge already has a mid-size family sedan that exposes the Avenger R/T for the muscle car wannabe that it clearly is. It's what the Avenger R/T aspires to be: the Charger. And right now, Dodge is offering a $7,250 discount on the Charger SE, bringing its price down to a compact car-like $21,320.

Not that much more thirsty at the pumps, compared to Dodge's other family sedan, the Charger is quieter and roomier, handles better, is a nicer ride due to its longer wheelbase, and is built in Brampton, Ontario.

If you're in the market for a Dodge family sedan, what one would you rather own? The real muscle car of family sedans, or a cheap knock-off?

- John LeBlanc, Publisher

2008 Dodge Avenger R/T
PRICE: base/as tested: $28,895/$30,870
ENGINE: 3.5 L V6
POWER/TORQUE: 235 hp/232 lb.-ft.
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (L/100 km) City 12.4, hwy. 8.4, as tested 11.8
COMPETITION: Chev Malibu, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, Pontiac G6
WHAT’S BEST: Aggressive styling, performance, dollar-feature ratio
WHAT’S WORST: Aggressive styling, cheap interior materials, average fuel economy
WHAT’S INTERESTING: Um .....