So far, Consumer Guide has put 943 miles on our extended-use 2007 Dodge Caliber. How does this economical alternative to compact SUVs hold up in an extended road test?

Joining Consumer Guide's extended-use test fleet is the 2007 Dodge Caliber. A compact car by our definition, this spacious wagon has aspirations of a crossover nature, sporting a rear hatch, vast cargo accommodations, and room for four adults. Caliber shares its basic design with the Compass and Patriot from Dodge's corporate cousin Jeep, and like them is available with all-wheel drive. All are based on architecture supplied by Mitsubishi, and used for that brand's Lancer compact sedan.

About the Caliber:
According to Dodge, a large variety of options and flexible passenger and cargo capacity compliment the Caliber's bargain pricing. To hear Dodge tell it, it's an entry-level car for buyers with upmarket appetites and aspirations.

Our goal was to compare the budget-friendly Dodge Caliber to other affordable compacts like Mazda 3, Pontiac Vibe, Nissan Versa, Honda Civic and Toyota Matrix. How does this economical alternative to compact SUVs hold up in an extended road test?

Our Caliber:
As requested, our test car arrived modestly equipped. Options on our midline SXT ($15,575) are limited to the Continuously Variable Transmission ($1,000), the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine ($150), front side airbags ($250), an antiskid system ($300), orange paint ($150), cloth bucket seats ($150), security system ($295), luxury mats ($30), and satellite radio ($195). With destination ($560) our judiciously optioned entry-level Dodge lists for $18,655, right in the heart of first-time-buyer territory.

Safety and Powertrain:
Safety features on our test SXT include curtain side airbags as well as optional front-side airbags, ABS, traction control and--rare in this class--an antiskid system.

Chrysler offers three engines in Caliber, all come from its "World Engine" operation shared with Hyundai and Mitsubishi. Our test SXT is equipped with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower. Four cylinders of 1.8 and 2.4-liters are also available. While our extended-use Caliber is a front-wheel-drive model, all-wheel drive is available on the sporty top-line R/T.

Caliber is the first vehicle from Chrysler to offer a CVT. The same transmission is available in the aforementioned Compass and Patriot. Our initial impression is that the transmission isn't as smooth in operation as it could be, and less refined than a conventional automatic, which is not available. Early complaints note that the CVT allows the engine in our tester to rev to fairly high rpm even in relaxed driving, contributing to the amount of noise heard in the cabin.

Creature Comforts:
Though modestly optioned, our Caliber is far from austere. Standard on our SXT is air conditioning, a handy fold-flat front passenger seat, remote keyless entry, 115-volt electrical outlet, 17-inch wheels, Sirius Satellite radio, and a cooled glove box sized and shaped perfectly to cradle half-liter bottles.

Caliber's cooled glove box holds four half-liter bottles.

Our drivers find the instruments and controls large and easy to read, though not particularly stylish. The interior, in fact, suffers from over-use of hard plastic and looks cheap compared to the competition.

Room and comfort in both the front and rear seats is good, but we've noticed some rear-visibility trouble due to Caliber's thick roof pillars. Cargo capacity is greater than in your typical compact hatchback however, enhanced by the handy fold-flat front passenger seat.

Initial Thoughts:
In the first 943 miles logged, our 2007 Dodge Caliber averaged 24.8 mpg. Handling and ride quality of our test SXT is encouraging, but the overtly plastic interior is keeping us from fully embracing this functional commuter. For shoppers who believe utility trumps luxury, the generous passenger and cargo space may be all that matters. For our editors, the debate begins; is Caliber's affordability and clever packaging enough to challenge other vehicles in the compact car class? At 943 miles, we say, maybe.

Caliber's seats fold flat for more cargo capacity. The plastic load floor is removable for easy cleaning.