The 2010 Dodge Avenger midsize sedan comes in three trim levels: SXT, Express and R/T. The SXT comes standard with 16-inch steel wheels, a height-adjustable driver seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, full power accessories, air-conditioning, cruise control, a cooled front storage compartment and a four-speaker CD audio system with satellite radio and an auxiliary audio jack. There are hardly any options for the SXT.
The front-wheel-drive 2010 Dodge Avenger Express and SXT are powered by a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine rated at 173 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque. The only transmission is a four-speed automatic. The Avenger R/T starts with the same engine and transmission, but it can be outfitted with an optional 3.5-liter V6 good for 235 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque. The V6 gets a six-speed automatic and yields a 0-60-mph time of 7.7 seconds, which puts it at the back of the back among V6-powered family sedans.
EPA fuel economy estimates for the 2010 Dodge Avenger SXT are 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined. The V6-powered R/T is rated at 16/27/20 mpg.
Standard safety equipment on the 2010 Dodge Avenger includes antilock brakes, front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. Stability control is optional on the R/T but unavailable on the SXT (though fleet buyers have the option of ordering stability control for the SXT).
In government crash tests, the Avenger earned a top five-star rating for its performance in head-on collisions. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Avenger a score of "Good" (the best possible) in its frontal-offset and side-impact tests.
The four-cylinder 2010 Dodge Avenger offers sluggish acceleration and unrefined gearchanges from the outdated four-speed automatic. The optional V6 in the R/T is notably stronger and benefits from the six-speed automatic, but it's still one of the least powerful V6s in its class. Handling capabilities are likewise underwhelming, though the Avenger does have decent ride quality.