Kimberly Kimbrell

2011 Dodge Avenger

••3.5

Posted On: May 19, 2024

"Stylish and Reliable: let's take a closer look at the 2011 Dodge Avenger

Pros
Plenty of room , good on gas mileage , plenty of room in the trunk, I've always been wanting one

Cons
The tires are to big, No navigation system , also maintenance

When it comes to my 2011 Dodge Avenger, I have found it to be a reliable and stylish choice. The sleek design and comfortable interior make every drive a pleasant experience. The performance is solid, with good acceleration and handling. Fuel efficiency is decent as well, saving me money on gas. However, the car's reliability could be improved as I have had some issues with maintenance. Overall, ... Read more

2011 Dodge Avenger Review

Pros

Well Styled Exterior
Improved interior design
Powerful V-6 option
Decent ride quality and handling

Cons

Underwhelming inline-4 engine
Torque steer on FWD
Low-quality interior
Small trunk

Though Dodge has now introduced a new V-6 option with 283 horsepower. The drivetrain is a front-wheel-drive only.

Overview

The 2011 Dodge Avenger arrives with a host of similar specs, but updated interiors and exterior features. Chrysler has made a great effort in making it a better and more competitive offering, though its sibling the Chrysler 200 seems to have better interiors. The interiors were always an issue on the Avenger, yet for the new car, they are restyled and improved.

Pricing and Features
9.0/10

The Dodge Avenger is offered in 4 trims: Express, Mainstreet, Heat, and Lux. most of the lineup is powered by the 2.4L inline-4 motor, while the Heat comes with an option of the V-6 3.6L engine. All trims have the same front-wheel drive. The 2.4L engine comes with a 4-speed automatic gearbox, while the Heat has a 6-speed automatic.

Trim	Express	Mainstreet	Heat	Lux
MSRP (FWD)	$19,250	$21,340	$21,340	$23,750
Key Features	17” steel wheels	Everything on the Express +	Everything on the Mainstreet +	Everything on the Mainstreet +
	Full power accessories	17” Alloy Wheels	V-6 Engine	18” Alloy Chrome Wheels
	Cruise control	Heated outside mirrors	18” Alloy Wheels	Fog lights
	Air conditioning	Automatic climate control	Fog lights	Remote ignition
	Tilt-telescoping steering column	Leather-wrapped steering wheel	Rear spoiler	Heated front seats
	Cloth upholstery	Power driver’s seat	Remote ignition	Upgraded stereo
	4-speaker stereo	Six speaker stereo	Heated front seats	Touchscreen infotainment w/ 30GB music storage
		Satellite radio	Upgraded stereo	Leather upholstery
			Touchscreen infotainment w/ 30GB music storage	Bluetooth

We Recommend

While the whole lineup is quite compelling, the Avenger does not offer much value with the base 2.4L engine, while the larger engine does cost a bit more than the competition. If you had to pick, we would suggest you go with the Heat for its sportier driving character and stylish exterior accents.

Engine and Performance
6.7/10

The 2.4L inline-4 engine is carried over from the previous iteration of the sedan for the 2011 Dodge Avenger. The engine makes 173 horsepower and 166 foot-pounds of torque and is thoroughly adequate to get the sedan moving.

There is a larger 3.6L Pentastar V-6 offered which makes 283 horsepower and 260 foot-pounds of torque. The newer setup is much more responsive, though the steering does suffer from torque steer.

Model	Dodge Avenger	Honda Accord	Toyota Camry
MSRP	$19,250	$22,180	$21,250
Engine	2.4L inline-4	2.4L inline-4	2.5L inline-4
Drivetrain	FWD	FWD	FWD
Transmission	4-speed shiftable automatic	5-speed Automatic	6-speed automatic
Power	173 hp @ 6000 rpm	177 hp @ 6500 rpm	169 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque	166 ft-lbs. @ 4400 rpm	161 ft-lbs. @ 4300 rpm	167 ft-lbs. @ 4100 rpm
0-60 mph (seconds)	9.4	9.2	7.7
Quarter-mile (seconds)	16.8	16.8	15.2
Top Speed (mph)	129	134	126

Comparing the powring, the Honda Accord seems to be the best-powered car in the competition. Though the Toyota Camry is quite quick especially with its V-6 option. The 4-speed automatic on the Avenger lags quite a bit behind the class, making the Avenger the slowest sedan in the consideration. The larger motor with the 6-speed gearbox on the Avenger manages to go to 60 mph in just 6.7 seconds.

Fuel Economy
6.7/10

Comparing fuel economy the Avenger shows its age, with the 4-speed gearbox managing the least efficiency in the segment. The 2011 Dodge Avenger gives 20 mpg in cities, 31 mpg on highways, and 24 mpg combined. On the other hand, the Pentastar V-6 motor gives 19 mpg in cities, 29 mpg on highways, and 22 mpg combined.

Model	Dodge Avenger	Honda Accord	Toyota Camry
MPG (City) (mpg)	20	23	22
MPG (Highway) (mpg)	31	34	32
MPG (Combined) (mpg)	24	27	26
Fuel Capacity (gallon)	16.9	18.5	18.5
Range (City/Hwy)	338/524	426/629	407/592

The low fuel economy puts the Dodge Avenger on the wrong foot as compared to its refined and modernized competition. The car gets a range of just 350 miles on a tank-full of gas. The Honda Accord has the best fuel economy in the class, followed closely by the Toyota Camry. Both the Japanese sedans have larger fuel tanks which give them a range close to 550 miles.

Interior
7.0/10

The Avenger’s interiors are heightened up for 2011, and now get loads of new designs. It has a new dash and a plethora of better materials and finishes. There is matte metallic toned plastic, which makes a fine contrast with the soft-touch plastics in the interiors.

Space though does seem lacking in the rear, particularly compared to the competition. The taller beltline and low roofline make the interiors rather dark. The rear seats have minimal support and so do the front seats, though they do offer great space for the segment.

Model	Dodge Avenger	Honda Accord	Toyota Camry
Passenger capacity	5	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	40.0/56.2/42.4	41.4/58.3/42.5	38.8/58.0/41.6
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.3/56.0/36.2	38.5/56.4/37.2	37.9/56.9/38.3
Cargo Capacity (cu-ft)	13.5	14.7	15.0

Comparing legroom in the rear, the Avenger has the least space as compared to the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry. Although headroom in the sedan seems to be better outfitted. The boot on the car is the smallest in the competition, which takes away from the convenience of the sedan. Some standout interior features in eth sedan are:

Automatic Climate Control
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Power driver’s seat
Leather upholstery
Restyled dashboard
Better interior finish

How intuitive is the 2011 Dodge Avenger’s infotainment unit?

The basic Avenger does not offer much in the way of infotainment in its lower trims. The base trim comes with only a CD Player with 4 speakers that have the capability for AM/FM Radio. The Mainstreet gets Satellite Radio and Six Speakers. The Heat model gets a screen and the system has 30GB of music storage. There is an optional navigation system with Sirius real-time traffic alerts. Some standout infotainment features include:

Navigation
6-speaker audio system
Bluetooth
AM/FM/CD Player
Satellite Radio
Real-time traffic

Exterior
7.0/10

Most of the exterior in the Dodge Avenger largely remains unchanged. The headlamps and the tail lamps have been reworked, while the classic Dodge grille gets new bright-black accents. The car carries a sleek profile that can be easily related to the Avenger being a sleeker and sedated version of the Dodge Charger.

The Heat variant also gets a spoiler on the rear decklid. Most models come with 17-inch alloy wheels, though the Heat trim gets 18-inch wheels. The Lux trim has chrome-colored 18-inch alloy wheels.

Model	Dodge Avenger	Honda Accord	Toyota Camry
Curb Weight (lbs)	3394	3279	3307
Length (in.)	192.6	194.1	189.2
Width (in.)	72.8	72.7	71.7
Height (in.)	58.4	58.1	57.9
Ground Clearance (in.)	6.0	N/A	5.5
Wheelbase (in.)	108.9	110.2	109.3

The Avenger is pretty average in its overall length, though the car has a wheelbase on the shorter side of most of the segment. In overall height, the Avenger ranks above the competition, though it also gets the best ground clearance. Some standout exterior features include:

17-inch alloy wheels
Heated outside mirrors
Fog lights
Rear spoiler (Heat only)
Chrome 18-inch alloy wheels (Lux only)
Redesigned tail lamps
Redesigned headlamps

Safety
9.7/10

The Dodge Avenger has a convincing build quality and a sleek well-proportioned look that speaks of ruggedness. The car has not been rated by the IIHS, though the IIHS calls it the “Top Safety Pick” for 2011. However, considering the Small overlap in the front, the car only has an “Acceptable” grade. The car gets only the most important safety features and none of the driver aid or advanced features manufacturers have now begun offering. Some standout safety features in the car are:

Side and curtain airbags
Anti Lock Brakes
Traction and stability control
Active headrests
Decent exterior visibility

Final Verdict

The 2011 Dodge Avenger is a great sedan and has consistently improved to offer better interiors and updated exterior features. The car has decent performance, though the age-old 4-speed automatic is largely unsuited to compete with its competitors in terms of fuel economy. The car offers a larger 3.6L V-6 motor, though it doesn't fit in well with the platform. Overall the car seems a bit lacking in general, even though it does have some decent handling and visibility. Most other sedans in the segment have largely left the Avenger in the dust, and thus it is not recommended for 2011.

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2012 Dodge Avenger SE

2012 Dodge Avenger SXT

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2011 Dodge Avenger Luxury

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2012 Dodge Avenger SE

2010 Dodge Avenger R/T

2012 Dodge Avenger SXT Plus

2011 Dodge Avenger User Reviews

"Stylish and Reliable: let's take a closer look at the 2011 Dodge Avenger

ProsPlenty of room , good on gas mileage , plenty of room in the trunk, I've always been wanting one

Cons The tires are to big, No navigation system , also maintenance

2011 Dodge Avenger Review

Pros

Cons

Overview

Pricing and Features9.0/10

Engine and Performance6.7/10

Fuel Economy6.7/10

Interior7.0/10

How intuitive is the 2011 Dodge Avenger’s infotainment unit?

Exterior7.0/10

Safety9.7/10

Final Verdict

Saved Cars

Pros
Plenty of room , good on gas mileage , plenty of room in the trunk, I've always been wanting one

Cons
The tires are to big, No navigation system , also maintenance

Pricing and Features
9.0/10

Engine and Performance
6.7/10

Fuel Economy
6.7/10

Interior
7.0/10

Exterior
7.0/10

Safety
9.7/10