TTAC Salutes The Dodge Avenger

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

The Dodge Avenger was a contentious topic on TTAC. For some, it made the Dart redundant, offering the cheapest 283 horsepower money could buy. For others, it was a dreadful pile of crap, fit for sub-prime buyers, rental fleets and not much else.

Last month, we reported that the Avenger would die, to help prevent cannibalizing Dart sales and to align with Chrysler’s strategy of having one mid-size sedan per brand. On February 14th, the last Avenger rolled off the line at Sterling Heights. TTAC’s consensus on the Avenger is mixed. Nonetheless, we salute it. Where else can you get Pentastar power at poverty prices?

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • 95_SC 95_SC on Feb 22, 2014

    I suspect this car is destined for LeMons greatness in a decade or so.

    • Lorenzo Lorenzo on Feb 22, 2014

      You really think it'll take that long for banged up examples to show up? The Pentastar and transaxle might be okay, but deteriorating electronic components causing interminable troubleshooting problems might give Lucas a run for their reputation and produce a bunch of LeMons candidates.

  • APaGttH APaGttH on Feb 22, 2014

    I've had a 4 banger poverty spec rental a Pentastar 6. The 4-banger was AWFUL - the V6 with some more options was surprisingly -- acceptable.

  • Agent534 Agent534 on Feb 24, 2014

    I went and test drove a 2012 V6 Avenger after reading the praise here. Its a former rental with under 17k miles for $13K with keyless entry and power windows, and not much else. The car really does move pretty good. As a daily driver, which I need, I'm not sure there is a better deal out there. As a daily driver, this meets all my needs. If this is your only car, then you might want something a little more, but this looks like a great option for me. Thinking about picking it up.

  • Nine11c2 Nine11c2 on Feb 24, 2014

    give it a few years..at $7K with a Pentastar v6,,it'll be a screaming buy..

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