Replete with style, substance and surprising affordability, the aptly named 2012 Avenger SXT is a value-laden Dodge retaliation against a crowded field of overpriced sedans.
Redesigned just a year ago, the 2012 Avenger (MSRP starting at $18,995) carries over the modern styling and impressive performance characteristics of its previous model year. Sleek, sculpted and nicely equipped, the SXT model (MSRP $21,495) drops in right above the entry model SE in the Avenger’s re-established lineup, so despite an impressive list of attributes, the newest SXT offers exceptional value to the midsize family sedan market.
Proud and powerful, the newest Avenger starts with the bold Dodge crosshair grille and gets more dramatic from there. Nicely chiseled lines spill back from the grille’s black mesh, muscling over fenders and culminating in the LED taillights of a striking backend. The SXT is both daring and sophisticated, blending standard features like heated side mirrors with available 18-inch aluminum wheels, a subtle trunklid spoiler and a power sunroof.
In the SXT, the standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder World Engine delivers 173 hp and 166 lb/ft of torque through a standard four-speed automatic transmission. Electronic throttle control and dual variable valve timing give stronger, more efficient life to the four, and allow it to achieve up to 31 highway mpg with noticeable smoothness.
Dodge gave the 2012 Avenger an advanced and refined steering system worthy of every gallon, integrating a well balanced MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension setup with advanced Touring tuning. Combining standard Electronic Stability Control, traction control, a set of anti-lock disc brakes and a pair of front and rear stabilizer bars, the SXT delivers enjoyable, confident handling that’s smooth on the straights and satisfying on the curves – just what a midsize sedan should be, but rarely is.
The cabin of the newest SXT is comfortable and stylish, offering inviting luxury and real-world functionality and affordability (again, just what a midsize should do, but rarely does). Spacious seating for five—there’s more than 100 cubic feet of passenger volume to toy with—is covered with premium cloth, and the driver’s bucket seat has eight-way power adjustability and available heating (with the inclusion of a Cold Weather Package). Anywhere you contact, you’ll notice soft-touch, well-crafted surfaces.
In addition to its leather-wrapped steering wheel and shiftknob, the 2012 Avenger SXT comes standard with an upgraded six-speaker CD/MP3 audio system, as well as steering wheel-mounted controls, an auxiliary audio jack and SiriusXM Satellite Radio. The available Dodge Uconnect™ system adds the innovative Bluetooth streaming audio and communication system, too.
Named a “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Avenger SXT adds a specially reinforced body structure with innovative crumple zones and a collapsible steering column, active head restraints and front, side and side-curtain airbags to its advanced steering and braking systems.
If you’ve ever been disappointed by overpriced, underperforming midsize sedans, if you’ve ever wanted more and gotten less, then the 2012 Dodge Avenger SXT is your appropriately named revenge.
