AIMING FOR THE MIDDLE; Dodge Avenger shoots for a slice of the midsize pie.(News)(Product/service evaluation)

Byline: Roger Hart

Building a car to challenge the perennial midsize sales-leader juggernauts from Toyota and Honda is a daunting task for any automaker. Camry and Accord, respectively, have been at the top of the best-selling-car list for the past decade, and with both companies cranking out new models, little would appear to be changing soon.

But because the midsize market is so big-2 million cars each year in the United States, making up 30 percent of all car sales-even being a small player can mean big things to a company's bottom line.

Dodge's latest entry in the midsize game is a step up from its previous player. The Dodge Avenger, platform mate to the also-new Chrysler Sebring, replaces the Stratus in the Dodge lineup and comes to market $1,605 less expensive than Stratus with nearly $1,000 worth of added base content. Dodge officials admit that unseating Camry and Accord at the top of the sales heap is a pipe dream-Dodge's target is more Ford Fusion and Pontiac G6. This new car could draw customers to Dodge stores for a look.

Much like what Chrysler did with the bold 300C design, Dodge uses in-your-face styling sprinkled with a bit of innovation to offer something different in the midsize market. The Avenger borrows design cues from its bigger brother, the Dodge Charger, to emphasize the company's muscle-car heritage. The chrome grille is about as wide as it can be and, coupled with the quad headlamps, gives the car an aggressive face. In profile, there's no mistaking the Charger lineage, including broad rear shoulders and wheel arch flares.

Inside, the design is clean and straightforward, with three round gauges clustered in the IP, dominated by the center-mounted speedometer. The center stack is topped by heating and cooling vents with a large opening below for the infotainment center. Directly below are HVAC controls that are simple round knobs.

All Avengers are fitted with Chill Zone, a chilled beverage storage bin housed in ...