Dodge Avenger undercuts Kia, Hyundai

The 2013 mid-size sedan with the lowest starting price in the United States isn't a Kia or Hyundai. It's the Dodge Avenger, which has seats for five, a good-sized trunk and distinctive Dodge front styling — all for $20,390 including destination charge.

This base Avenger with 173-horsepower four cylinder and four-speed automatic transmission is $1,760 less than a base 2013 Kia Optima mid-size sedan and $1,600 less than a base 2013 Hyundai Sonata.

Both Optima and Sonata have naturally aspirated four-cylinder engines in the lower-end models.

Even better, the Avenger's attractive pricing doesn't end at the base model.

Uplevel Avengers with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 get more horsepower — 283 — than the V-6s of other non-luxury mid-size sedans and yet carry the lowest starting retail price in the class — just $23,900.

In comparison, the 2013 Nissan Altima with 270-horsepower V-6 has a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price, including destination charge, of $26,555.

It's true the four-door Avenger has been around for years and hasn't received a lot of major updates.

The base transmission being just a four speed is an obvious clue. Most carmakers upgraded transmissions in recent years to boost fuel mileage and add smoother shifts.

Thus, the Avenger's top government fuel economy ratings, with the four-cylinder engine mated to the four-speed auto, are just 21 miles per gallon in city driving and 29 mpg on the highway.

These numbers are lower than those for the larger 2013 Ford Taurus with four-cylinder engine. The Avenger fuel mileage ratings also are much lower than the 27/38 mpg federal government ratings for the 2013 Altima with four cylinder and fuel-conscious continuously variable transmission.

Additionally, there are some features that are not available on the 2013 Avenger.

For instance, the Optima can be had with a panoramic sunroof and wood interior accents. Neither is offered on the Avenger.

But the Avenger doesn't necessarily look or feel cheap.

All Avengers are attractively styled with Dodge's crosshair grille that differentiates them easily from the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord cars that dominate the mid-size family sedan category.

All Avengers ride on good-sized wheels that are at least 17 inches in diameter. The base Camry comes with 16-inchers.

The Avenger's standard equipment on every model includes remote keyless entry. This feature isn't on the base Camry. And, the Avenger's interior includes a surprising amount of soft-touch plastics.

The test Avenger SXT with V-6 also impressed with a fast-working air conditioner, driver seat with appreciable height adjustment and comfortable cushion, a sizable trunk opening, easy-to-read gauges and 1.5 more inches of rear-seat legroom than in the Optima and Sonata.