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 One thing is for sure. The
2011 Dodge Avenger is vastly superior to the outgoing model. While you're driving it, the Avenger feels sturdy but
unrefined, like a car made of wooden planks. Still, while the car has
some great qualities that carry throughout the entire Avenger lineup, at
the Lux trim level it's clearly a car that's aimed at a demographic
other than the automotive enthusiast.
One thing that Dodge got right was the improved dash. Though big and
bench-like, it's subtly more curvy than the previous Avenger's
featureless slab. One thing I didn't love was the seating,
which smelled even worse than most leather interiors with a nearly
overpowering tanning-chemical reek. You'll probably want to let it
off gas with the windows open for awhile.
Chassis-wise, the Avenger has a similarly rough-and-ready feel that
contradicts its luxury pretensions. The ride is almost truck-like,
though not harsh; it just pops and rumbles over the bad roads, not
uncomfortable but not excessively cushy either. It feels tall, even
though it's been lowered all the way around for the 2011 model year.
With the 2.4L 4-cylinder, the Avenger was distinctly underpowered. The
motor produced quite a bit of noise to compensate for that fact
(pleasantly surprising in a supposedly ultra-insulated luxury interior),
but it wasn't fooling anyone. I guess you could say it was sufficiently powered
for someone who just wants to putt-putt around and look for parking
spaces at the shopping mall.
At the end of the day, I don't really get why you'd take an Avenger of
all things and try to make it a luxury car. It's built to be a little beat-and-bang runabout, not a
luxo-barge: that's what the 300 or even the Charger are for, and those
cars do a more credible job of it than the Avenger can reasonably be
expected to.
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Re: Car Review: 2011 Dodge Avenger
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