Grab life by the horns? I'd rather grab my money and run!

With small hatchbacks being arguably as popular today as they were back in their prime of the 1980s, it's a mystery why Dodge has been so slow to jump back on the bandwagon: Dodge has only recently introduced a small hatchback since its Colt, the Caliber. As a replacement for Dodge's infamous Neon sedan, the Caliber provides a more impressive resume, boasting good if not excellent interior room for its class, good horsepower numbers, and nifty interior features that can't be had in many of its competitors. Like so many of Dodge's vehicles that have come and gone over the past two decades, the Caliber's impressive resume doesn't exactly translate to it being an impressive vehicle.


Driving Impressions: SXT 1.8-liter/5-speed manual

The Caliber is a 5-door hatchback that competes against the likes of the VW Rabbit, Mazda3, Scion xB, Toyota Matrix, etc. Needless to say, the Dodge Caliber is in a market with many fierce competitors. So, how does it stack up against them?

While most of the Caliber's competitors offer just one or two optional engines, the Caliber can be ordered with an array of 4-cylinder engines to suit your performance needs. Engines offered include a 1.8-liter making 148 horsepower for the SE/SXT trim levels, an optional 2.0-liter making 158 horsepower for SXT trims, a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter good for 172 horsepower for R/T and R/T AWD trim levels, and a a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder for the SRT-4 trim that produces a massive 285 horsepower and nearly as much torque. Transmissions include a 5-speed manual gearbox as standard equipment for all trims (except the SRT-4) with the option of a CVT automatic ($1,075); a new 6-speed manual gearbox is provided exclusively for the SRT-4 trim.

Acceleration: 2/10

Boasting a modern DOHC VVT 4-cylinder engine making 148 horsepower (over 20 more ponies than the Toyota Matrix's 1.8), my SXT should have offered plenty of oomph for a car in its class and price range. The Caliber SXT, however, proves that good horsepower numbers don't always translate to good 0-60 times. Similar to the small engines that are in its Japanese competitors, the Caliber's small 4-cylinder engine needs to be revved hard in order to get any sort of response from it. Unlike its Japanese competitors, however, the Caliber's engine doesn't provide that sudden burst of rewarding energy when engine revs approach redline. On the contrary, the Caliber's engine simply becomes fussy at high revs and because peak power is reached at redline (6,500 RPM), it's almost impossible to take full advantage of the Caliber's 148 horses for more than a few milliseconds.

The Caliber's power shortage can be especially frustrating when accelerating up on-ramps; its engine simply doesn't provide the oomph needed to merge safely into fast moving traffic. With this being said, if you live in an area where you will need to get up to speed quickly or simply want a vehicle that offers some kick when you step on the throttle, you may want to take a pass on the 1.8 SXT. The Matrix, the xB, and the Mazda3 would all make better choices if good acceleration is on your "must have" list.

Transmission 5-speed: 4/10

I suspect that some of the blame for the Caliber's lackadaisical performance can be attributed to its 5-speed manual transmission. While the Caliber's gearbox is relatively smooth, the gear ratios don't accommodate the demand of its small engine. For example, when up-shifting from 2nd to 3nd gears under full throttle, the engine lugs down considerably. While this is a common problem for many cars in this class, the Caliber seems to bog down while shifting through the gears more so than just about all of its hatchback competitors, save for the Kia Rio hatchback and Chevrolet Aveo.

On the highway: 3/10

Car manufactures have made great strides when it comes to ride quality of their economical vehicles. Dodge, however, proves with their Caliber that there are still some exceptions to this rule. Although engine noise is in check at cruising speeds, the Caliber exhibits unacceptable levels of wind noise. Similar to the wind noise exhibited from the 1995-1999 Neon (due to its horribly constructed frameless window design), Dodge has once again put noise isolation on the backburner. though the Caliber doesn't have frameless windows like the 1st generation Neon did, the sound of wind rushing past your ears when taking the Caliber to freeway speeds is equally as defining. I couldn't imagine any company allowing such a noticeable defect in noise isolation to pass quality checkpoints and allow it into production; leave it to our good friends at Dodge. The Caliber is also less than smooth on rough highways. Although it's not nearly as harsh on the highway as the Neon, the Caliber's ride quality doesn't feel nearly as solid as the Matrix, the Mazda3, the xB, or even the Kia Rio hatchback for that matter.

Poor hill climbing/passing power can also be added to the Caliber SXT's list of underpinnings. Though the Caliber's 5th gear isn't geared outrageous tall (something often seen in this class to produce better fuel economy), there isn't nearly enough power available in either 5th or even 4th gears for climbing steep grades. With that being said, downshifting into 3rd gear is often-times needed just to maintain highway speeds on steep grades. This wouldn't be such a big gripe, but downshifting into 3rd gear at 65 MPH makes the Caliber's engine sound like someone just took a baseball bat to an active hornet's nest: not exactly a pleasant sound. I imagine this engine noise on steep inclines would be downright annoying to those who cross mountainous terrain as part of their daily commute.

Handling: 6/10

The 2008 Caliber, with its tall stance and bulky proportions, looks like it would handle about as good as a Dodge Caravan. Unfortunately the Caliber handles twisty roads just as its frumpy body shape suggests. On sharp turns, the Caliber rolls significantly, and though the SXT boasts wide P215/60TR/17 tires, it never felt securely planted to the pavement. To add insult to injury, the Caliber's steering is numb and provides far too much assist. Though the Matrix and the xB also don't do the best jobs at tackling twisty roads, the Caliber doesn't seem to match the handling capabilities of its competitors.


Economy: 5/10

Although the Caliber sports just a tiny 1.8-liter 4-cylinder, it doesn't receive much better EPA numbers than many mid-size sedans. According to the new EPA standards that are geared for more realistic fuel numbers, the Caliber receives 24 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway: about the same numbers as 2008 Honda Accord V6. When it comes to its competitors, just about every vehicle in this class has an advantage when it comes to fuel economy, save for the Mazda3 and VW Rabbit.

Interior:

Quality: 1/10

With a MSRP of less than $17,000, I wasn't expecting the Caliber to offer Lexus-like interior materials, but I also wasn't expecting the interior to be filled with such cheap-o plastics. Step inside the Caliber's cabin and it soon becomes apparent that not much has changed since the 1st generation Neon when it comes to quality. The Caliber's dash is composed of a swatch of cheap titanium colored plastics, the seats are made of a hard cloth material, and the door panels, center console, cup holders, etc. fell ridiculously low grade, even for this class where low grade materials are quite common.

Ergonomics: 8/10

Ergonomics are at least acceptable. Although I would have liked to have seen the HVAC controls located a few inches higher on the center stack, all the entertainment features are in easy reach from the driver's seat.

Seats: 6/10

The seats in the Caliber SXT come in an attractive 2-tone cloth. While they look attractive, actually sitting in these seats is a different story. The Caliber's front bucket seats are hard to the touch and though they offer decent bolstering for aggressive driving, I wouldn't want to sit in these seats for any extended period of time. On a positive note, the SXT comes with 6-way manual driver seat adjustments that make it fairly easy to find a good driving position. However, finding a good driving position would have been much easier had Dodge added a telescoping steering wheel, something that can found in most of the Caliber's competitors.

Embellishments: 7/10

When it comes to amenities, the Caliber ranges from being bare bones (base SE trim) to downright loaded (SRT-4 trim). My mid-grade SXT came with amenities that can be found in most cars in this class and price range. Standard amenities for the SXT include a very basic 4-speaker CD sound system with SIRIUS Satellite Radio (music lovers will need to replace this unit), AC with air filtration, front and side curtain air bags, power everything, and cruise control. Some unique amenities are a chill zone compartment for 12 oz. drinks (this compartment uses the vehicle's AC to keep drinks cool), illuminated cup holders, and a tire pressure monitor.

Room: 9/10

If there is one advantage that the Caliber SXT has over many of its competitors, it's its relatively big cabin. Though shorter than the Mazda3 hatch by a few inches, it feels roomier. The Caliber's tall ceiling gives the cabin an airy feel, much like the Toyota Matrix. Up front there is plenty of head and legroom for tall occupants and the rear of the Caliber should easily fit 3 average sized adults.

Stowage space also ranks above average for a vehicle in this class. Thanks to its wide opening hatch design and rear seats that fold flat, there is plenty of room in the Caliber to haul large items. Interior storage is also good, save for the tiny map pockets on the front doors. Dodge has added a number of small cubbies throughout the cabin for small items, including four cup holders.

Price and Warranty:

The Caliber has a starting MSRP of $14,000 for the base SE and tips the scales around $23,000 for the SRT-4 trim level. My SXT (with no options) came to a reasonable $16,620, or about the same price as a comparably equipped VW Rabbit or Mazda3.

You have undoubtedly heard of Dodge's Lifetime warranty. Sounds great, but there are some major stipulations. Since it's a non-transferable warranty, only the original purchaser has the luxury of using it for a "lifetime." Before you get sold solely on the warranty, you might want to keep in mind that with gas prices rising and the auto industry shifting to alliterative fuels, I'm not so sure it would even make sense keeping this vehicle around for more than 10 years, let alone a lifetime. While Dodge offers a good powertrain warranty, its bumper-bumper warranty is good for a mere 36-month or 36,000 miles.


Final Thoughts:

The Caliber 1.8 SXT is a mess. Its interior materials are among the worst in this class, its engine is unrefined and under powered, and to top things off the SXT doesn't get good gas mileage. Are there any pros? Well, the Caliber is roomy and does have some nifty features, but it's clearly far from being as much car as the Mazda3, Scion xB, or Toyota Matrix. If you are on the market for a new hatch, I highly suggest checking out the Caliber’s competitors before making any final buying decisions.

Thanks for reading!