Nitro and Avenger coming to the UK soon

Big US cars muscle their way into Dodge

26 March 2007 12:46 GMT / By Jonathan Goddard

The American invasion shows no sign of abating, with the announcement that the Dodge Nitro SUV and Dodge Avenger saloon will be available in the UK soon.

Leading the charge to generate more sales outside of their domestic market – in which homegrown cars have taken a battering in the face of Japanese and European imports – the front-wheel drive Avenger is a sort of Dodge Charger muscle-car look-a-like. There are two models in the range – SE and SXT. The range, which launches in September, starts with the 2.0-litre petrol Avenger SE priced at £14,995 and the Avenger SE 2.0-litre diesel is priced at £15,995.

The 2.0-litre petrol engine with a five-speed manual gearbox produces 154bhp and half-decent fuel economy at 36.2mpg. The 2.4-litre petrol engine is available with a CVT auto gearbox that generates 167bhp. The 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine (the same one that’s in the Dodge Caliber) delivers fuel economy of 45.6mpg and 138bhp coupled with a six-speed manual gearbox.

The aesthetically challenged Dodge Nitro will offer a choice of just one petrol and one diesel engine together with a 4x4 drivetrain. The all-new 2.8-litre diesel will be available as a six-speed manual or five-speed auto. Maximum power is 174bhp but fuel economy is just 30.1mpg. The whopping 3.7-litre V6 petrol will give you 203bhp and probably a few gallons to the mile.

The Nitro will launch in the UK in July 2007 and the SE and SXT models will cost between £18,990 and £23,490.