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2009 Dodge Avenger Quality Review

February 21, 2009

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 6 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Four-cylinder's high-revving sound could be worse, but some are sure to complain about it
Cars.com

Cabin disappoints with abundant hard-plastic surfaces
ConsumerGuide

Cabin is spacious enough for two six-foot, two-inch occupants to sit one behind the other in comfort
Automobile Magazine

The spacious 2009 Dodge Avenger earns high marks in terms of interior space, but most reviews read by TheCarConnection.com slam the Dodge Avenger for its poor interior quality.

Motor Trend reviewers vouch that there is "ample interior space" inside this 2009 Dodge, "thanks to an extra four inches in overall height versus the Dodge Stratus," allowing the 2009 Dodge Avenger to seat five occupants comfortably. ConsumerGuide finds that the Dodge Avenger offers "generous headroom" up front, although "shoulder space is limited for larger occupants." Cars.com calculates that, "by the numbers, backseat legroom is a bit tight—1/2 inch less than the Fusion and 2 to 3 inches less than the other two—but at 6 feet tall, I was reasonably comfortable anyway." Edmunds similarly notes that "the rear seat is spacious enough for two adults, although the seat-bottom cushion is a bit too low."

The Dodge Avenger's ample interior, while big enough to seat its passengers, loses out to some competitors in terms of cargo room. ConsumerGuide reports that "interior stowage is limited to a too-narrow center console and a smallish glovebox," although Cars.com does appreciate that "a 60/40-split folding backseat is standard for expanding the cargo area forward into the cabin." Edmunds adds that the Dodge Avenger's "trunk capacity is a bit below the segment average at 13.4 cubic feet." On the positive side, Autoblog gleefully notes that "interior accoutrements include a bevy of delightful beverage-centric items, including the Chill Zone storage compartment mounted in the dash and the heated/cooled cup holders."

One area where professional reviewers all find themselves in agreement is when discussing the interior quality on this 2009 Dodge. Cars.com notes that the Dodge Avenger's "interior is long on creature features but short on quality...the center storage console feels and sounds a bit cheap when you open and close it." Edmunds reviewers find that "it's hard to get past the mediocre quality of the interior materials," while ConsumerGuide says that "the cabin disappoints with abundant hard-plastic surfaces." ConsumerGuide also reports that, "in one test model, the plastic housing for the center console's sliding armrest snapped off."

In response to some criticisms about noise levels on last year's Dodge Avenger, Chrysler upgrades the 2009 Avenger with improved noise insulation. ConsumerGuide reviewers notice the difference, reporting that "wind noise is effectively hushed, even at highway speed," and Cars.com says that, "to seal out noise, Dodge used the firewall...from the diesel version of the car sold in Europe."

Conclusion

Interior space will likely impress in the 2009 Dodge Avenger, but it hardly makes up for the disappointing materials quality.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 6 out of 10Expert Quotes:Four-cylinder's high-revving sound could be worse, but some are sure to complain about itCars.comCabin disappoints with abundant hard-plastic surfacesConsumerGuideCabin is spacious enough for two six-foot, two-inch occupants to sit one behind the other in comfortAutomobile Magazine The spacious 2009 Dodge Avenger earns high marks in terms of interior space, but most reviews read by TheCarConnection.com slam the Dodge Avenger for its poor interior quality. Motor Trend reviewers vouch that there is "ample interior space" inside this 2009 Dodge, "thanks to an extra four inches in overall height versus the Dodge Stratus," allowing the 2009 Dodge Avenger to seat five occupants comfortably. ConsumerGuide finds that the Dodge Avenger offers "generous headroom" up front, although "shoulder space is limited for larger occupants." Cars.com calculates that, "by the numbers, backseat legroom is a bit tight—1/2 inch less than the Fusion and 2 to 3 inches less than the other two—but at 6 feet tall, I was reasonably comfortable anyway." Edmunds similarly notes that "the rear seat is spacious enough for two adults, although the seat-bottom cushion is a bit too low." The Dodge Avenger's ample interior, while big enough to seat its passengers, loses out to some competitors in terms of cargo room. ConsumerGuide reports that "interior stowage is limited to a too-narrow center console and a smallish glovebox," although Cars.com does appreciate that "a 60/40-split folding backseat is standard for expanding the cargo area forward into the cabin." Edmunds adds that the Dodge Avenger's "trunk capacity is a bit below the segment average at 13.4 cubic feet." On the positive side, Autoblog gleefully notes that "interior accoutrements include a bevy of delightful beverage-centric items, including the Chill Zone storage compartment mounted in the dash and the heated/cooled cup holders." One area where professional reviewers all find themselves in agreement is when discussing the interior quality on this 2009 Dodge. Cars.com notes that the Dodge Avenger's "interior is long on creature features but short on quality...the center storage console feels and sounds a bit cheap when you open and close it." Edmunds reviewers find that "it's hard to get past the mediocre quality of the interior materials," while ConsumerGuide says that "the cabin disappoints with abundant hard-plastic surfaces." ConsumerGuide also reports that, "in one test model, the plastic housing for the center console's sliding armrest snapped off." In response to some criticisms about noise levels on last year's Dodge Avenger, Chrysler upgrades the 2009 Avenger with improved noise insulation. ConsumerGuide reviewers notice the difference, reporting that "wind noise is effectively hushed, even at highway speed," and Cars.com says that, "to seal out noise, Dodge used the firewall...from the diesel version of the car sold in Europe." ConclusionInterior space will likely impress in the 2009 Dodge Avenger, but it hardly makes up for the disappointing materials quality.  2009 DODGE AVENGER STYLING | [7 out of 10] Cars.com: "Trim levels are almost identical cosmetically" ConsumerGuide: "Shares its basic design with the Sebring from Dodge's parent company Chrysler " Edmunds: "Comfortable seating and a simple control layout" The Dodge Avenger ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The base Avenger lags far behind much of the competition because of its combination of a sorely unrefined base four-cylinder engine and interior appointments that look and feel downright cheap. In comparison, the new Chevy Malibu's four-cylinder is much more refined and quiet, as is the Altima's. The Sonata and Optima offer a more comfortable, hushed ride and nice interiors that feel better, even if they aren't as exciting to look at as the Avenger's. Compared to the 2009 Dodge Avenger, the Ford Fusion feels especially sporty and nimble, and though its interior also has a basic design, the materials are better. Roominess is one area where the Avenger does pretty well; its backseat feels capacious and has enough headroom for adults, while the backseats in several of these vehicles—especially the Altima—can be tight. At the six-cylinder level, the Avenger R/T brings a lot of features and a sporty feel for about the same money as more sedately equipped V-6 rival models.

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See the Dodge Avenger in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997

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