2008 Dodge Avenger Review

What the reviewers like:
Reviewers appear to stretch a bit when tallying the Avenger's assets. Most appreciate the 60/40 split-folding rear seat and fold-down front passenger seat. The starting price of the Avenger is another plus. Some reviewers say the ride is fairly smooth on the highway, and wind noise is hushed. The pricier R/L V6-engine option ups power and responsiveness, but adds $5,000 to the price.

What the reviewers don't like:
The 2008 Dodge Avenger's lackluster interior and noisy, sluggish base-model engine imbue this sedan with an indistinct, rental-fleet feel. Safety features don't impress testers. Rear-seat passengers are likely to feel cramped, according to most sources, and trunk space is quite limited for a car this size.

2008 Dodge Avenger review highlights

Reviews suggest that there's a good reason for the generally unenthusiastic response to the Avenger's debut, as many complain that the standard 4-speed transmission is ineffective and steering is somewhat numb. Wind noise is reportedly well-dampened, but suspension and engine noise appear to be a serious problem, particularly in I-4-equipped Avengers. A low-end interior and bland dashboard layout are big points of contention as well. Testers do note that the Avenger's low sticker price renders it a reasonably budget-friendly option in its class. In such a competitive market, however, reviewers say the Avenger is no threat to the class-leading Honda Accord (*est. $20,360 to $28,060) and Toyota Camry (*est. $18,720 to $28,270).

Dodge's reintroduction of its Stratus sedan as the 2008 Dodge Avenger gets some press, though little is very positive. Consumer Reports offers information about road dynamics and safety gleaned from its own independent testing, and Consumer Guide provides similar results, albeit in a different format. The Car Family road-tests the Avenger, grading it in relation to its peers. Editors at Motor Trend include the Avenger in their comprehensive evaluations, which form the basis for Motor Trend's well-known Car of the Year award. Car and Driver conducts a smaller-scale comparative evaluation of the Dodge Avenger against six other family sedans, and also publishes a detailed "first drive" review of the Avenger alone that contains a wealth of information. Similar single-vehicle reviews can be found at Edmunds.com and Automotive Magazine. Autoblog offers a post that condenses the results of Consumer Reports' most recent evaluations of the 2008 Dodge Avenger into one easy-to-read article.

Also see full report: Family Sedans

*In order of credibility (see our Ratings Criteria).

1. Consumer Reports
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2008 Dodge Avenger Review
Editors of Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports tests the new 2008 Dodge Avenger and almost all of its competition in the U.S. family sedan market. Ride quality, styling, handling and safety are the primary focus of this review; reliability data is not yet available.

2. Motor Trend
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2008 Motor Trend Car of the Year: The Contenders
Editors at Motor Trend

Motor Trend's extensive testing for its Car of the Year award starts with an evaluation of each new and significantly redesigned vehicle available in a given model year. The Dodge Avenger's 2008-model restyle earns it a spot on Motor Trend's roster, but judges agree that the upgrades, while exciting, don't compensate for a lackluster road performance.

3. Car and Driver
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The Buzzard-and-Baloney Brigade: Comparison Test
John Phillips
Mar. 2008

This head-to-head review places the Dodge Avenger in competition with six other notable family cars, including the top-selling Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Editors road-test each entrant through the hills of Ohio, judging them on performance, design and comfort. The Avenger places last in this contest, and author John Phillips summarizes the Dodge Avenger as "a mid-size sedan relying almost entirely on its sticker price."

4. The Car Family
The Compleat Guide to Family Sedans
The Haskvitz Family
Mar. 21, 2008

The 2008 Dodge Avenger has "flair," a low starting price and a lot of available options. Even so, The Car Family (a four-member team that tests cars) ultimately gives the Avenger a grade of "C." The nicer options quickly push up the price, the seats aren't very comfortable and trunk space is tight. It's noted that the more expensive R/L option, with its fast V6 engine, is much more spirited.

5. Consumer Guide.com
2008 Dodge Avenger Review
Editors at ConsumerGuide.com
Mar. 13, 2008

Consumer Guide conducts road-testing on most cars and trucks, and then assigns each a ranking compared to the class average. The research here is thorough and the editors' recommendations valuable, but Consumer Guide's test results consist mainly of hard-to-decipher charts. The Dodge Avenger posts the lowest score of all midsize cars that Consumer Guide has evaluated. Its numbers for cabin refinement, cargo space and road noise are especially disappointing.

6. Car and Driver
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2008 Dodge Avenger – First Drive Review
Steve Siler
Feb. 2007

Car and Driver devotes a thorough single-car review to the model author Steve Siler dubs the "Chargerette." Though there's not much coverage of high-tech accessories here, this article is a good source of condensed information regarding available trim levels and powertrains.

7. Edmunds.com
2008 Dodge Avenger Review
Editors of Edmunds.com

Edmunds.com hasn't yet done a comparison test of the new-for-2008 Dodge Avenger, but editors do publish a comprehensive standalone evaluation. The Avenger is credited with good fuel economy and passenger volume, but reviewers here feel that bargain-basement interior materials and mediocre ride dynamics offset these advantages, and that the Avenger's exterior styling may be too polarizing.

8. Autoblog.com
Consumer Reports names Nissan Altima top mid-size sedan
Damon Lavrinc
Jan. 8, 2008

This short article highlights results of the Feb. 2008 Consumer Reports edition's testing of sedans. Although this feature primarily focuses on the close race between the Nissan Altima and Honda Accord to be the top midsize sedan, some of the Dodge Avenger's test results are included as well.

9. Automobile Magazine
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2008 Dodge Avenger
Gavin Conway

This brief review of the 2008 Dodge Avenger isn't long on detail, but provides specifications and links to useful information such as crash-test scores, options packages and warranty information. This article's conclusion is similar to those put forth by other evaluations of the Dodge Avenger: it's interesting, but unlikely to prove a game-changer.

Also see full report: Family Sedans