Review: 2012 Dodge Avenger

[TurboDan]

Another week in the Miami area, another rental. This week's victim: the 2012 Dodge Avenger.

The humble replacement to the Dodge Stratus sedan improves on its predecessor (which I've driven quite a few times) in many ways - most notably handling. The 2012 Avenger, which supposedly received some minor upgrades, handles quite competently for a mainstream, FWD midsizer. It's certainly not on par with a BMW, but it doesn't have to be. Unlike my previous rental experience with the Hyundai Elantra, I was always confident in the curves and never feared the car was going to let me down.

The 4cyl engine had an odd sound. It sounded a bit "wimpy" at times, even during high revving periods, though acceleration was more than adequate for daily driving. It was not nearly as refined as I would have hoped at idle – it honestly felt like an older car might feel – but it was actually pretty smooth and quiet at higher speeds. Altogether, despite its poor performance at idle, it wasn't a bad 4-banger at all. It was "peppy" when needed and provided decent power to pass other vehicles when required without a lot of hassle.

The automatic transmission – Dodge's Achilles heel for years – was a bit, well, dodgy. In the lower gears, it tripped over itself frequently, not being able to decide where it wanted to be in the 20-40 m.p.h. range. The issue was most noticeable right around 30 m.p.h. when it would downshift and upshift with the slightest depression of the gas or brake. The upper gears were fine, though it didn't always perform a kickdown as easily as I would have expected in a modern vehicle.

Fuel economy was decent, hovering close to 30 mpg in combined suburban/highway driving. I personally thought it had better numbers than the EPA gives it credit for (24mpg combined). Watch out, though. It'll stay at 'F' forever, then work its way down the half before plummeting to 'E' pretty quickly.

The interior was pleasing for a value mainstream midsizer. It wasn't as plush as the Camry and it didn't quite have the interior material quality of the Passat or Accord, though it was nice in its own way. There were very few gaps in the dash panels, and everything seemed to "flow" nicely across the entire dash. The interior lights were very pleasing, including cool, subdued glowing lines surrounding the cupholders that made things easier at night without being obtrusive. The steering wheel featured cruise control buttons in the front and volume/mode/tuner "paddle" buttons in the rear that the driver can grip. Not a bad setup.

The stereo was not very good at all. Dodge really cheaped out, big time, on their stock sound system in this car. The volume could not be raised significantly when a favorite song came on without tons of reverberation, bass distortion and what sounded like all kinds of sounds mixing together in a "dirty" sort of way. The stereo was a standard AM/FM/CD setup with an AUX-IN jack connected to the head unit itself, rather than in the center console, which would have made things much more orderly.

The lights were halogen in the front, LED for the brakes. The headlights turned on every time the unlock button was pressed on the remote, which I thought was odd. They also stayed on after the doors were locked (if they had been turned on while driving). That's a matter of personal preference. It's something I'd have to get used to, as I don't "trust" the car to turn them off. 

The car was surprisingly roomy. Front seat headroom and legroom were both excellent, and I say that as a 6'3, 235lb guy. I didn't sit in the rear seats, so can't comment. The trunk provided ample space for two large-size suitcases, a smaller suitcase and a laptop case. The cloth seats felt durable and of a high quality material.

[93JC]

The lights were halogen in the front, LED for the brakes. The headlights turned on every time the unlock button was pressed on the remote, which I thought was odd. They also stayed on after the doors were locked (if they had been turned on while driving). That's a matter of personal preference. It's something I'd have to get used to, as I don't "trust" the car to turn them off. 

That's probably something that can be (re)programmed.

[SVT666]

The steering wheel featured cruise control buttons in the front and volume/mode/tuner "paddle" buttons in the rear that the driver can grip. Not a bad setup.

I still say that is the best setup I have ever had the pleasure of using.  My Ram was like that and I loved it.

The lights were halogen in the front, LED for the brakes. The headlights turned on every time the unlock button was pressed on the remote, which I thought was odd. They also stayed on after the doors were locked (if they had been turned on while driving). That's a matter of personal preference. It's something I'd have to get used to, as I don't "trust" the car to turn them off. 

That's pretty standard shit right there man.  My Infiniti evens allows me to change the duration or turn it right off.

[280Z Turbo]

I'm a little bit sad that the Caliber is gone and the Avenger has been improved.

What cars are still bad? Sure, GM truck interiors are still terrible, but that's just the same old GM mediocrity.

[Laconian]

I'm a little bit sad that the Caliber is gone and the Avenger has been improved.

What cars are still bad? Sure, GM truck interiors are still terrible, but that's just the same old GM mediocrity.

Acura ZDX?

[2o6]

Acura ZDX?

It's still well made, I guess. It's just a retarded vehicle.

[CALL_911]

Acura ZDX?

Stupid doesn't necessarily make it bad, as weird as that sounds.

[2o6]

We can always hate on these

[TurboDan]

And this...



Most pointless vehicle ever.

[SVT666]

None of those are particularly bad.  We can hate on anything Mitsubishi though...except the EVO.

[Secret Chimp]

I've never seen an EVO that wasn't owned by some douche who put a cocked fartcan on it.

[Laconian]

I've never seen an EVO that wasn't owned by some douche who put a cocked fartcan on it.

My cousin's boyfriend has an EVO. He is a nice guy, but alas, it does have a cocked fartcan.

[Madman]

None of those are particularly bad.  We can hate on anything Mitsubishi though...except the EVO.

Ahh, yes.  There's this turd.  Introduced waaaaaay back in 2004 and still with us.

[280Z Turbo]

Ahh, yes.  There's this turd.  Introduced waaaaaay back in 2004 and still with us.

Not anymore. It's almost done.

[280Z Turbo]

None of those are particularly bad.  We can hate on anything Mitsubishi though...except the EVO.

The Outlander Sport looks OK.

[Madman]

Not anymore. It's almost done.

About time, too!

[MexicoCityM3]

Isn't the Avenger being replaced by the Dart?

[2o6]

Isn't the Avenger being replaced by the Dart?

Avenger is midsized, Dart is compact. Dart replaces Caliber

[Atomic]

Acura ZDX?

As many know, my family has had outstanding experiences with past and present Honda and higher scale Acura models... Not a unreliable one yet. The ZDX looks like hell. Before deciding on a 2013 Volvo I took a peak at this Acura monstrosity just for the fun of it. The material were top notch and ride and handling surprisingly nice, but I simply cannot get over the hideous look of the exterior. Not a single "good" side, not unlike the pitiful Pontiac Aztec. Another terribly design is the BMW X5.

The Dodge Avenger has improved some, but not as big of a leap forward as the Sebring sedan turn Chrysler 200. Dodge and Chrysler should not have discontinued the AWD option. Cannot figure that one out.

[nickdrinkwater]

The Avenger was being sold on a buy one, get one free basis here at one point.  Dodge cars were so bad that I think they have stopped selling in the UK now

[Colin]

They have.

[cawimmer430]

The Avenger was being sold on a buy one, get one free basis here at one point. 

Dodge offered customers two Avengers for the price of one? 

[nickdrinkwater]

Dodge offered customers two Avengers for the price of one? 

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/advice/buying/Archive/Buy-one-car-get-one-free/

[cawimmer430]

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/advice/buying/Archive/Buy-one-car-get-one-free/

Wow. That's DESPERATION right there.

And here they listed the reasons why the car is unappealing. I can't speak for the Kia Magentis, but the Skoda Super is far more striking than this thing! 


The Avenger is a striking alternative to the likes of the Skoda Superb and Kia Magentis. It is undoubtedly well equipped, but isn't quite as well executed as the Skoda or Kia. The build quality isn't as good and the petrol engine is thirsty and inefficient - that means 31mpg and a road tax bill of ?300 for 12 months. It's a saloon, too, which isn't as practical (or as popular as a hatchback). And, although, it's effectively only ?10,000, it will continue to depreciate quickly.

[nickdrinkwater]

Wow. That's DESPERATION right there.

And here they listed the reasons why the car is unappealing. I can't speak for the Kia Magentis, but the Skoda Super is far more striking than this thing! 


The Avenger is a striking alternative to the likes of the Skoda Superb and Kia Magentis. It is undoubtedly well equipped, but isn't quite as well executed as the Skoda or Kia. The build quality isn't as good and the petrol engine is thirsty and inefficient - that means 31mpg and a road tax bill of ?300 for 12 months. It's a saloon, too, which isn't as practical (or as popular as a hatchback). And, although, it's effectively only ?10,000, it will continue to depreciate quickly.

Remember, it was the Mk 1 Superb in 2008.  But still agree!

[Atomic]

Isn't the Avenger being replaced by the Dart?

Dodge is being vague about the Avenger's replacement, but the last rumor I heard was that it will be replaced opposed to eliminated... Yet not likely to be a direct competitor to the next Chrysler 200 sedan expected to come in either RWD or optional AWD -- the car that might spawn the highly anticipated Barracuda coupe and convertible by the SRT division.

[Madman]

The Avenger was being sold on a buy one, get one free basis here at one point.  Dodge cars were so bad that I think they have stopped selling in the UK now

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/advice/buying/Archive/Buy-one-car-get-one-free/

Still a ripoff.

What's worse than owning a Dodge Avenger?  Owning TWO Dodge Avengers! 

[TurboDan]

Dodge is being vague about the Avenger's replacement, but the last rumor I heard was that it will be replaced opposed to eliminated... Yet not likely to be a direct competitor to the next Chrysler 200 sedan expected to come in either RWD or optional AWD -- the car that might spawn the highly anticipated Barracuda coupe and convertible by the SRT division.

That wouldn't be bad. They need some car in between the Dart and the Charger. The Charger is freakin' huge. There are only so many people who would want a vehicle that big. I made the mistake of renting one when I was going to be driving in Key West. The thing could hardly make it down half the streets. Altogether I kinda liked it but it's a boat, and the visibility ain't so hot.

[nickdrinkwater]

Still a ripoff.

What's worse than owning a Dodge Avenger?  Owning TWO Dodge Avengers! 

Yup.  I was looking at used ones on Auto trader, it was then I realised how awful they look!

[cawimmer430]

What's worse than owning a Dodge Avenger?  Owning TWO Dodge Avengers! 

If they threw in a free '76 Plymouth Volare I might bite. But two Avengers? Nah, to bland-looking.