Avenger: Under midsize radar

Lots of folks like the brawny look of the Dodge Charger.

But what if you desire the broad- shouldered look in a smaller size and price? Dodge's Avenger has the look and three engine options (none of them HEMI V-8s). But in a field where Ford has the Fusion, GM has the Chevy Malibu and Saturn Aura, and there are also the likes of the Hyundai Sonata, VW Passat, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Mazda6 and Honda Accord, does Avenger avenge its competition?

Yes, and no.

- Avenger appearance: "Bold, aggressive styling of the Dodge Charger" is what the press kit says about this Avenger, its 108.9-inch wheelbase and 61.8-inch track a tad shorter than a Malibu, Accord, Altima and Camry, but mid-pack in width comparisons. It gets the signature crosshair grille and quad headlamps in chrome, with a deep lower air intake. The profile shares the most with the Charger, with muscular rear fenders and 18-inch Bridgestone rubber on bold five-spoke alloys. The rear side windows get a kick-up design to match Charger, but a triangular black plastic insert looks lame and cuts down on outward viewing when inside. The tail gets a spoiler and big taillights. But even in optional ($225) Deep Water Blue Pearl Coat paint, it looked rather plain.

- Avenger adequacy: It's interior is roomy, yet rather simple: dark and hard slate-gray plastic interior with touches of silver and chrome. A chunky steering wheel with a big air bag, twin chrome accents and rear spoke-mounted stereo controls tilts and telescopes for a good view of a white-faced 120-mph speedometer flanked by tach and gas/temperature gauges. The silver dash center houses a large LCD touch screen for satellite navigation and a great six-speaker AM-FM-Sirius Satellite Radio-CD audio system with Sirius traffic alert and Chrysler's uconnect system, which quickly hooked up my Bluetoothed cellphone.

The system's hard drive lets you upload photographs or music from a thumbdrive or CD, play an iPod via a USB port, or plug an MP3 player in the auxiliary jack. Overhead, a HomeLink universal garage door transceiver. My complaint: Telephone and voice-command buttons are on the right side of the screen and not easy to access; put them on the steering wheel. The LCD screen only displays photos in My Picture mode and in uconnect phone mode. All the storage nooks were hard plastic, guaranteeing coins and cellphones will rattle about.

The heated seats were comfortable if not too supportive, the driver getting eight-way power adjustments. The center console's chrome trim reflected high-noon sun in my eyes. But with the a/c-vented Chill Zone storage compartment with rubberized nooks for four cans, plus a heated/cooled center cupholder (up to 140 degrees/down to 35 degrees), drinks are on us! We didn't like the sharp-edge plastic flashing on a door armrest and a misfit driver's side A-pillar trim that left a gap with the dash top. Back-seat room was good on a flat seat with center armrest; the seatbacks split and fold to expand a decent 13.4-cubic-foot trunk.

- Avenger athleticism: Three engine options - a base 173-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder; our 186-hp Flex Fuel 2.7-liter V-6; and a 235-hp 3.5-liter V-6. You can remote start the engine from the key fob. But despite 186 horsepower under our 2,600-mile-old test car's hood, there was no sparkle due in part to an archaic four-speed automatic that didn't downshift when needed. The result: a disappointing 0 to 60 mph time of 9.8 seconds. Many of its midsize competition's fours feel sprightlier with the help of five-speed auto-boxes. Good news: an average 23 to 26 mpg on regular.

The ride was comfortable, the handling predictable, the touring suspension keeping bumps in control. Stability and traction control worked to keep things in line with minimal roll, but a bump mid-turn caused a bit of bobble. The power steering was direct, the all-wheel disc brakes stopping our Avenger well with minimal nose dive and almost no fade after heavy use, but the pedal was a bit soft.

- Avenger cost: Dodge Avenger SXT's base price was $21,500 with standards listed above, plus our $1,495 Premium option package with climate control, remote start, heated/cooled cupholder, LED map lights, universal garage door opener and heated mirrors; 18-inch aluminum wheels and tires for $295; $425 stability control; Flex-Fuel V-6 with touring suspension for $1,300; $775 sunroof; and $1,200 for uconnect Bluetooth/uconnect tunes/AM-FM-CD/MP3/hard drive audio with touch-screen operation and navigation, all under voice command. Final price: $27,995. Competitors: low-base $20,000s for a V-6 Aura, Sonata or Fusion to the mid- to high mid-20's for Malibu or Japanese and German sedans.

- Bottom line: As we wait to see how a proposed alliance between Chrysler and Fiat turns out, we find a lot to like about the Avenger from its roomy interior, comfortable seats, decent luggage space, hands-free voice command for almost everything and its fuel frugality. But it's just average everywhere else; its competitors are better finished and drive a lot sharper, some with more refined four-cylinder engines. Maybe Chrysler's possible marriage to Fiat could result in a real Euro-sedan with some stile (style) and brio (energy and vigor).

Florida Times-Union staff writer Dan Scanlan test-drives new vehicles on Northeast Florida roads, averaging 200 miles of combined highway and city traffic during a weeklong test. The vehicles are provided by the manufacturer according to their schedule and represent a broad spectrum of sizes and prices. The prices listed are manufacturer's suggested retail prices. Scanlan can be reached at (904) 359-4549 or at dan.scanlan@jacksonville.com.