2010 Dodge Avenger

The 2010 Dodge Avenger leaves us wondering what it's supposed to be avenging. The 2010 Dodge Avenger's interior is also a letdown.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2010 Dodge Avenger midsize sedan comes in three trim levels: SXT, Express and R/T. The Express adds 17-inch alloy wheels, foldaway heated mirrors, eight-way power driver seat, heated front seats, leather-wrapped wheel and shifter and a six-speaker sound system with touchscreen stereo interface, digital music storage and steering-wheel controls. R/T options include the Express' upgraded stereo or a further upgraded multimedia bundle featuring Bluetooth, a hard-drive-based navigation system, real-time traffic, digital music storage and the additional option of six Boston Acoustics speakers. The front-wheel-drive 2010 Dodge Avenger Express and SXT are powered by a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine rated at 173 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque. The only transmission is a four-speed automatic. EPA fuel economy estimates for the 2010 Dodge Avenger SXT are 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined.

Safety
Standard safety equipment on the 2010 Dodge Avenger includes antilock brakes, front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. In government crash tests, the Avenger earned a top five-star rating for its performance in head-on collisions. The poor quality of the Avenger's interior materials is a major letdown, especially if you compare the Avenger to cars like the Fusion or Accord.

Driving Impressions
The four-cylinder 2010 Dodge Avenger offers sluggish acceleration and unrefined gearchanges from the outdated four-speed automatic. Handling capabilities are likewise underwhelming, though the Avenger does have decent ride quality

2011 Dodge Avenger

The 2011 Dodge Avenger receives a number of updates this year, including updated exterior styling, a revamped interior with higher-quality materials, added safety features and a more powerful 3.6-liter V6.

Completely reworked suspension and steering components make the Avenger much more satisfying to drive as well.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2011 Dodge Avenger is a midsize sedan that is offered in five trim levels: Express, Mainstreet, Heat and Lux.
The Avenger Mainstreet adds alloy wheels, heated outside mirrors, automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a power driver seat and a six-speaker stereo with satellite radio. Most of the features from higher-trimmed Avengers are available on the other versions as options.

The 2011 Dodge Avenger is offered with either a four- or six-cylinder engine. The base 2.4-liter inline-4 is the only available choice for the Express and Mainstreet models and is standard on the Lux. This engine produces 173 hp and 166 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy estimates for the four-cylinder Avenger stand at 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined with the four-speed automatic and 20 city/31 highway and 24 combined with the six-speed automatic.
A six-speed automatic is the only available transmission for this engine.

Safety
Standard safety features for all 2011 Dodge Avengers include antilock brakes with brake assist, active front head restraints, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, hill start assist, stability control and traction control.