2006-2008 Chevrolet HHR: Road Test

Acceleration varies with conditions. The 2.4-liter engine has decent around-town go, but highway passing and hill climbs can feel labored. Chevrolet's manual transmission feels slightly quicker than automatic, but the manual shifter's crude movement and long throws diminish the sporty feel. Automatic-transmissions respond quickly to kick down for more power. An automatic 2.4-liter LT accelerated to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds. Maximum towing weight is 1000 pounds. Test LTs with the 2.4-liter engine averaged 21.8 to 23.9 mpg with an automatic transmission in city/highway driving that included gas-eating performance runs, and 22.1 mpg with manual. Another automatic 2.4-liter LT averaged a frugal 32.3 mpg in mostly highway travel. Chevrolet recommends premium-grade fuel for 2.4-liter, regular-grade for the 2.2. Composed overall, the HHR's ride can get bouncy over sharp bumps. With its 16-inch tires, the standard suspension absorbs most bumps, but transmits some vibration over coarse surfaces. The 2LT edition's sport suspension and 17-inch tires have little effect on ride quality. Steering/handling qualifies as capable, but certainly not sporty, even with 2LT sport-suspension upgrades. Good around-town maneuverability is accompanied by modest grip and some noseplow in faster corners, though little undue body lean. Steering feels numb on-center but linear in turns. The HHR requires attention in straightline highway-speed cruising, where stability is affected by crosswinds and gusts. Decent stopping power is marred by spongy brake-pedal feel. Wind rush is well controlled, but engine buzz intrudes during acceleration. Expect noticeable road roar from tires on coarse highway surfaces. While exterior design recalls the 1950s, the HHR's cabin design is modern. Gauges are unobstructed, but markings are a bit small and hard to see. Climate and radio controls are easy to reach. Power-window switches are located on the center console instead of door panels, which takes getting used to. Unpadded plastic dominates the dashboard and door panels, but nothing looks cheap. Front head and legroom are adequate for all but the largest occupants. Comfortable chair-height seats are inviting, though tall drivers might wish for extra height adjustment on the seat and more tilt steering-wheel travel. Thick pillars slightly impede view fore and aft, though generously-sized rearview mirrors help. Low step-in and tall door openings make entry/exit a breeze. Rear headroom is diminished beneath the sunroof housing, but good otherwise. Knee and toe clearance are acceptable, but leg space is cramped with front seats more than halfway back. Seatbacks are quite upright and the seat cushion is modestly sized. Entry/exit into the rear is trouble-free, but the narrow cabin precludes three-abreast adult seating. Versatile storage space is a bonus. It's easy to fold the 60/40 split rear seatbacks to create a flat load floor, but front seatbacks must be far forward for headrests to clear. One handy touch: the rear cargo cover slots into interior side panels to form a two-tier loading "shelf." Small-item storage is just so-so, with a small center console, slim map pockets in doors, and only one cupholder for the rear-seat area.

Value for the Money
Some buyers might wish for sportier handling, and most would want smoother, more powerful engine performance. Nevertheless, Chevrolet's retro-flavored wagon offers a practical blend of look-at-me style and utility in a not-too-large package. New-car pricing and features availability were competitive, too. Resale value beats some Chevrolet models, so used-car prices aren't necessarily the cheapest.