2009 Dodge Avenger
- 2008 Dodge Avenger
- Used Dodge Avenger
Based on analysis of 34 Avenger reviews and test drives.
Dodge Avenger - What the Auto Press Says
The 2009 Dodge Avenger ranks 23 out of 23 Affordable Midsize Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 34 published reviews and test drives of the Dodge Avenger, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.
In previous years, the Dodge Avenger has trailed other affordable midsize cars, and little has changed for 2009. Add in Dodge's stumbling sales, and there's little reason to believe the Avenger's popularity will improve.
The Avenger trails its competition in performance, interior refinement and value, earning a few positive mentions for its exterior styling and safety. After driving the most well-appointed and powerful trim level, the R/T, the Washington Post can only say the car "is a decent mid-size family car with muscle-car pretensions surrounded by better-designed, higher-quality competitors."
Many of those competitors are now available at significant discounts because of the auto industry's recent struggles -- taking away the Avenger's low entry price as an argument for buying the car. The much better-reviewed Chevy Malibu, Ford Fusion, Saturn Aura, even the Nissan Altima have all been available at Avenger-like prices in recent months. See our best car deals page for current offers.
Chrysler, the parent company of Dodge, is now in bankruptcy protection. It has ceased production of most cars, and if it emerges from bankruptcy, it isn't expected to resume production of this one. The Avenger has been a slow seller, and it is possible that the Avengers currently on dealership lots are the last that will ever be built.
For 2009, Dodge has dropped all-wheel drive as an option. Otherwise little has changed. A new cabin air filter is standard, as is a sunglass holder. R/T and SXT models now feature standard leather-wrapped steering wheels, and 18-inch wheels are now standard on SXT models.
The 2009 Dodge Avenger is available in three main trims: the base SE, the SXT and the R/T. The SXT is available as either the L package or the M package, which feature different engines.
- "Spacious and fuel-efficient, the Dodge Avenger is a viable entry in the midsize sedan segment. However, its love-it-or-hate-it styling, budget interior materials and tepid driving dynamics are liabilities against the talented import-brand competition" -- Edmunds
- "Avenger disappoints with crude drivetrain behavior, unsophisticated road feel, and budget-grade cabin appointments. These demerits are offset somewhat by aggressive pricing on base models, though loaded top-line versions can get quite expensive. Any number of class competitors deserve a higher spot on your shopping list." -- Consumer Guide
- "The Avenger still trails the Honda Accord in refinement and driving enjoyment, but it's a solid effort." -- Car and Driver
- "It's got real sex appeal, good fuel economy, a nice-looking, functional interior with reasonable family room...lots of ordering flexibility with three model lines, and a host of interesting options." -- New Car Test Drive
- "While consumers don't need a mid-size sedan to handle the likes of Lex Luther every day, the Avenger will certainly hold its own against those daily Jokers we all come across on the road." -- Detroit News
- "This new Avenger won't be rewriting any rules for the mid-size class. At best, it's an alternative with a uniquely American accent." -- Automobile Magazine
Avenger Performance - 6.2 (Mediocre)
The Avenger's performance is a low point. Even driving the R/T model, which is marketed as the high-performance version of the Avenger, Automobile Magazine concludes, "those expecting a performance hit from the V-6 powered R/T ... will be disappointed." continue
Avenger Exterior - 7.9 (Good)
Some reviewers like the Charger-derived look of the Avenger. Others don't. Car and Driver says "the Avenger looks rather overwrought." But New Car Test Drive says it brings "some real style to the middle of the American car market, competing directly against a host of cars that are shaped like half-dissolved lozenges." continue
Avenger Interior - 7.0 (Good)
Like all Chrysler brands, Dodge is in the midst of an initiative to improve the quality of its interiors. But new quality standards have yet to trickle down to the Avenger. The Truth About Cars reports "once again, the quality of The Chrysler's Group's rock hard plastics is both inexplicable and inexcusable. Even Kia uses finer materials." continue
Avenger Safety - 9.3 (Excellent)
The 2009 Avenger earns five- and four-star crash test ratings from the federal government -- but government engineers attach an important "Safety Concern" because the car's driver-side door opened during side impact testing. continue
Avenger Reliability - 6.0 (Mediocre)
The 2009 Dodge Avenger reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). The 2009 Avenger comes with Dodge's three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty. continue
