The Dodge Avenger is a

front-wheel drive Front-wheel drive (FWD) is a form of engine and transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longit ...

, mid-sized sedan that was marketed by

Dodge Dodge is an American brand of automobiles and a division of Stellantis, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Dodge vehicles have historically included performance cars, and for much of its existence Dodge was Chrysler's mid-priced brand above P ...

. The Avenger made its North American debut in 1994 for the 1995 model year as a coupe that was produced until 2000. The model name was reintroduced to the market as a four-door sports sedan starting in 2007 for the 2008 model year. The 2014 model year marked the end of Avenger production as the mid-sized models for both the Dodge and Chrysler brands were consolidated into the new

Chrysler 200 The Chrysler 200 is a mid-size sedan that was manufactured and marketed by Chrysler from model years 2011 to 2017 across two generations in four-door sedan and two-door convertible (first generation only) body styles. The 200 nameplate debuted o ...

introduced for the 2015 model year while Dodge received the new compact

Dart Dart or DART may refer to: * Dart, the equipment in the game of darts Arts, entertainment and media * Dart (comics), an Image Comics superhero * Dart, a character from ''G.I. Joe'' * Dart, a ''Thomas & Friends'' railway engine character * Dar ...

Dodge Avenger Coupe (1995–2000)

Introduced as a two-door sedan but called a coupe in North America, the Dodge Avenger was built from 1994 until 2000 in a similar size and price class as the

Dodge Daytona The Dodge Daytona is an automobile which was produced by the Chrysler Corporation under their Dodge division from 1984 until 1993. It was a front-wheel drive hatchback based on the Chrysler G platform, which was derived from the Chrysler K platfo ...

, which was discontinued in February 1993. The Avenger, along with the similar

Chrysler Sebring The Chrysler Sebring ( ) is a line of mid-size automobiles that was sold from 1995 through 2010 by Chrysler. Three generations of convertibles, two generations of sedans, and two generations of coupes were produced. Although the coupe shared the ...

sedan, was built by

Diamond Star Motors Diamond-Star Motors (DSM) was an automobile-manufacturing joint venture between the Chrysler Corporation and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC).

(DSM), a

joint venture A joint venture (JV) is a business entity created by two or more parties, generally characterized by shared ownership, shared returns and risks, and shared governance. Companies typically pursue joint ventures for one of four reasons: to acces ...

between

Chrysler Corporation Stellantis North America (officially FCA US and formerly Chrysler ()) is one of the " Big Three" automobile manufacturers in the United States, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is the American subsidiary of the multinational automoti ...

and

Mitsubishi Motors is a Japanese multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.Mitsubishi Galant platform (which also spawned the similar

Mitsubishi Eclipse The Mitsubishi Eclipse is a sport compact car that was produced by Mitsubishi in four generations from 1989 until 2011. A convertible body style was added during the 1996 model year. The first two generations share the automobile platform and ...

). Chrysler sold its equity stake to Mitsubishi in 1993, and Diamond-Star Motors was renamed Mitsubishi Motors Manufacturing America (MMMA) on July 1, 1995. Avengers and Sebring coupes built from 1994 until 1996 both have DSM markings in their engine compartments. The Avenger was built on a wheelbase and used either a 2.0 L

inline-four engine A straight-four engine (also called an inline-four) is a four-cylinder piston engine where cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft. The vast majority of automotive four-cylinder engines use a straight-four layout (with the ...

(the Chrysler 420A) or a Mitsubishi-designed 2.5 L V6. The four-cylinder was coupled to either a five-speed

manual transmission A manual transmission (MT), also known as manual gearbox, standard transmission (in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States), or stick shift (in the United States), is a multi-speed motor vehicle transmission (mechanics), transmission ...

, shared with the Mitsubishi Eclipse and

Eagle Talon The Eagle Talon is a two-door 2+2, front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) hatchback coupé manufactured and marketed from 1989 until 1998 and sold by Eagle along with rebadged variants the Plymouth Laser and Mitsubishi Eclipse. The ...

, or a four-speed automatic. The

V6 engine A V6 engine is a six-cylinder piston engine where the cylinders share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a V configuration. The first V6 engines were designed and produced independently by Marmon Motor Car Company, Deutz Gasmotoren Fabrik ...

was only available with the A604 automatic transmission. The Avengers featured a fully independent double wishbone suspension and variable-speed rack-and-pinion steering. Trims included the Highline base model (V6 among other options made standard in 2000) and the ES.

Model year changes

1995

DOHC An overhead camshaft (OHC) engine is a piston engine where the camshaft is located in the cylinder head above the combustion chamber. This contrasts with earlier overhead valve engines (OHV), where the camshaft is located below the combustion c ...

16-valve 2.0 L I4 engine (140 hp, of torque) is standard. A

SOHC An overhead camshaft (OHC) engine is a piston engine where the camshaft is located in the cylinder head above the combustion chamber. This contrasts with earlier overhead valve engines (OHV), where the camshaft is located below the combustion cha ...

24-valve 2.5 L

and an

automatic transmission An automatic transmission (sometimes abbreviated to auto or AT) is a multi-speed transmission used in internal combustion engine-based motor vehicles that does not require any input from the driver to change forward gears under normal driving c ...

(155 hp, of torque) are made optional on the ES. Fog lamps and ABS are optional on the ES.

1996

Power and torque ratings for the V6 are increased (163 horsepower, . torque), and the ES coupes had new seat fabric.

1997

Standard were 16-inch wheels and the license plate was moved from the decklid to the rear bumper. The front and rear fasciae were redesigned. A Sport model was introduced (in addition to the base and ES). The Avenger Sport package consisted of exclusive 16-inch aluminum wheels and a body-color spoiler. This appearance package was available on the base model. A body-color rear spoiler, P215/50HR17 tires, and 17-inch cast-aluminum wheels were added for the ES. The V6 is also standard for the ES, as well as rear disc brakes.

1998

An on-board recycling vapor recovery system, ''cafe latte'' exterior color, and a black and gray interior color combination are added.

1999

Next-generation driver and front passenger airbags are added, as well as a new exterior color: Shark Blue. The V6 engine and automatic transmission are standard on all models in mid-year, as well as several options. An

antilock braking system An anti-lock braking system (ABS) is a automobile safety, safety anti-Skid (automobile), skid Brake, braking system used on aircraft and on land motor vehicle, vehicles, such as cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses. ABS operates by preventing t ...

(ABS) was used in all ES models until 1999.

2000

In 2000, the V6 and automatic transmission combination were made standard on all Avengers, and ABS was made an "option" for ES models. The four-cylinder engine was no longer available. Standard features that had previously been optional included power windows and locks. Base models added cruise control and 4-wheel

disc brake A disc brake is a type of brake that uses the calipers to squeeze pairs of pads against a disc or a "rotor" to create friction. This action slows the rotation of a shaft, such as a vehicle axle, either to reduce its rotational speed or to hol ...

s. The ES coupes now come with standard leather upholstery, keyless remote entry, and a power driver's seat.

Replacement

The coupe did not achieve high sales numbers, so in 2000, the Avenger was discontinued. It was replaced by the

Dodge Stratus The Dodge Stratus is a mid-size car that was introduced by Dodge in December 1994 and was based on the 4-door sedan Chrysler JA platform. The Stratus, Plymouth Breeze, and Chrysler Cirrus were all on ''Car and Driver'' magazine's Ten Best li ...

coupe for 2001. This model was also made at the former Diamond Star plant by Mitsubishi, using the Eclipse platform and architecture, though the Stratus sedan was engineered and built by Chrysler.

Dodge Avenger sedan (2007–2014)

The Dodge Avenger nameplate was reused in February 2007 as a 2008 model year sedan to replace the Dodge Stratus, whose coupe version had replaced the original Avenger in 2001. Like its

Dodge Journey The Dodge Journey is a mid-size crossover SUV manufactured and marketed by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' Dodge brand for model years 2009 to 2020 over a single generation, with a facelift for the 2011 model year. The Journey was styled by Ryan Nagod ...

stablemate, the Avenger's exterior was styled by Chrysler's

Ryan Nagode Ryan Nagode is an automobile stylist and currently the chief designer for RAM/SRT Interior Studio at Stellantis. In 2014, Nagode was named to the Automotive News "40 under 40." A graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art Industrial Design Progr ...

. The interior was styled by Ben S. Chang. The Avenger was officially unveiled at the

Paris Motor Show The Paris Motor Show (french: Mondial de l'Automobile) is a biennial auto show in Paris. Held during October, it is one of the most important auto shows, often with many new production automobile and concept car debuts. The show presently take ...

on September 28, 2006, as a

concept car A concept car (also known as a concept vehicle, show vehicle or prototype) is a car made to showcase new styling and/or new technology. They are often exhibited at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or ...

. It was launched in Europe and was sold in the United Kingdom, filling a gap in the Chrysler range that was left by the Neon's demise four years earlier. It was also launched in Australia, although with only the 2.4 L engine. The Avenger was discontinued in that market in 2010 due to slow sales. The 2007-2014 models were sold in New Zealand. In the US, the Avenger was launched with a 30-second television advertisement, "Tuned Up", that debuted Sunday, March 4, 2007, during NHL hockey, an ad in which a lab technician discovers he can play "

Smoke on the Water "Smoke on the Water" is a song by English rock band Deep Purple, first released from the band's sixth studio album ''Machine Head'' (1972), which chronicles the 1971 fire at Montreux Casino. In a 2004 publication by ''Rolling Stone'' magaz ...

" by

Deep Purple Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in London in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal music, heavy metal and modern hard rock music, but their musical style has changed over the course of its existence. Ori ...

on the Avenger's transmission. Another television spot likened the Avenger to the "superhero" vehicle for the everyman, depicting a driver piloting his Avenger through Gotham-like streets and alleys, speaking to the MyGig entertainment system in distinctly

Batman Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on ...

-reminiscent tones, to arrive home, pull into a two-car garage, and open the rear door to a sleeping child in the rear car seat. According to some reports, the Avenger, along with the redesigned

, shares a

DaimlerChrysler The Mercedes-Benz Group AG (previously named Daimler-Benz, DaimlerChrysler and Daimler) is a German multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is one of the world's leading car manufacture ...

Mitsubishi Motors is a Japanese multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.GEMA I4 naturally aspirated "World Engine", a joint venture between DaimlerChrysler, Mitsubishi, and

Hyundai Hyundai is a South Korean industrial conglomerate ("chaebol"), which was restructured into the following groups: * Hyundai Group, parts of the former conglomerate which have not been divested ** Hyundai Mobis, Korean car parts company ** Hyundai ...

. Additional engines included an optional 2.7 L V6 in the SXT and a standard 3.5 L V6 in the R/T trim level. In addition to the 2.4 L World Engine and the V6s, export vehicles were offered with the 2.0 L naturally aspirated World Engine, as well as a 2.0 L turbocharged diesel ( Pumpe-Düse) made by

Volkswagen Volkswagen (),English: , . abbreviated as VW (), is a German Automotive industry, motor vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Founded in 1937 by the German Labour Front under the Nazi Party and revived into a ...

. As a 2008 model, the Dodge Avenger came to showrooms in February 2007. Dodge Avenger rear 20080517

Features on the new Avenger included optional heated/cooled cup holders and Dodge's new "Chill Zone", a feature that comes standard on all Avenger models, which can store up to four 12-US-fl oz cans in the glove box and chill them to 40°F. The Avenger competed directly with the

Chevrolet Malibu The Chevrolet Malibu is a mid-size car manufactured and marketed by Chevrolet from 1964 to 1983 and again since 1997. The Malibu began as a trim-level of the Chevrolet Chevelle, becoming its own model line in 1978. Originally a rear-wheel-drive ...

and Ford Fusion, with the 2007 and later Chrysler Sebring being aimed at the higher-priced American cars such as the

Mercury Milan The Mercury Milan is a mid-size car that was marketed by the Mercury division of Ford Motor Company. Named after Milan, an Italian city, the Milan was sold across the 2006 to 2011 model years across a single generation. The smaller of two mod ...

Pontiac G6 The Pontiac G6 is a mid-size car that was produced by General Motors under the Pontiac brand. It was introduced in 2004 for the 2005 model year to replace the Grand Am. The G6 shared the GM Epsilon platform with the Chevrolet Malibu, Saab 9-3 ...

, and

Saturn Aura The Saturn Aura is a four-door, five-passenger front engine/front-wheel drive mid-sized sedan manufactured and marketed by GM's Saturn subsidiary over a single generation from 2006–2009. The car launched one year before the seventh generatio ...

2009

In the 2009 model year, like its

Caliber In guns, particularly firearms, caliber (or calibre; sometimes abbreviated as "cal") is the specified nominal internal diameter of the gun barrel Gauge (firearms) , bore – regardless of how or where the bore is measured and whether the f ...

Charger Charger or Chargers may refer to: * Charger (table setting), decorative plates used to fancify a place setting * Battery charger, a device used to put energy into a cell or battery * Capacitor charger, typically a high voltage DC power supply ...

Grand Caravan The Chrysler minivans are a series of minivans that have been produced and marketed by the American automaker Chrysler since the 1984 model year. Currently in its sixth generation, the model line is marketed worldwide, primarily in North Americ ...

Journey Journey or journeying may refer to: * Travel, the movement of people between distant geographical locations ** Day's journey, a measurement of distance ** Road trip, a long-distance journey on the road Animals * Journey (horse), a thoroughbred ra ...

, and

Nitro Nitro may refer to: Chemistry *Nitrogen, a chemical element and a gas except at very low temperatures, with which many compounds are formed: **Nitro compound, an organic compound containing one or more nitro functional groups, -NO2 **Nitroalkene, ...

models, the "AVENGER" badge at the trunk lid's left was repositioned to the right side to make way for "DODGE" at the left. Following Fiat's takeover of Chrysler Group, marketing of the Avenger was discontinued in the United Kingdom, but sales continued in the Republic of Ireland and Western Europe until late 2009. This new version continued with SE and SXT trim levels and is not badged the same way as North American or the South American versions, although sales continued there until late 2009 following Fiat's takeover of Chrysler Group.

2011

For the 2011 model year, the Avenger received its first major overhaul since its 2008 reintroduction. Exterior changes include slightly revised sheet metal with a new crosshair grille displaying the new Dodge logo on the lower right corner of the grille, a sleeker bumper cut design, and standard LED combination taillights. Changes to the interior are more noticeable with a completely redesigned dashboard and instrument panel featuring an available 6.5-inch navigation/media center screen. Higher-quality soft-touch plastics for dashboard, door, and trim panels replace the old materials, which were criticized for their poor fit and finish quality, as well as being unpleasant to the touch. The seats receive better cushioning and higher-grade upholstery. Two-tone interior color combinations were available. Mechanically, the 2011 Avenger came standard with the existing 2.4 L GEMA I4, although it was now paired with a six-speed automatic, as well as the option of the previous four-speed. Also available was the new 3.6 L ''

Pentastar The Chrysler Pentastar engine family is a series of aluminium ( die-cast cylinder block) dual overhead cam 24-valve gasoline V6 engines introduced for model-year 2011 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles. The engine was initially named " Phoenix ...

'' V6, which generates and of torque. The suspension was revised to improve handling and ride quality. Trim level designations were replaced by Express, Mainstreet, Lux, and Heat models. The Dodge Avenger was ranked the "Most American Made" sedan by the

American University The American University (AU or American) is a private federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C. Its main campus spans 90 acres (36 ha) on Ward Circle, mostly in the Spring Valley neighborhood of Northwest D.C. AU was charte ...

's Kogod School of Business 2013 Made in America Auto Index. The Dodge Avenger also has an overall rating of 6.7.

Trims

*SE: (2007–2009, 2012–2013) The "base" trim level from 2007-2009, and then again from 2012-2013. **2.4 L '' GEMA'' I4 DOHC 16V Dual VVT 4-speed automatic *SXT: (2007–2010, 2012–2013) The "volume" trim level from 2007-2010, and again from 2012-2013. **2.4 L '' GEMA'' I4 DOHC 16V Dual VVT 4-speed automatic **2.7 L ''

EER EER may refer to: * East of England Regiment, a British Army Reserve unit * Effective exchange rate * Energy efficiency rating in the Australian Capital Territory * Energy efficiency ratio, of a cooling device * Engineering education research * En ...

'' V6 DOHC 24-valve MPI 4-speed automatic **2.4 L '' GEMA'' I4 DOHC 16V Dual VVT 6-speed automatic 3.6L Pentastar *SXT Plus: (2012) One of the more "uplevel" trim levels in 2012. Discontinued after 2012. **3.6 L ''

'' V6 DOHC 24V MPI 6-speed automatic *R/T: (2007–2010, 2012–2013) At first the "top-of-the-line" trim level from 2007-2010, and then the "performance-oriented" trim level from 2012-2013. **3.5 L '' EGF'' V6 24V MPI 6-speed automatic **3.6 L ''

'' V6 DOHC 24V MPI 6-speed automatic *R/T AWD: (2007–2009) **3.5 L '' EGF'' High Output V6 24V MPI 6-speed automatic *Express: (2010-2011) Replaces SE as basic trim level from 2010-2011. Discontinued after 2011. **2.4 L '' GEMA'' I4 DOHC 16V MPI 4-speed automatic *Mainstreet: (2011) Replaces SXT as one of the more "basic" trim levels in 2011, and then discontinued after 2011. **2.4 L '' GEMA'' I4 DOHC 16V MPI 6-speed automatic *Lux: (2011) Replaces SXT Plus as one of the "uplevel" trims in 2011, and then discontinued after 2011. **2.4 L '' GEMA'' I4 DOHC 16V MPI 6-speed automatic **3.6 L ''

'' V6 DOHC 24V MPI 6-speed automatic *Heat: (2011) Replaces SXT Plus as one of the "uplevel" trim levels in 2011, and then discontinued after 2011. **3.6 L ''

'' V6 DOHC 24V MPI 6-speed automatic

Total sales

Safety

The 2008 through 2013 Avenger, also sold as the Chrysler Sebring from 2008 until 2010, and the Chrysler 200 from 2011 through 2013, received an overall "Good" rating by the IIHS indicating no significant injuries. In the small overlap test, the car received an overall "Acceptable" rating due to marginal dummy kinematics and slight intrusion into the passenger compartment. In the side test, the Avenger earns a "Good" rating, however, rib fractures would be possible for the driver. In the roof strength evaluation, it earns a "Good" rating, as well as its head restraints and seats. The Avenger earned the "Top Safety Pick" award in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2014 as well as earned the "Top Safety Pick+" award in 2013.

Discontinuation

The discontinuation of the Dodge Avenger was announced by the automaker in early 2014, along with the end of the Chrysler 200 convertible model. The final 2014 model year Avengers were produced during first quarter 2014.

Motorsport

The first-generation Dodge Avenger body style was widely used in the

National Hot Rod Association The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is a drag racing governing body, which sets rules in drag racing and hosts events all over the United States and Canada. With over 40,000 drivers in its rosters, the NHRA claims to be the largest motorspo ...

and earned the most prominence driven by Darrell Alderman and

Scott Geoffrion Scott Geoffrion (May 18, 1965 – May 8, 2006) was an NHRA drag racing driver. He was a former two-time Pro Stock World Championship runner-up and a nine-time national event winner. He died on May 8, 2006, of an apparent heart attack in Irvin ...

from 1994 until 2000 as the ''Dodge Boys''. The coupe was used for the

1994 File:1994 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 1994 Winter Olympics are held in Lillehammer, Norway; The Kaiser Permanente building after the 1994 Northridge earthquake; A model of the MS Estonia, which Sinking of the MS Estonia, sank in ...

and

1995 File:1995 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: O.J. Simpson is O. J. Simpson murder case, acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman from the 1994, year prior in "The Trial of the Century" in the United States; The ...

incarnations of the

International Race of Champions International Race of Champions (IROC) was a North American auto racing competition, created by Les Richter, Roger Penske and Mike Phelps, promoted as an equivalent of an American motorsports All-Star Game. Despite its name, the IROC was primar ...

. Although Dodge was IROC's car of choice since 1990, Dodge dropped out of this racing series after the 1995 season. Avenger sheet metal was also used on race cars by several ARCA race teams from 1995 until 2000. The Avenger replaced the

as Dodge's car for the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Season. It appeared in Dodge Avenger grille, headlights, and taillights as the standard "spec"

Car of Tomorrow The Car of Tomorrow (abbreviated as CoT) was the common name used for the chassis of the NASCAR Cup Series (2007 –2012) and Xfinity Series (since 2011 full-time) race cars. The car was part of a five-year project to create a safer vehicle ...

(CoT) model. It got its first win with former

Formula One Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship, ...

driver

Juan Pablo Montoya Juan Pablo Montoya Roldán (; born September 20, 1975) is a Colombian racing driver. He won the International F3000 championship in 1998, the CART FedEx Championship Series in 1999 in his debut year in the series, and the IMSA WeatherTech ...

in the

2007 Toyota/Save Mart 350 The 2007 Toyota/Save Mart 350 was the sixteenth stock car race of the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and the first of the season's two road course events. It was held on June 24, 2007 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California before a crowd of 102, ...

at the

Infineon Raceway Sonoma Raceway (originally known as Sears Point Raceway from 1967 to 1980 and 1982 to 2002, Golden State International Raceway in 1981 and Infineon Raceway from 2002 to 2012) is a road course and dragstrip located at Sears Point in the southern ...

. In 2008, the Dodge CoT appearance was changed back to the Charger model.

Notes

References

External links

* * {{Authority control

Avenger Avenger, Avengers, The Avenger, or The Avengers may refer to: Arts and entertainment In the Marvel Comics universe * Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes ** Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes o ...

Front-wheel-drive vehicles Police vehicles Mid-size cars Coupés Sedans Station wagons 2000s cars 2010s cars Cars introduced in 1994 Partial zero-emissions vehicles Sport compact cars