The Dodge Avenger's cabin is smartly laid out, with gauges that are instantly readable and switchgear that is easily reachable.
When the driver's seat is pushed all the way back, it delivers enough headroom and legroom for a six-foot driver. Its 43.3 inches of front legroom is the same as the Camry Solara SE's, and surprisingly more plentiful than the Monte Carlo Z34. But we wished the manually adjusted driver's seatback offered more precise adjustments.
The Avenger is better than most two-door coupes when it comes to climbing into the back seat. An adult can easily pass through the driver's side opening - as long as the driver's seat is slid all the way forward. The back seat offers sufficient legroom for two normal-sized adults. In fact, the Avenger offers as much rear legroom as the much longer Monte Carlo and it's comparable to the Solara.
Nice features include the digital compass readout that appears in the upper right corner of the rear-view mirror; all cars should have compasses, but many don't. And instead of having to reach over and behind your head to locate a dome light switch, the Avenger provides good map lights accessed by three small, easy-to-locate buttons that run along the bottom of the rearview mirror. Recessed cupholders in the Avenger are far superior to unsteady slide-out trays popular in other cars.
Whether working the commuter traffic or devouring Interstate miles, the Avenger ES offers a quietude that rivals the larger, more expensive Dodge Intrepid. Even when surrounded by big trucks on the freeway, the Avenger ES abates road noise better than we would have expected from a sporty coupe.
On a twisting road that winds through the Michigan countryside-a road with inclines and sweeping curves-the Avenger's speed-sensitive steering and independent suspension made it a pleasure to drive. Even on dirt roads, the Avenger's nicely tuned suspension provided a good buffer from the bumps.
The Avenger's stable platform enables it to soar through big curves with ease. Sharper turns induce some body roll, one of the compromises of the coupe's smoother ride. So, while the Avenger can outmaneuver a larger, heavier sport coupe like the Monte Carlo, it's not as nimble as a smaller coupe, like the Honda Prelude.
With a 0 to 60 mph acceleration performance of 9.1 seconds, the Avenger ES isn't as quick as a Prelude SH, Monte Carlo Z34 or the new Mercury Cougar. But its 2.5-liter V6 deploys its 163 horses with little effort and minimal engine noise and offers more than enough thrust for passing maneuvers. Strong low-end torque makes driving around town and pulling away from intersections a pleasure. And there's plenty of horsepower for high-speed cruising.
While we prefer the V6, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine costs less and offers better fuel economy. In fact, a good engine-transmission combination for this car is the 2.0-liter engine and five-speed gearbox. (The five-speed is not offered with the V6.)
In the braking department, the Sebring's combination of discs in the front and drums in the rear bring the vehicle to an admirably quick stop, with no grabbing and minimal fade.