2008 Dodge Avenger

Nothing about the 2008 Dodge Avenger will remind you of John Steed or Emma Peel, much less their Blower Bentley and Lotus Elan. The car is way better looking than the Chrysler Sebring and more so than the Buick Rendezvous was better looking than the Pontiac Aztek. But new competition is coming from an unexpected corner: the 2008 Chevy Malibu.

The Avenger, which rides on Chrysler's D-segment platform shared with the new Chrysler Sebring, liberally borrows Charger design cues, especially the rear doors and C-pillar and the rear-deck spoiler on the R/T version. Slightly longer and wider and a full 1.2 inches taller than a Saturn Aura (and thus the 2008 Malibu), the Avenger sits ona 108.9-inch wheelbase and is 3.4 inches shorter. It looks like it belongs in the smallerend of the midsize-car category because of these unusual proportions.

There's ample interior space, thanks to an extra four inches in overall height versus the Dodge Stratus, and it features the good things in the 2007 Sebring, including optional heated/cooledcupholders, a "cold zone" cooled glovebox, rear DVD player, harman/kardon MyGIGnavigation/audio/entertainment/information system with real-time traffic, and hands-freecommunication setup.

The Avenger R/T handles better than the other Avengers or the Sebring, with stiffer springs and shocks and, especially, damping, which gives it a kind of Honda Accord feel.The Avenger SE and SXT are tuned like the Sebring, which seems a mistake. Whenyou get suspension tuning right, why not present it throughout the lineup, as theAccord does? It's no sport sedan, but the R/T does offer reasonably fun handling,with minimal body roll in moderate-speed corners and a comfortable, well-dampedride. However, steering could use more feel and feedback.

The SE and SXT come standard with the 173-horsepower, 2.4-liter VVT four andfour-speed automatic. A 189-horse, 2.7-liter flex-fuel (E85) V-6 is optional with SXT. The R/T and upcoming AWD R/T come with the Charger's 235-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 and six-speed automatic (manuals are available in Europe with 2.0-liter gas and Volkswagen 2.0-liter TDI engines). The 3.5/six-speed combo makes the car spirited and light on its feet.

It feels ready to challenge just about any other V-6 in this category, despite its low-ish horse rating. Its shifter features a manumatic control, but there's no lever or button in the steering wheel or column. The third/fourth gear ratio difference is too great to make shifting yourself worthwhile anyway.

Chrysler says Avenger, which feels more buttoned-down than its previous D-segment cars, is designed to take sales away from its domestic competition. That's not enough anymore, as the Ford Fusion, Saturn Aura, and probably the 2008 Malibu aim for the Camry/Accord/Altima. And besides, Chrysler wants to sell more cars in Europe with models like these.