2007 Dodge Caliber

To Consumer Guide, Caliber is an enigma. Count among its strong points a roomy interior and better cargo room than most small hatchbacks. Prices can be attractive, too, if options are chosen carefully. On the downside, Caliber's noisy, weak engines and budget-grade interior decor scream "entry level."

The question to us is, can affordability, masculine styling, and interior utility trump the dynamic shortcomings of the powertrain and subpar cabin materials?

Our SXT boasts an impressive list of standard features including air conditioning, driver-seat height adjustment, power mirrors, power locks, power windows, remote keyless entry, and 17-inch wheels. Also standard are curtain side airbags and a driver knee airbag.

Most testers find the interior functional, but nearly everything is made of cheap-looking plastic that tends to overwhelm an otherwise solid design. Acceleration is adequate at best, and the CVT transmission seems to conspire with an already noisy engine to create lots of interior racket. While roomy, more than one editor found the unsupportive backseat an uncomfortable place to sit even for short hops. We agree that the double glovebox with a section for cooling half-liter drink bottles is pretty nifty, but some of us have started griping about the hard-plastic cargo-floor liner that allows cargo to slide around while driving.

So far in the test, the interior's visual shortcomings and the noisy engine are trumping affordability, unique styling, and interior utility. Can more time with Caliber change our minds?

Editors’ Comments

Tom Appel: Our long-term tester rides and handles surprisingly well, and the price is very attractive. But the yards of poorly finished hard plastic that line this car really hurt its appeal. Caliber's value price and functional design should attract entry-level shoppers en masse, but no one coming out of a Honda Civic will give it a second look.

Rick Cotta: Caliber certainly has its strengths--most notably in passenger room and available features--but those are countered by timid acceleration, a disconcerting lack of visibility, and lots of unpleasant bump noise and engine whine. Yes, it's a visual standout in the sea of low-cost cars, but at virtually any price point it covers, I can think of others I'd rather drive.

Jennifer Geiger: While this car has available AWD and a good overall price, some of the models lack the standard safety features that many of its competitors have (ABS, traction/antiskid control, and front side airbags are optional). This car is also overly loud in terms of road and wind noise, which are muffled by the persistent engine groan. Another deterrent is Caliber's interior. Plainly stated, it's cheap feeling and ugly looking.

Don Sikora II: I have mixed emotions about this car. The interior is roomy, but it isn't an especially attractive place to spend time. The small wagon cargo capabilities and hatchback flexibility are better than a small sedan when you need to carry items a little larger than you usually do, but the plastic load floor lets a couple bags of stuff from the store slide around. The styling certainly looks different than a generic small sedan, but there are surprisingly big blind spots when you're in the driver's seat. Caliber has its strong points, but the car would have benefited from more time spent polishing the details.