Dodge Avenger: Which Version Should You Buy?
The Dodge Avenger choice depends mainly on whether you want the lighter first-generation Coupe, the broader engine and drivetrain selection of the second-generation Sedan, or the stronger restyled second-generation powertrains.
The Dodge Avenger choice depends mainly on whether you want the lighter first-generation Coupe, the broader engine and drivetrain selection of the second-generation Sedan, or the stronger restyled second-generation powertrains. The model covers three catalogue entries but two generations: the first-generation Coupe ran from May 1994 to June 2000 with three versions, while the second-generation Sedan ran from February 2007 to December 2014. The original second-generation range contains eleven versions, and its November 2010 restyling adds three more. On the available figures, the restyled 3.6 AT is the performance choice, the second-generation 2.0 MT Diesel is the economy choice, and the first-generation 2.0 MT is the lightest option.
Dodge Avenger generations: what changed?
The first-generation Dodge Avenger was a Coupe offered from May 1994 through June 2000. Its three versions comprise 2.0 MT, 2.0 AT, and 2.5 AT. Every version is FWD and Gasoline, with either a four-cylinder Inline engine or a six-cylinder V-shaped engine. Kerb weight ranges from 1,306 kg to 1,417 kg, making this the lighter generation in the supplied catalogue.
The second-generation Dodge Avenger changed to a Sedan and was offered from February 2007 through October 2010 in eleven listed versions. Its engine range runs from 1,968 to 3,518 cc and from 140 to 238 hp. This generation introduces a Diesel option, six-speed gearboxes, and AWD alternatives alongside FWD. Where measured, acceleration to 100 km/h ranges from 7.3 to 11 seconds.
The second-generation restyling ran from November 2010 through December 2014 and contains three versions: two 2.4 AT configurations and one 3.6 AT. All are FWD, Gasoline, Automatic Sedans with front-transverse engines. The key upgrade is the 3.6 AT: its 287 hp and 353 Nm are the highest outputs in the entire supplied Avenger range.
Dodge Avenger engine options and specs
Repeated names below are distinguished by output, gearbox, or drive because they represent different catalogue versions.
| Generation and version | Power | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders and layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First generation — 2.0 MT | 141 hp | 177 Nm | 1,996 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| First generation — 2.0 AT | 141 hp | 177 Nm | 1,996 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 4-speed Automatic | FWD |
| First generation — 2.5 AT | 166 hp | 230 Nm | 2,497 cc | Gasoline | 6, V-shaped | No | 4-speed Automatic | FWD |
| Second generation — 2.0 MT, 140 hp | 140 hp | 310 Nm | 1,968 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | 6-speed Manual | FWD |
| Second generation — 2.0 MT, 156 hp | 156 hp | 190 Nm | 1,998 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| Second generation — 2.0 AT | 156 hp | 190 Nm | 1,998 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 4-speed Automatic | FWD |
| Second generation — 2.4 AT, 175 hp | 175 hp | 220 Nm | 2,360 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 4-speed Automatic | FWD |
| Second generation — 2.4 MT | 175 hp | 220 Nm | 2,360 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| Second generation — 2.7 AT | 192 hp | 259 Nm | 2,736 cc | Gasoline | 6, V-shaped | No | 4-speed Automatic | FWD |
| Second generation — 3.5 AT, 235 hp AWD | 235 hp | 232 Nm | 3,518 cc | Gasoline | 6, V-shaped | No | 4-speed Automatic | AWD |
| Second generation — 3.5 AT, 235 hp FWD | 235 hp | 232 Nm | 3,518 cc | Gasoline | 6, V-shaped | No | 4-speed Automatic | FWD |
| Second generation — 3.5 AT, 238 hp FWD | 238 hp | 315 Nm | 3,518 cc | Gasoline | 6, V-shaped | No | 6-speed Automatic | FWD |
| Second generation — 3.5 AT, 238 hp AWD | 238 hp | 315 Nm | 3,518 cc | Gasoline | 6, V-shaped | No | 6-speed Automatic | AWD |
| Second generation — 2.4 AT, 168 hp | 168 hp | 220 Nm | 2,360 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 4-speed Automatic | FWD |
| Restyled second generation — 2.4 AT, 4-speed | 175 hp | 225 Nm | 2,360 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 4-speed Automatic | FWD |
| Restyled second generation — 2.4 AT, 6-speed | 175 hp | 225 Nm | 2,360 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 6-speed Automatic | FWD |
| Restyled second generation — 3.6 AT | 287 hp | 353 Nm | 3,605 cc | Gasoline | 6, V-shaped | No | 6-speed Automatic | FWD |
Power density helps separate engines whose capacity alone tells only part of the story. The restyled 3.6 AT produces about 79.6 hp per litre, ahead of the second-generation 3.5 AT with 238 hp at about 67.7 hp per litre. The second-generation Gasoline 2.0 MT and 2.0 AT each deliver about 78.1 hp per litre, whereas the Diesel 2.0 MT produces about 71.1 hp per litre but leads the four-cylinder options with 310 Nm.
Dodge Avenger performance and fuel economy
| Generation and version | 0–100 km/h | Top speed | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First generation — 2.0 MT | not measured | 180 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation — 2.0 AT | not measured | 180 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation — 2.5 AT | not measured | 180 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| Second generation — 2.0 MT, 140 hp | 10.5 s | 200 km/h | 8.2 L/100 km | 5.1 L/100 km | 6.2 L/100 km |
| Second generation — 2.0 MT, 156 hp | 10.8 s | 200 km/h | 10.7 L/100 km | 6.1 L/100 km | 7.8 L/100 km |
| Second generation — 2.0 AT | 10.8 s | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| Second generation — 2.4 AT, 175 hp | 10.4 s | 200 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| Second generation — 2.4 MT | 11 s | 200 km/h | 12.3 L/100 km | 6.9 L/100 km | 8.9 L/100 km |
| Second generation — 2.7 AT | 9 s | 206 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| Second generation — 3.5 AT, 235 hp AWD | 7.3 s | 200 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| Second generation — 3.5 AT, 235 hp FWD | not measured | 200 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| Second generation — 3.5 AT, 238 hp FWD | 7.3 s | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| Second generation — 3.5 AT, 238 hp AWD | 7.3 s | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| Second generation — 2.4 AT, 168 hp | 10.4 s | 200 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| Restyled second generation — 2.4 AT, 4-speed | 10.1 s | not measured | 11.2 L/100 km | 7.8 L/100 km | 9.8 L/100 km |
| Restyled second generation — 2.4 AT, 6-speed | 9.2 s | not measured | 11.7 L/100 km | 7.6 L/100 km | 9.8 L/100 km |
| Restyled second generation — 3.6 AT | 6.7 s | not measured | 12.4 L/100 km | 8.1 L/100 km | 10.7 L/100 km |
The restyled 3.6 AT reaches 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds, improving on the measured 7.3-second second-generation 3.5 AT versions by 0.6 seconds. It also cuts 2.5 seconds from the restyled six-speed 2.4 AT result.
Between the two restyled 2.4 AT versions, the six-speed Automatic reaches 100 km/h in 9.2 seconds, 0.9 seconds sooner than the four-speed Automatic. Both record 9.8 L/100 km combined. The six-speed version uses 0.2 L/100 km less on the highway but 0.5 L/100 km more in the city.
For lower measured consumption, the second-generation 2.0 MT Diesel is the clear choice. Its 6.2 L/100 km combined result is 1.6 L/100 km below the 156 hp Gasoline 2.0 MT and 2.7 L/100 km below the 2.4 MT. Its 310 Nm also exceeds the Gasoline 2.0 MT by 120 Nm.
Dodge Avenger weight, ground clearance, tank, and wheel sizes
| Generation and version | Kerb weight | Gross weight | Ground clearance | Tank | Wheel sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First generation — 2.0 MT | 1,306 kg | not measured | 140 mm | 60 L | not measured |
| First generation — 2.0 AT | 1,306 kg | not measured | 140 mm | 60 L | not measured |
| First generation — 2.5 AT | 1,417 kg | not measured | 140 mm | 60 L | not measured |
| Second generation — 2.0 MT, 140 hp | 1,560 kg | 2,040 kg | 135 mm | 64 L | not measured |
| Second generation — 2.0 MT, 156 hp | 1,480 kg | 2,040 kg | 135 mm | 64 L | not measured |
| Second generation — 2.0 AT | not measured | 2,040 kg | 132 mm | 64 L | not measured |
| Second generation — 2.4 AT, 175 hp | 1,560 kg | 2,040 kg | 132 mm | 64 L | not measured |
| Second generation — 2.4 MT | 1,560 kg | 2,040 kg | 132 mm | 64 L | not measured |
| Second generation — 2.7 AT | 1,575 kg | not measured | not measured | 64 L | not measured |
| Second generation — 3.5 AT, 235 hp AWD | not measured | not measured | 132 mm | 64 L | not measured |
| Second generation — 3.5 AT, 235 hp FWD | not measured | not measured | 132 mm | 64 L | not measured |
| Second generation — 3.5 AT, 238 hp FWD | 1,620 kg | not measured | not measured | 64 L | not measured |
| Second generation — 3.5 AT, 238 hp AWD | 1,700 kg | not measured | not measured | 64 L | not measured |
| Second generation — 2.4 AT, 168 hp | 1,560 kg | 2,040 kg | 132 mm | 64 L | not measured |
| Restyled second generation — 2.4 AT, 4-speed | 1,542 kg | not measured | not measured | 64 L | not measured |
| Restyled second generation — 2.4 AT, 6-speed | 1,542 kg | not measured | not measured | 64 L | not measured |
| Restyled second generation — 3.6 AT | 1,636 kg | not measured | not measured | 64 L | not measured |
No exterior length, width, height, or wheelbase was measured in the supplied data, so a Dodge Avenger dimensions or size comparison cannot be made here. Wheel sizes are also not measured for any version.
The first-generation 2.0 MT and 2.0 AT are the lightest at 1,306 kg. Each carries about 9.3 kg per horsepower. The first-generation 2.5 AT improves that ratio slightly to about 8.5 kg per horsepower despite weighing 111 kg more.
Among second-generation versions with measured kerb weight, the restyled 3.6 AT has the strongest weight-to-power result at about 5.7 kg per horsepower. The 238 hp 3.5 AT records about 6.8 kg per horsepower with FWD and about 7.1 kg per horsepower with AWD; choosing AWD adds 80 kg within those otherwise matching 238 hp configurations.
Which Dodge Avenger version should you buy?
Choose the restyled 3.6 AT when acceleration and output matter most. Its 287 hp exceeds the 238 hp second-generation 3.5 AT by 49 hp, while its 353 Nm adds 38 Nm. It is the quickest measured Avenger at 6.7 seconds to 100 km/h, although its measured combined consumption of 10.7 L/100 km is the highest available combined figure.
Choose the restyled six-speed 2.4 AT for the more balanced later specification. It matches the restyled four-speed 2.4 AT at 175 hp, 225 Nm, 1,542 kg, and 9.8 L/100 km combined, but reaches 100 km/h 0.9 seconds sooner. On the supplied numbers, that gearbox is the decisive difference.
Choose the second-generation 2.0 MT Diesel to minimize measured fuel use. It combines 6.2 L/100 km with 310 Nm, six-speed Manual transmission, and FWD. The trade-off is performance: its 10.5-second acceleration time is 3.8 seconds behind the restyled 3.6 AT.
Choose a 238 hp 3.5 AT when AWD is required without dropping to the 235 hp specification. The FWD and AWD 238 hp versions share 315 Nm, a six-speed Automatic, and a measured 7.3-second acceleration time. The AWD version weighs 1,700 kg, 80 kg more than the 1,620 kg FWD version.
Choose the first-generation 2.0 MT if the priority is the lightest Coupe with a Manual gearbox. It weighs 1,306 kg, uses a 141 hp Gasoline Inline engine, and has a measured top speed of 180 km/h. Choose the first-generation 2.5 AT instead for 25 hp and 53 Nm more; the cost in mass is 111 kg. Fuel consumption and acceleration were not measured for either version, so the data cannot support an economy or acceleration comparison between them.