2007 Dodge Caliber

Welcome to the Driving Range with Dave Jordan - Your Auto Guide to the South Shore of Nova Scotia. All you need to know about Nova Scotia's South Shore Auto scene.

This week, Dave Jordan checks out the 2007 Dodge Caliber:

In today's environment of severe competition in the auto industry, it takes something bold and unique to stand out above the crowd of indistinguishable designs. When the fashionable Chrysler 300 sedan hit the road a couple of years back, it was a complete departure from the previous crop of sleek-looking models such as the Intrepid and Sebring. Its looks and, to no short measure, its Daimler (Mercedes) underpinnings helped the 300 variants achieve numerous awards as well as huge sales. DaimlerChrysler (DC) seems to have hit the styling mark again with its introduction of the 2007 Dodge Caliber, the subject of this week's test. Thanks to Saunders Motors for the use of this cool compact in Inferno Red Crystal Pearl paint with pastel Slate Grey interior.

The Caliber replaces the outgoing Neon/SX2.0, which had a successful life in its own right. Unlike the Neon sedan, though, the Caliber is a taller four-door hatchback design in the vein of the Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe twins. The exterior styling, however, is pure Chrysler. With the now familiar Magnum-style crosshair grill, sweeping roofline and bulging fenders, this chunky compact has the looks to attract the Generation X crowd DC seems to be targeting with this model. A lot of younger people I questioned about the styling thought it was "sweet." Hey, who am I to argue? Wheels are big with kids these days and where my Caliber SE was the base model, it was shod with 15" steel wheels and covers that looked fine to me. I suspect those with aesthetic priorities will choose the optional 17" or 18" aluminum wheels with more aggressive rubber available on the upgraded SXT and R/T models.

The youthful design theme carries over to the interior with a modern gauge cluster and a swath of aluminum-look panelling covering the centre console. Other aluminum accents dot the interior in various areas with the overall interior ambience having a modern, youthful feel. Colour co-ordinated interior seat inserts and centre stack trim can be ordered in red, yellow, orange and blue if you want to highlight your style or if you're not particularly fond of the standard brightwork. The seats sit you up high and are very supportive and comfortable, more so than in many more expensive vehicles, while the driving position seems just right. All controls are readily at hand and easy to decipher with logical placement and solid-feeling actuation. The rear 60/40 seats fold flat, with headrests in place, to expand the cargo space from 525 litres (18.5 cu. ft.) to an impressive 1,360 litres (48 cu. ft.). Quite a spacious interior for a compact car.

This new Caliber has some neat standard features, such as the centre console that includes a fore and aft sliding armrest to accommodate different-sized drivers. Flip open the armrest and you've got a rubber-lined cradle that can hold an MP3 player, cellphone or PDA. There's also a standard 12-volt power outlet, plus an available 115-volt two-pronged auxiliary power outlet. There are tonnes of storage compartments throughout the inside of this Dodge with unique illuminated cupholders just below the centre armrest and, available as an option, the Chill Zone storage area in the glove compartment. This feature will allow storage of four cans or bottles and keep them cool – around 7degrees C – for those hot summer vacation trips. Another bright idea is the removable/rechargeable flashlight built into the headliner of the rear cargo area. This, too, is optional. The base single-CD stereo system in this car sounded awesome and is far and above any system I have heard in any vehicle of this price range. The optional 458-watt Boston Acoustics nine-speaker system must be something again. One clever idea available on all models is the swing-down rear hatch speakers that direct the stereo's blast outside of the vehicle. Great for tailgate parties, although your neighbours may disagree.

Engine and transmission choices vary in availability depending on which Caliber package you purchase. My SE was equipped with the 1.8 litre for producing 148 horsepower and 125 lb-ft of torque. The next trim level, SXT, comes standard with this same engine but it and the SE can both be upgraded to the more powerful 2.0-litre option which pumps out 158 horses and 141 "torques". The top-end four-wheel-drive R/T receives the 172-horsepower, 165-lb-ft, 2.4-litre powerplant. All three engines are DOHC units with four valves per cylinder and variable valve timing and are part of what DC calls its "World Engine" family. And of course Chrysler's SRT division has its hands all over the Caliber ready to serve us an adrenaline-filled 300-horsepower pavement burner. Now won't that be something!

My tester came with the slick-shifting five-speed manual transmission which, sadly, is only available with the 1.8-litre unit. A CVT (constant variable transmission) is what you get if you choose any other engine and can be specified as an option with the 1.8 as well. The Caliber R/T has the added benefit of a vastly improved AutoStick semi-automatic transmission feature with its CVT for those with sporting intentions.

Overall ride from this touring suspension-equipped Caliber was solid and stable with very good handling in the corners, a minimum amount of body roll and sure-footed directional stability. The steering was progressive and communicated the road surface transitions fairly well considering the 15" all-season rubber. The cabin was quieter than I expected for a car in this segment with highway cruising exhibiting great overall stability on an extremely windy day. I would like to drive a Caliber with the sport suspension and more powerful engine to see what this package can offer those of us who favour more aggressive driving styles. Even this base SE is fun to drive.

Pricing is competitive, starting at just under $16,000 for the SE, $17,700 for the better-equipped SXT and around $24,000 for the all-wheel-drive R/T model. Dealers may sell for less with some of the incentive programs running right now. Options such as leather or upgraded sound systems, etc., can of course affect your cost as well. There are lots of colours to choose from but if you want to stand out in the crowd, perhaps the Sunburst Orange or Solar Yellow exterior paint hews will suit your fancy. Get the colour-keyed seat inserts and 18" wheels and you'll have a smashing Caliber in your driveway.

It looks like Dodge may have hit another home run with this all-new Caliber. All things considered, this newest product offers great style and comfort, innovative options, great performance and aggressive pricing. I see a lot of these on the road and reports indicate the Caliber is selling very well indeed. This stylish compact offers a compelling package that could give other manufacturers something to think about. With more new models on the way, DaimlerChrysler may very well change the face of the auto industry once again.

Dave's Auto Archive - In 1914, Dodge Brothers, Inc. was formed by brothers John and Horace after ending a one-year relationship manufacturing parts for Henry Ford's cars. In that first year, Dodge introduced the "Old Betsy," a rugged car built for reliability and durability. That year Dodge built a total of 249 new cars.