Comparo: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ vs. Dodge Avenger R/T vs. Ford Fusion SEL

Story and photos by John LeBlanc While no one knows for sure what lies ahead for the Detroit Three, right here, right now they're still very much in the business of selling cars. And some of those cars can be had with never-before-seen incentives, particularly in the highly competitive family sedan class. To that end, we've gathered the sportiest front-wheel-drive mid-size family sedans from Chrysler, Ford and General Motors. Although outward appearances may suggest otherwise, all three offer almost identical interior space for five passengers. So which one of these North American brand family sedans can deliver domestic driving bliss? THIRD PLACE: Dodge Avenger R/T With styling inspired by the larger rear-drive Dodge Charger sedan, the all-new for 2008 Avenger R/T adds some muscle-car style to the usually bland family sedan. From the driver's seat, the best part of the sportiest Avenger's driving experience is its refined and flexible six-speed autobox. It's quick to react to right-foot prods, smooth in delivering up- and downshifts, and includes Chrysler's AutoStick manual-shifting feature on the centre-console shifter. Beyond that, the Dodge falls quickly behind its domestic rivals. The large diameter of the Avenger R/T's leather steering wheel and less-than-supportive front-seat cushioning hardly inspire enthusiastic driving. Then there's the R/T's 3.5-litre V6 with 235 hp and 232 lb.-ft. of torque. It merely splits the difference between the more powerful Chevy and weaker Ford. No surprise, then, the Dodge's 0-to-100 km/h run at 7.7 seconds is midpack as well. Like its Chrysler Sebring platform mate, the Avenger R/T prefers a straight highway to a twisty back road. It never feels composed or refined when driven as its overly aggressive outward appearance encourages. Fuel economy, however, is competitive. Like the V6s in the Malibu LTZ and Fusion SEL, the Avenger delivers around 12 L/100 km in the city, 8 L hwy. All three sedans benefit from split/folding rear seats. But even from a practical standpoint, the Dodge is a distinct third. Its 379 litres of trunk space is well behind the Chevy at 427 L and the Ford at 447 L. As it should be, the Dodge is the least expensive sedan here. A cash discount lops $4,782 off the Avenger R/T's $31,595 MSRP. WHY BUY: Muscle-car styling; smooth drivetrain; discount price. WHY NOT: Middling performance; middling handling; middling sedan. SECOND PLACE: Chevrolet Malibu LTZ With a $2,405 Performance Package (including steering wheel paddle shifters), the Malibu LTZ prices out at $34,000. Because of its popularity, the Malibu, which is also new for 2008, is one of the few General Motors products that doesn't have a cash price discount. But you can get zero-interest purchase financing for 60 months on 2008 models. With steering that is linear and accurate, it's easy to place the Chevy in corners. And with its stiff structure, the Malibu delivers the quietest ride of this trio by far. You pay the price, however, at the scales: at 1,655 kg, the Chevrolet is the heaviest family sedan here. Good thing, then, the Chevy packs the biggest punch. Its 3.6-litre six puts out 252 hp and 251 lb.-ft. of torque, which help overcome the sedan's heft, posting the best 0-to-100-km/h time of 6.7 seconds. Although overall the most refined ride here, the Malibu LTZ loses to the Fusion SEL in the details. Its extra weight makes it feel cumbersome in the corners compared to the more fun-to-drive Ford. And all that Chevy power rears its ugly head in the form of gratuitous torque steer – the car pulls to one side under acceleration, even at half throttle. The six-speed shifts smoothly, but is slow to react. In theory, that's when the driver should use the paddle shifters. But their awkward design requires that you remove your hands from the steering wheel. Not good. WHY BUY: Solid, quiet ride, strong performance, accurate steering. WHY NOT: Useless paddle shifters, wretched torque steer, relatively pricey. FIRST PLACE: Ford Fusion SEL On sale since 2005, the 2008 Fusion SEL may be the old kid on the domestic sedan block, but driving enthusiasts with family needs should take note. The Ford immediately impresses with firm and supportive front seats, plus cockpit controls that are the easiest to use of this trio. Low-profile 45-aspect ratio tires ensure the Ford sedan has the best grip of these three. Alert steering, quick turn-in and well-controlled body motions while cornering aggressively help to complete the Fusion SEL's dynamic driving resumé. Power mongers, however, beware. With only 221 horsepower and 205 lb.-ft. of torque from the relatively measly 3.0-litre six, the Fusion SEL is about 1.5 seconds behind the Chevy Malibu in the run from 0-to-100 km/h. Oh well. So you won't blow away your daughter's boyfriend's Mustang GT at a stoplight. And the Fusion SEL's five-speed automatic is one gear short of its rivals, with no shift-for-yourself feature either (a six-speed autobox is coming in the 2010 model). But the best news of all may be the Fusion SEL's impact on the family transportation budget. With a refreshed model coming in the spring, Ford is offering a $9,000 delivery allowance that drops the Fusion SEL's $32,104 MSRP (including $1,500 Sport Appearance Package and $1,225 leather sport seats) to a compact-car-like $23,104. WHY BUY: Athletic handling, comfortable and supportive seating, easy-to-use controls, strong value (with factory incentives). WHY NOT: Relatively down on power, one gear short in the transmission department.

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