By KBB Editors
Updated December 23, 2019
If you’re looking for a sedan with an American muscle-car attitude, but you can’t quite swing the big bucks for the Dodge Charger, the 2012 Dodge Avenger sedan makes a good second runner-up.
If you’re looking for a more modern design, feature-rich standard equipment list or a manual transmission, there are newer and more modern cars from which to choose. If resale figures are important, you’d be far better off in a Honda Accord, VW Jetta, or Hyundai Sonata.
The 2012 Dodge Avenger sedan gains a new R/T performance-oriented trim. The old trim names (Express, Mainstreet and LUX) are dropped in favor of the more familiar SE, SXT, SXT Plus and R/T names.
The 2012 Dodge Avenger sedan is designed to compete with the Honda Accord, Chevy Malibu and Hyundai Sonata. The Avenger platform was remade last year, with a more aggressive look, and improved suspension and drivetrain and a vastly improved interior. On its own, the 2012 Dodge Avenger sedan has some redeeming qualities worthy of consideration. Its new Pentastar V6 engine is one of the best V6s we’ve tested, and its newfound athleticism makes the Avenger a fun car to have when taking the long way home. But, with newer, larger sedans such as the Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata offering equal or better pricing on comparably equipped models, finding a reason to opt for the Avenger over any of its competitors will probably come down to a matter of personal taste.
Used 2012 Dodge Avenger pricing starts at $5,703 for the Avenger SE Sedan 4D, which had a starting MSRP of $20,385 when new. The range-topping 2012 Avenger R/T Sedan 4D starts at $5,926 today, originally priced from $26,745.
Original MSRP | KBB Fair Purchase Price (nat'l average) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
$20,385 | $5,703 | |||
$22,885 | $6,216 | |||
$25,385 | $5,480 | |||
$26,745 | $5,926 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for used 2012 Dodge Avenger models in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly.
The 2012 Dodge Avenger sedan is a surprisingly fun car to drive. Last year’s complete reworking of the car’s suspension, brakes and steering gear make the 2012 Dodge Avenger sedan perform much more like a nimble European VW or Opel than any mid-size Dodge we’ve driven in the last decade. But, unlike many sporty cars that punish the pleasure of excellent handling with the sin of a harsh ride, the 2012 Dodge Avenger knows no such unpleasantness. Dodge has managed to blend a soft comfortable ride with a responsive chassis that can carve up twisting mountain roads as easily as it floats over long freeway stretches. The Avenger’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 is the most powerful V6 engine in the mid-size segment and it delivers enormous power reserves all while operating as smooth as glass. The 2012 Dodge Avenger sedan uses a 4-speed automatic transmission on 4-cylinder cars, and a 6-speed AutoStick automatic transmission on cars equipped with the V6. While it’s fun to shift your own gears, the AutoStick is not as quick or precise as some newer dual-clutch transmissions. But, as the automatic does an excellent job of finding and holding the correct gear, we don’t think you’ll miss the manual-shift feature in the long run.
If the 2012 Dodge Avenger sedan can trump its competitors in one area, it is with its interior design and materials. Where so many sedans offer dull gray and flat black fabrics, the 2012 Dodge Avenger sedan is peppered with soft-touch panels, interesting color and fabric patterns and supportive front seats. Nowhere is this attention to detail more evident than on the new R/T trim, which receives unique striped seats with leather bolsters, a revised gauge cluster with center tachometer and SRT-inspired brake and accelerator pedal pads. Extensive use of insulation helps give the 2012 Dodge Avenger sedan one of the quietest cabins in the segment, a silence easily pierced by one of the many audio options that include a 6-speaker Boston Acoustics upgrade and a navigation radio with a 30-gigabyte hard drive capable of storing up to 4,250 songs.
With a somewhat aging profile, the oddly familiar 2012 Dodge Avenger’s new look is primarily due to its revised front and rear fascias, new wheels and new paint colors. The familial Dodge cross-hair grille and aggressive lower air intake signal the Avenger’s sporting intent, as well as link it to Dodge’s other performance sedan, the Charger. LED taillights and an available rear spoiler round out the 2012 Dodge Avenger sedan’s look, which we think becomes progressively better in the higher trim levels. More aggressive 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels can be found on the SXT and R/T trim, but even the base SE comes with 17-inch steel wheels with handsome covers.
Uconnect Infotainment System
This optional hard-drive-based system includes navigation with real-time traffic information, MP3/WMA music and JPEG image uploading via a high-speed USB port, auxiliary audio input, voice recognition, voice message recording and playback, Bluetooth hands-free cell phone connectivity and more.
3.6-liter Pentastar V6
Quite possibly one of the best V6 engines ever produced, the new Pentastar V6 pulls like a V8, purrs like a Lexus and returns impressive fuel economy.
A 2012 Dodge Avenger SE features a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, 4-speed automatic transmission, CD/MP3 audio system with auxiliary input jack, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, air conditioning, power windows/locks/mirrors, remote keyless entry, cruise control, height-adjustable driver’s seat with manual lumbar support, tilt/telescopic steering wheel, 17-inch steel wheels with plastic wheel covers, 60/40 rear seat with pass-through and folding armrest and a security alarm. Standard safety equipment includes anti-lock brakes (ABS), electronic traction and stability control and front, front-seat side-mounted and side-curtain airbags.
The highlight of the 2012 Dodge Avenger sedan’s optional equipment list is the comprehensive Uconnect navigation, entertainment and communication system. Other standouts include a 6.5-inch touch-screen CD/DVD/MP3/HDD radio with 30-gigabyte hard drive (standard on SXT Plus), Voice Command and USB interface, Sirius Satellite Radio, Boston Acoustics speaker package, Bluetooth cell phone connectivity with streaming audio, 8-way power driver’s seat, automatic climate control, auto on/off headlights, heated front seats, leather seats, remote start, 18-inch wheels and a power moonroof.
The 2012 Dodge Avenger midsize sedan’s base 2.4-liter "world gas engine" has been given numerous upgrades to help it perform better and with less noise, vibration and harshness. Producing 173 horsepower, the 2.4 liter is not the most powerful in its class, but at least it can now keep up with the pack leaders. The real star of the Avenger lineup is the newly minted 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, which produces an impressive 283 horsepower yet returns highway fuel-economy figures around 30 mpg. The 3.6-liter engine is also E85-compatible.
2.4-liter in-line 4
173 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
166 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/30 (4-speed automatic), 20/31 (6-speed automatic)
3.6-liter V6
283 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
260 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/29 (gasoline), 14/21 (E85)
Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings.
We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology.
Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing.
Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)
We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.
Curb Weight | 3607 lbs. | ||
---|---|---|---|
EPA Passenger | 100.2 cu.ft. | ||
Fuel Capacity | 16.9 gallons | ||
Front Head Room | 40.0 inches | ||
Front Leg Room | 42.4 inches | ||
Max Seating Capacity | 5 | ||
Minimum Ground Clearance | 6.0 inches | ||
Overall Length | 192.6 inches | ||
Front Shoulder Room | 56.3 inches | ||
Towing Capacity, Maximum | 1000 lbs. | ||
Trunk or Cargo Capacity | 13.5 cu.ft. | ||
Turning Diameter | 37.7 feet | ||
Wheel Base | 108.9 inches | ||
Width with mirrors | 81.3 inches |
Alloy Wheels | Available | ||
---|---|---|---|
Fog Lights | Available | ||
Moon Roof/Sun Roof | Available | ||
Number of Doors | 4 doors | ||
LED Headlights | Available | ||
Rear Spoiler | Available |
City | 19 mpg | ||
---|---|---|---|
Highway | 29 mpg | ||
Combined | 22 mpg |
Drivetrain | FWD | ||
---|---|---|---|
Transmission Type | Automatic | ||
6 speed | Available | ||
Recommended Fuel | Regular |
Horsepower | 283 @ 6400 RPM | ||
---|---|---|---|
Torque | 260 @ 4400 rpm | ||
Engine | V6, Flex Fuel, 3.6 Liter |
Basic | 3 years / 36000 miles | ||
---|---|---|---|
Powertrain | 5 years / 100000 miles | ||
Corrosion | 3 years / Unlimited miles |
Used 2012 Dodge Avenger | Used 2015 Ford Focus | Used 2012 Chevrolet Cruze | Used 2012 Volkswagen Jetta | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Price | $5,892 | $5,591 | $5,704 | $5,550 | |
KBB.com Rating | 2.8 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 3.7 | |
Consumer Rating | 4.2 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 4.4 | |
Fuel Economy | City 19/Hwy 29/Comb 22 MPG | City 27/Hwy 40/Comb 31 MPG | City 22/Hwy 35/Comb 27 MPG | City 23/Hwy 29/Comb 25 MPG | |
Fuel Type | Flexible Fuel | Flexible Fuel | Gas | Gas | |
Safety Rating | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | |
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
Basic Warranty | 3 years or 36000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | |
Horsepower | 283 @ 6400 RPM | 160 @ 6500 RPM | 138 @ 6300 RPM | 115 @ 5200 RPM | |
Engine | V6, Flex Fuel, 3.6 Liter | 4-Cyl, Flex Fuel, 2.0L | 4-Cyl, 1.8 Liter | 4-Cyl, 2.0 Liter | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | FWD | FWD |
Following its recent acquisition of the remaining Chrysler Group LLC stock, parent company Fiat S.p.A. has reorganized the two automotive…
Aimed at budget-conscious buyers looking for a mid-size sedan that also offers a healthy measure of sportiness, the 2013 Dodge…