The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, May 19, 2010 · 16 $ 8 OFF any oil change package Coupon required. Expiry: June 30, 2010 Code: 5582 345 Speers Rd. (at Dorval), Oakville 905-842-9299 Valid at all GTA locations. Dodge still offers great value in the Avenger R/T By Jim Robinson Metroland Newspapers Carguide Magazine Readers are no doubt familiar with the trials and tribulations Chrysler is just starting to emerge from. With new partner Fiat and all the cars it brings like Alfa Romeo, there is a certain optimism within the organization. In the meantime, there are several vehicles in Chrysler showrooms that offer great value for the money and one of them is the Dodge Avenger. The current Avenger went on the market five years ago and marked the return of Dodge into the mid-size segment after the absence of a decade. For 2010, Dodge has simplified the lineup that still has three trim levels but does away with the 2.7-litre Flex Fuel V6. With virtually no ethanol filling stations in the county, it didn't make sense to keep it. The entry level SE and mid-level SXT both use the 2.4-litre four-cylinder "world engine" that was designed to be powerful and fuel thrifty at the same time. With 173 hp and 166 lb/ft of torque, consumption is listed at 9.7L/100 km (29 mpg) city and 6.6L/100 km (43 mpg) highway. The SE comes with air conditioning, cruise control, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, power locks/windows and keyless entry and front seat and side curtain airbags. The SXT is seen by Dodge as its volume seller and, like the SE, is equipped with a fourspeed automatic transmission. It is extensively fitted out with four-wheel disc brakes and ABS, power eight-way driver's seat, 17-inch wheels and what I think is a breakthrough, the YES Essential seating fabric which is stain, moisture, fade and microbial resistant. never have to go to the office again. The Avenger is one of the very few cars my super-sized son finds comfortable in terms of legroom and back support. In fact, of all the cars I've brought home over the years, the Avenger is his hands-down favourite. Driving one of his lanky friends home from school, the friend remarked that the back seat has lots of room even with my son sitting with the front passenger seat all the way back. But to give a better idea of how big it is on the inside, with the front passenger seat folded flat and the rear seat folded, an eight-foot ladder stows with ease. The 3.5-litre V6 is a punchy unit that makes the most of the six-speed transmission to the point shifts are imperceptible. Of course that changes when you drop down to the manual mode where you can hold the car in any gear longer for more rapid acceleration. And in winter, being able to start off and hold in second or third is a blessing on a snowy day. The MacPherson front and multi-link rear suspensions are sport tuned on the R/T meaning stiffer springs and modified shock rebound rates. Also fitted on the R/T are 18inch alloy wheels with performance tires. I don't drive hard so I can't comment on the prowess of the sport suspension over the standard, but it sure soaked up the bumps of passing over a set of triple train tracks. Summing up, the 2010 Avenger in the form of the SE and SXT offer almost full-size car interior passenger volume at a compact car price. The R/T with the extra power of the V6 makes for a great long-distance or longcommute vehicle. Either way, this car does not deserve to be overlooked by the value conscious, family sedan buyer. Dodge continues to have a strong presence in the mid-size sedan segment with the 2010 Avenger (R/T shown) that features signature design cues like the crosshair grille and a more sporting stance than the similar Chrysler Sebring. Tested here is the topline R/T that starts life as a SXT ($24,795). The big-ticket option ($2,225) is the 3.5-litre V6 producing 235 hp and 232 lb/ft of torque through a six-speed Auto/Stick transmission (that adds $275) with sequential manual shift mode. Fuel consumption is rated at 12.9L/100 km (22 mpg) city and 7.4L/100 km (38 mpg) highway. The R/T, like the SE and SXT is front-drive only. All-wheel-drive was an option in the past but it has been dropped. That price for the R/T engine option also includes 19 amenities some of which are heated, leather front bucket seats, trunk lid spoiler, sport suspension with fore and aft stabilizer bards and "Firm Feel" power steering. Other options fitted to this car included $525 for electronic stability control and $750 for the Media Centre/infotainment system with 30 Gig hard drive (enough to hold 6,700 songs) with 6.5-inch touch screen monitor. Including other options like the $500 18inch aluminum-clad wheels and the $1,400 destination fee, the bottom line was $31,435. One nifty feature is a four-can pop cooler they call the Chill Zone in a slot above the glove box. Vents coming from the air conditioner cool it. While the 2010 Avenger is only about halfan-inch longer than the last generation Sebring (on which the Avenger is based), it is a full four inches taller and that means a noticeably larger interior. The driver, for instance, sits 2.5 inches higher than in the last Sebring. There's also 2.5 inches more headroom and 1.2 inches more shoulder room. With the fold-forward front passenger seat, the driver can create a very useable worktable. If your laptop is Bluetooth enabled as well as your phone, it means you may