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Saturday, April 23, 2011
'11 Dodge Avenger is ready to rumble
By Ken Walston
Of THe Journal
The 2011 Dodge Avenger is out for revenge.
For years the midsize sedan (and its corporate cousin, the Chrysler Sebring) endured well-deserved jibes over its drab-looking, taxicab-plastic interior; noisy and sluggish drivetrain; mushy handling; and indifferent build quality.
All of these issues have been addressed in the heavily revised new model, with surprisingly good results.
The most impressive upgrade is the new, 3.6-liter twin-cam Pentastar V-6, paired with a slick new six-speed automatic transmission. This engine is a real gem, with smooth, linear power delivery right up to redline accompanied by a sweet, high-tech aural output.
With 283 horsepower, the Avenger is now a competitive performer, accelerating with real gumption at any speed. It's also pleasingly thrifty with fuel, managing nearly 30 mpg on the open road. And on the highway, the V-6 motors along with a hushed ease, taking long upgrades in stride.
My advise? Skip the standard-issue four-cylinder engine and pop for the six. You won't regret it.
The redone interior, in our Heat model test car, featured a snappy red-and-black upholstery motif, soft-touch plastics on dash and doors, a handsome gauge cluster and simple-to-decipher switchgear for climate and audio controls.
The cabin was noticeably quieter that the previous model, with little road or wind noise.
The Avenger's engineers gave the suspension a thorough massaging, retuning or redesigning nearly every component. The result is much sportier and responsive handling while still delivering a smooth ride when loping along the interstate.
Finally, the Avenger's fit and finish has been substantially improved with tightened exterior and interior panel gaps and obviously more careful craftsmanship overall.
The 2011 Avenger is just the latest example of Chrysler's newfound dedication to building competitive vehicles for an increasingly tough marketplace.
2011 Dodge Avenger Heat
VEHICLE TYPE: Four-door, five-passenger midsize sedan
BASE PRICE: $21,245
PRICE AS TESTED: $25,725, (incl. delivery fees)
POWERTRAIN: 3.6-liter, DOHC, V-6; 283 horsepower; 260 lb.-ft. torque; six-speed automatic transmission; front-wheel drive
WHEELBASE/LENGTH: 108.9"/192.6"
CURB WEIGHT: 3,603 pounds
EPA FUEL RATING: 19 mpg city/29 highway (regular grade)
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