2008 Dodge Avenger Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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The Dodge Avenger offers sporty styling, multiple V6 engine options, and some truly unique in-car features.
More commonly known for its minivans and performance cars, Dodge is not a name one would readily associate with the family sedan market. The American automaker seeks to change that with the midsize, five-passenger Avenger.
The name “Avenger” was originally used for a sleek Dodge coupe, sold from 1995 to 2000, but this Avenger arrives for the 2008 model year with muscle car-inspired styling and assures it will stand out in a crowded parking lot of cookie-cutter sedans. It is also one of the few midsize sedans for this model year to offer available all-wheel drive.
The Avenger is based on a platform shared with the Chrysler Sebring, Chrysler 200, and the Dodge Journey crossover. While the styling is meant to evoke the Charger sport sedan, it actually looks like a sedan version of Journey. Where the broad lines and dominant grille of the Charger deliver that modern-muscle-car spirit, those design elements on the Avenger leave it feeling blocky, and the high trunk design feels busy.
The Avenger has a more conventional cabin, with a clean design and crisp layout. Unfortunately, the fit-and-finish is lacking, as there is extensive use of hard plastic. What saves the interior of the Avenger is the white-backed instrument panel, adding a touch of luxury to the cabin.
Compared to other family sedans on the market, the Avenger has a simple and straightforward trim level lineup: SE, SXT, and R/T. The SE comes with cloth seats, air conditioning, 16-inch steel wheels, power windows, cruise control, and remote keyless entry.
The SXT adds 17-inch wheels and premium cloth seats with lumbar support for the driver’s seat, while the range-topping R/T boasts unique 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic temperature control, heated leather seats, spoiler, and heated mirrors. A sunroof is available as an option.
The SE and SXT come with a 173-horsepower 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine The SXT is available with a 2.7-litre V6 engine making power specs of 185 horsepower. Both of these engines send power to front-wheel drive (FWD) through a four-speed automatic transmission.
The R/T is the most powerful version of the Avenger, equipped with a 235-horsepower 3.5-litre V6. It routes power through an AutoStick six-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels or available all-wheel drive (AWD). The 2.7-litre V6 is underpowered and if you want V6 grunt, it's best to simply go with the R/T.
The Avenger comes with 379 litres of trunk space. Despite the high rear deck-lid this is on the smaller side for trunk space among the family sedan set. This can be expanded with the split-fold rear bench.
The cabin layout of the Avenger is useful and features a two-tier glovebox, which helps when organizing all your items. The centre stack has a deep tray, as does the centre console. The centre cup holders are quite deep and have integrated ambient lighting.
The base stereo comes with an AM/FM/satellite radio unit with an auxiliary audio input and four speakers. The stereo in the SXT and R/T upgrades that to six speakers and adds audio controls to the steering wheel.
The Avenger is available with a rear seat entertainment system, which is a rarity among family sedans. It consists of a fold-out screen integrated into the rear of the centre console. The Avenger is also available with a navigation system with a 20-gigabyte hard drive called MyGig with audio and photo storage.
The Avenger also has a very clever feature called the “Chill Zone,” which blows cold air into the upper and lower glove boxes. Both tiers even have grooves for bottles.
The Avenger comes standard with front and rear head airbags, front-impact airbags, and dual front side-mounted airbags. The Avenger also comes standard with a tire pressure monitoring system, auto-off headlights, traction control, and an emergency interior trunk release.
The SE and SXT have front-disc and rear-drum brakes. Moving up to the R/T adds four-wheel disc brakes, as well as antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, which will offer better pedal feel and stopping accuracy.
The most efficient version of the 2008 Dodge Avenger is the base 2.4-litre four-cylinder with the four-speed automatic transmission. The 3.5-litre V6 powertrain in the R/T is the least efficient. Fuel economy figures range from 9.7 to 13.8 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving and 6.6 to 8.4 on the highway, depending on the engine and drivetrain selected.
Base MSRP for the 2008 Dodge Avenger SE as a new car in Canada is $21,995, which is steep considering the quality of the competition. That price is less than both the Camry and the Accord, but both are superior vehicles to the Avenger. The Dodge Avenger SXT starts at $23,960, while the range-topping Dodge Avenger R/T starts at $28,895 for the FWD version and $30,895 for the AWD model.
Note: Images show a US model.
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2008 Dodge Avenger Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: Sirius ready · Total Number of Speakers: 4
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 11.5 · Front brake width: 1.0 · Front brakes: disc · Rear brake diameter: 9.0 · Rear brakes: drum
Comfort Features
Floor Mats: front and rear · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Ashtray: with lighter · Assist handle: rear · Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: front · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 1 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Power adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 3.91
Exterior Features
Body side moldings: body-color · Paint: pearl
Headrests
Adjustable rear headrests: integrated headrests · Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
Lights
Headlights: LED · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: auto-dimming with microphone
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Sunroof: one-touch
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Heated: front seats · Passenger seat folding: folds flat · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: premium cloth
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: steel
Wheels
Wheel covers: full
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · 6 disc CD/DVD in-dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Boston Acoustics premium brand speakers · AM/FM radio · Sirius Satellite Radio · Total Number of Speakers: 6
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 11.5 · Front brake width: 1.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 9.0 · Rear brakes: drum
Comfort Features
Floor Mats: front and rear · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Ashtray: with lighter · Assist handle: rear · Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: front · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 1 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: sunglasses holder · Vanity mirrors: dual
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Power adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 3.91
Exterior Features
Body side moldings: body-color · Paint: pearl
Headrests
Adjustable rear headrests: integrated headrests · Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
In Car Entertainment
Video monitor location: rear · Video system: DVD player
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: tire pressure warning
Lights
Headlights: auto delay off · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: auto-dimming with microphone
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Sunroof: one-touch
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Heated: front seats · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: premium cloth
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Stability and Traction
Stability control: electronic
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Navigation system: touch screen display · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: touring
Tires and Rims
Wheels: aluminum
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · 6 disc in-dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Boston Acoustics premium brand speakers · AM/FM radio · Sirius Satellite Radio · Total Number of Speakers: 6
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 11.5 · Front brake width: 1.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 10.3 · Rear brake width: 0.4 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Floor Mats: front and rear · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Ashtray: with lighter · Assist handle: rear · Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: rear · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: front seatback · Vanity mirrors: dual
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Power adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 3.43
Exterior Features
Paint: pearl
Header
Option Delete: Generic
Headrests
Adjustable rear headrests: integrated headrests · Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
In Car Entertainment
Video monitor location: rear · Video system: DVD player
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: tire pressure warning
Lights
Headlights: LED · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated · Inside rearview mirror: auto-dimming with microphone
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Sunroof: one-touch
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: bucket · Heated: front seats · Rear seat folding: flat · Upholstery: leather-trimmed
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Stability and Traction
Stability control: electronic
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Navigation system: with voice recognition · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: chrome aluminum
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · 6 disc in-dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Boston Acoustics premium brand speakers · AM/FM radio · Sirius Satellite Radio · Total Number of Speakers: 6
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 11.5 · Front brake width: 1.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.9 · Rear brake width: 0.4 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Floor Mats: front and rear · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Ashtray: with lighter · Assist handle: rear · Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: rear · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Power adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
4WD Type: on demand · Axle ratio: 3.43
Exterior Features
Paint: pearl
Header
Option Delete: Generic
Headrests
Adjustable rear headrests: integrated headrests · Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
In Car Entertainment
Video monitor location: rear · Video system: DVD player
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: tire pressure warning
Lights
Headlights: Auto on · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated driver mirror · Inside rearview mirror: auto-dimming with microphone
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Sunroof: one-touch
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: bucket · Heated: front seats · Rear seat folding: flat · Upholstery: premium cloth
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Navigation system: touch screen display · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: chrome aluminum
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent