The names Dodge applies to its cars might seem more suitable for comic book superheroes than a fleet of sedans, coupes and convertibles: Challenger, Charger, Viper and Avenger.

Though the monikers might suggest boyish fantasies, the cars themselves are generally deserving of such ambitious appellations.

Compared to its domestic competition, Chrysler??™s Dodge unit has done a superior job of maintaining a youthful, performance-oriented identity.

It??™s very hard to think of a time in the past decade when a new or revised Dodge landed with a thud. Thus, the introduction of a new model like the 2008 Avenger is fraught with peril and promise.

Though the name Avenger has been used before ??“ on a coupe produced between 1995 and 2000 ??“ the 2008 version is an all-new, mid-size sedan that replaces the Dodge Stratus.

To accelerate its entry into a highly competitive market, Dodge is pricing the base Avenger $1,605 below the Stratus while adding $985 more content. At $18,895, the Avenger is capable of inducing reverse sticker shock.

With the base 4-cylinder engine, fuel economy is also quite attractive at 21 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

While most Avengers will be sold as front-drive models, the sedan is the first mid-size Dodge to offer an all-wheel-drive option.

Bearing a downsized resemblance to the high-performance Charger, the Avenger??™s crosshair grille and large quad headlamps are meant to give the sedan a menacing mien.

From the side, the Avenger bears pony-car styling cues, with rising flanks leveling off in a high rear deck.

Muscle-car cues include large wheels and tires. Designers have given the Avenger a beefy appearance by reducing the ratio of glass to sheet-metal. The design reduces visibility somewhat, but the payoff is a car that looks very substantial.

The sedan rides on a 108.9-inch wheelbase and 61.8-inch track. Overall, Avenger is 1.2 inches wider and 4 inches taller than the Stratus.

Trim levels in the introductory year include Avenger SE, SXT and R/T. The R/T will offer all-wheel-drive later in the year.

The review car was an SXT with a total price of $19,795 and the 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine.

While the engine was somewhat noisy in aggressive acceleration, the 173 horses proved more than adequate for all driving situations. The four-speed automatic transmission shifted fluidly through the power curve.

The new, 2.4-liter power plant, known as the ???World Engine??? was produced in a joint venture with Mitsubishi and Hyundai. The 16-valve, double overhead-cam engine??™s 173 horsepower represents a 15 percent increase over the engine it replaces while improving fuel economy by 8 percent.

A Flexible Fuel Vehicle 2.7-liter, 189-horsepower V6 engine is also available on the SXT, providing fuel economy of 19 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway.

Dodge Avenger R/T and R/T AWD sedans will come with a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 235 horsepower mated to a new six-speed automatic transmission with Auto Stick.

In the muscle-car tradition, the Avenger??™s interior is restrained, without a lot of ostentatious gimcracks. The bucket seats up front are snug and comfortable, while the back seats are somewhat more snug and less comfortable.

Like the entry-level Caliber, the Avenger offers some great features that will appeal to younger drivers. One of my favorites is the ???Chill Zone,??? a storage compartment in the top of the instrument panel that holds and cools up to four standing 12 oz. beverage cans. Also, a heated/cooled front cup holder can heat beverages up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit or cool cans to 35 degrees.

A soil-repellant and anti-microbial material known as YES Essentials Fabric shields seats from stains and odors.

Avenger also offers information, entertainment and safety navigation audio system with a 6.5-inch Thin Film Transistor Display that responds to voice commands. The system, known as MyGIG has a 20 gigabyte hard disc drive to store and organize music and pictures.

Those features are expected to win favorable reviews among Generation Xers in the 30-45-year-old age group. Typical buyers are expected to earn about $60,000 and 60 percent will be male, while 40 percent will have college educations.

Success in this market should pay dividends for Dodge and its DaimlerChrysler parent. The mid-size car category accounts for 1.9 million sales and makes up 11.4 percent of the total car and truck industry.

???The 2008 Dodge Avenger heats up the mid-size car competition with several cool technologies,??? says Dodge spokesman Tom Loveless.

??“ WHAT??™S NEW: All-new model.

??“ PLUSES: Price, styling, fuel economy, standard features.

??“ MINUSES: Engine noise, visibility.

??“ BOTTOM LINE: Avenger is sweet.

TYPE: Front-drive, five-passenger, mid-size sedan.

PRICE: $19,120 base, $19,795 as tested.

WHERE BUILT: Sterling Heights, Mich.

KEY RIVALS: Ford Fusion, Pontiac G6, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry.

POWER: 2.4-liter, DOHC, 16-valve, 173-horsepower, 4-cylinder engine; four-speed auto transmission.

FUEL ECONOMY: 21 city, 30 highway mpg; estimated annual fuel cost $1,658.

CHASSIS: Unibody, independent suspension with front struts and rear coil springs, stabilizer bars; power disc/drum brakes, power rack-and-pinion steering.

LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT: 190.9 x 71.8 x 58.9 inches.

WHEELBASE X TRACK: 108.9 x 61.8 inches.

STANDARD: Front/side air bags, power windows/locks/mirrors, tilt-telescoping steering wheel, air conditioning, Chill Zone beverage cooling bin, six-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo with MP3, stain-resistant fabric, eight-way power driver??™s seat, split 60/40 folding rear seat, tire pressure monitor and warning, center console with power outlet.

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