Test drive Dodge Avenger: neocon
The Avenger joins the new generation of Chrysler Sebring in the attack of the middle class. First impressions of the fourth model in the European Evasion line.
Viper, Caliber, Nitro ... If the first three Dodge offerings in European markets are more or less similar in their desire to stand out from the competition, offering something extreme, original and even extravagant, the Avenger falls into a rather conservative market segment in which experimentation and originality are not always arouse understanding and applause.
The plight of a classic sedan
But what to do - the fate of the classic sedan today is not easy. Surrounded on all sides by market-hungry new car options, he is forced to please a noticeably reticent audience in terms of change, finding a difficult balance between the desire to introduce something new and the fear of being rejected for an unacceptable departure from tradition.
What did Dodge do?
Where is the Avenger in this situation? At first glance, the model, which has reached its close technological cousin the Chrysler Sebring from the conveyors of the completely renewed American plant in Stirling Heights, strikes first of all with its unusual style. The three-volume scheme prescribed by the canons in the genre is present, but in the glow of a rather impressive sedan 4,85 m long, you can find a number of features that are not typical for European representatives of this class. Rather than displaying restraint and stylistic flow to cater to as many potential customers as possible, the Avenger proudly focuses on the front grille, doesn't shy away from showing muscle in the wheel arches, and quotes its Challenger big brother almost verbatim at the rear. wings and side columns on the roof. All this contributes to the formation of a characteristic physiognomy that can arouse the interest of even the most ardent conservative.
Comfort above all
In terms of style and the type of materials used, the interior relies more on practicality and original details than on a prestigious look and fine decorations. The gray-silver combination of the instrument panel and overlays in polymers creates an unpretentious but solid impression, the layout does not bother anyone, and the equipment is fraught with a number of fresh surprises - there is a small refrigerator above the glove compartment that can hold four cans of beer or soft drinks. with a special antibacterial coating has increased resistance to stains and wear, a special cup holder in the front row is able to maintain the temperature of drinks in the range from 60 to 2 degrees Celsius, and optionally integrated into the center console a modern audio navigation system with a sensitive touch screen and a built-in hard drive capacity 20 gigabytes can be expanded with a rear seat DVD module.
Convenience is also the leitmotif of the Avenger's behavior on the road. Although the suspension and steering settings of the new Dodge are adapted to European tastes, they have not lost their American ease. The ambition for a dynamic driving style is tolerable up to a certain point, when the front ends up with a slight and predictable tangential slip to the turn. Overall, the behavior of the Avenger is entirely in line with conservative moral principles, and the effective operation of the ESP system dispels recent doubts about active safety.
Model palette
The range of engines includes three gasoline ("world" four-cylinder 2.0 and 2.4 and six-cylinder 2.7) and one turbodiesel unit (the well-known 2.0 CRD with a capacity of 140 hp from the VW line) in combination with a set of five-and six-speed mechanical and four-speed Automatic. a transmission to which a six-speed automatic would later be added for the V6 version. The most serious in the markets of the Old Continent, undoubtedly, should be the chances of the diesel version, which demonstrates the well-known combination of hoarse sound, good dynamics and pleasantly low fuel consumption of a two-liter unit with a direct injection pump-nozzle system.
Text: Miroslav Nikolov
Photo: Miroslav Nikolov
