2008 Dodge Avenger

The 2008 Dodge Avenger is a distinctive choice in a competitive segment. You can tell that from the first look at the car’s aggressive design. Beneath the skin, the Avenger provides content you wouldn’t expect. These features range from a standard refrigerated beverage holder to optional all-wheel drive.

A midsize sedan, the 2008 Dodge Avenger seats five. It’s offered in SE, SXT, R/T and R/T AWD trims. A four-speed automatic transmission is standard, and a six-speed automatic is available.

The 2008 Dodge Avenger is all new this year.

Exterior

The exterior design for the 2008 Dodge Avenger borrows key elements from the Dodge Charger, the brand’s four-door muscle car. Highlights for the Avenger include a large crosshair grille and prominent rear shoulder lines. Black appliqués create a dramatic shape for the car’s rear roof pillars. They help give the Avenger a low-slung, ready-to-run stance.

Standard content is typical for the segment. That means features such as automatic halogen headlamps, power-adjustable exterior mirrors and 16-inch covered steel wheels. Typical options are available as well. Leading the way are a power sunroof, heated mirrors, fog lamps and 16- and 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. A rear spoiler is bundled with the Avenger’s Sport Appearance package.

Interior

The 2008 Dodge Avenger comes with an expressive, upscale cabin design. Among the eye-catching touches is an electroluminescent instrument cluster with three gauges in their own binnacles. The center stack has a modern and sophisticated look, while the door panels feature intricate sculpting. Another interesting detail is the placement of the ignition switch. It’s on the dashboard next to the steering column, not on the column itself. Both 60/40-split folding rear seats and a fold-flat passenger seat help complement the trunk capacity of 13.4 cubic feet.

The Avenger matches its rivals with cloth upholstery, air conditioning, power windows, power locks, cruise control and a steering wheel with a tilt-and-telescoping column. The surprise is a standard “Chill Zone” compartment that’s built into the top of the dash in front of the passenger. Relying on the car’s air conditioning, the storage area can cool whatever’s inside and has room for four 12-ounce beverage cans. You can complement the Chill Zone with an optional heated and cooled front cupholder. Other notable upgrades include leather-trimmed seats, heated front seats in leather or cloth, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s chair, automatic climate control and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio controls.

Performance

You’ve got three engine choices with the 2008 Dodge Avenger. For optimum fuel economy, there’s a standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. It combines efficiency with 173 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque. A 2.7-liter V6 is available for the Avenger SXT. This engine makes 186 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque.

The Avenger R/T trim levels are equipped with a standard 3.5-liter V6 that produces 235 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque. The four-cylinder and 2.7-liter V6 engines are paired with a standard four-speed automatic transmission. With the range-topping V6, a six-speed automatic is standard. All models are configured with front-wheel drive except the R/T AWD. As those last three letters indicate, that model is all-wheel drive.

Fuel efficiency tops out at 21/30 mpg city/highway.

Technology

The 2008 Avenger provides a relatively uplevel standard audio system. The setup bundles satellite radio, a six-disc CD changer, an auxiliary input jack and DVD playback capability.

Dodge offers Bluetooth for hands-free calling in the upper trims. These models can supply an uplevel sound system with six Boston Acoustics speakers and a Harman Kardon entertainment and navigation system. Called “MyGIG,” it comes with voice recognition, a touch screen and a 20-gigabyte hard drive. A rear-seat DVD entertainment system is available as well.