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Claudia Hommel
Cabaret Singer
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Cordell Koland
Car Writer
Weekly Reviews
  2007 Dodge Caliber R/T by Cordell Koland The answer is the 2007 Dodge Caliber. The question is when and how would Chrysler Corp.'s Dodge division get serious about the entry-level, compact car segment. Yes, the new Dodge Caliber is the replacement for Neon, the recently departed and unlamented compact that got off to a good start, but lost its way years ago. But more than just a new Neon, Dodge has an international vision for the Caliber. Manufactured in the American heartland at Belvidere, Illinois, the Caliber spearheads Dodge's global expansion with gasoline and diesel powertrains, offering left- and right-hand drive. The latter is essential for selling automotive products in both the UK and Japan. And while the concept of a smallish wagon may be news at Dodge, the Caliber will find lots of competition in the likes of the Mazda3 Touring, Subaru Forester, and Ford Escape to name a few. Dodge classifies the Caliber not as a car, but as a five-door sports tourer, available in both front- and all-wheel drive. But don't expect the Caliber to follow a Jeep Wrangler into the uncharted wilderness. The Caliber with the all-wheel-drive option is built for mild off-road excursions and to offer additional capability on wet or icy pavement. To enhance control under inclement conditions, Dodge offers such technologies as all-speed traction control, anti-lock braking, and Electronic Stability Program, which can prevent wheel spin, shorten stopping distances and help keep a car on the road by sensing when things are getting out of control and applying selective braking. The new Caliber attempts to deliver the every-day versatility of a sport-utility vehicle with the affordability and fuel-efficiency of an entry-level compact car. As for affordability, the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price begins at $13,985 (including a $560 destination charge), which is $410 below the outgoing Dodge Neon. EPA fuel efficiency for the base model with a 148 horsepower, 1.8-liter inline four is 28-mpg city/32-mpg highway. Dodge offers several levels of power ratings culminating with the Caliber SRT4, which is a radical interpretation with a 300-horsepower engine and won't compete in any version of an economy shoot-out. Despite its EPA classification as a compact, the Caliber feels quite roomy. It sits a bit higher than a conventional sedan and certainly has all of the outward appearances of the small SUV. The rear seats are not comfortable and are best reserved for the kids. The payoff in terms of utility is 48 cubic feet of cargo area with the rear seats folded. That's room enough to implement small do-it-yourself building projects or service the monthly run to the big box store, even for a large family. A vinyl floor in the rear cargo area is both washable and removable, a good feature if you regularly carry the family dog or fear the repercussions from a spilled carton of milk. The design of the Caliber seems fresh enough to get noticed and not completely blend into the landscape. The interior sings the virtues of simplicity. Since the Caliber is an entry-level vehicle, there really aren't that many controls to confuse the driver. Perhaps the most interesting interior feature is the Chill Zone, A cooled beverage storage bin that can hold up to four 20-oz. bottles or beverage cans. Visually, the center console draws its color from the exterior‹in this case a dark metallic orange. Since available exterior colors include a lemon yellow, this styling feature could get out of control. On the road there isn¹t much to distinguish the Caliber in terms of ride or handling, both are competent. The 2.4-liter engine is peppy enough to cope with most demands. The all-new continuously variable transaxle delivers smooth power. While there is some tire-generated noise to contend with, Dodge engineers have done their homework in terms of aerodynamics. At any reasonable speed, the Caliber is virtually free of wind whoosh. Vehicle:
Dodge Caliber R/T
Price as tested: $21,450 Engine: Type: 2.4-liter inline four Horsepower: 172 @ 6,000 rpm Torque: 165 lbs.-ft. @ 4,400 rpm Fuel economy, automatic transmission City 23 mpg Highway 26 mpg Curb Weight: 3,308 lbs. Cordell Koland is an automotive journalist based in California's central coast. He can be reached at cordellkoland@oakparkjournal.com |
