- 2010
2008 Dodge Avenger
- Used Dodge Avenger
Safety - What the Auto Press Says
The Detroit Free Press notes the Avenger has "a good complement of standard safety equipment, including standard curtain and front-seat side air bags." Plus, the sedan gets excellent crash test scores from federal government.
In government crash tests, the 2008 Avenger earned five out of a possible five stars in driver and front passenger protection in frontal impact crashes. The Avenger also earned five stars for the front seat occupants' protection in side crashes, and four stars for the backseat occupants' protection in a side crash. However, the government issued a safety concern because the test model's driver side door opened during side impact tests.
Accident Avoidance
Anti-lock brakes, while standard on the STX and R/T, are only optional on the base SE model. Electronic stability control and traction control are not available on the SE, but are optional on the other models.
Of visibility, MSN warns drivers to "be careful backing the Avenger out of parking spaces and driveways. The car's shape created a wide pillar between the rear window and rear-doors, and then there's a black, plastic piece in the rear door window for styling, so this area is even more view-blocking than in many convertibles."
Crash Protection
Where the Avenger shines is in its comprehensive set of standard air bags -- six, to be exact -- which include multistage driver and front passenger air bags, supplemental side-mounted air bags, supplemental front seat side air bags and supplemental side curtain front and rear air bags. An Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) deploys front air bags in two stages to help protect against air bag-related injuries.
According to New Car Test Drive, the Avenger's chassis "is extraordinarily stiff and strong compared to the old Stratus sedans, 1.7 times stiffer in twisting and 1.6 times stronger in bending." The reviewer adds, "It's also designed to meet all of the coming crash regulations aimed at pedestrian safety and get multiple five-star crash ratings, too."
