One of the best ways to test drive a vehicle is to rent it, and spend five days driving just over 500 miles. That's what we did this past week with an '08 Dodge Caliber SXT. Since I've never done a car review before on this blog, I thought I'd write a review of the Caliber.

In recent years, Dodge has been known for its more edgy and daring designs, and the Caliber is an example of that trend. It's styling is a little "out there," and while not as bad as some of its other vehicles (like the hideous Nitro), the Caliber is certainly not the best-looking vehicle on the block. The sloping roofline makes the rear-end look like it's crouching or sucking on something, and the taillights look as if they are just tacked on. While bigger wheels and tires are common on a lot of vehicles, the 17" rims on the Caliber look almost too big for the size of the vehicle.

Inside, the Caliber draws mixed reactions. The driving position is very comfortable. The seat can be adjusted numerous ways, and I was able to find what I might be tempted to call the perfect driving position. The steering wheel is in the perfect spot, a good thickness for grip, and not too big in diameter. The gauges are excellent--easy to read, white-faced during the day and illuminated with a grayish-green glow at night which is at the same time bright but soft on the eyes. The controls are all within easy reach, and though some of the buttons (such as the A/C) are small, none of the HVAC controls leave the driver confused. The same goes for the stereo. A particularly neat feature is the cooler built into the glovebox with space for a number of water bottles. When the air-conditioning is on, it keeps the compartment very cool and chills your drinks.

However, typical of a lot of American vehicles, the interior is fitted with large amounts of plastic panels that don't fit together all that well and look downright tacky. The plastic door panels are particularly uncomfortable for resting your arm on and get exceedingly hot when parked in the sun. Large A and B pillars combined with the sloping roofline make for a significant number of large blind spots. Larger side mirrors help the cause, but sometimes you still feel the urge to check your blindspot twice before moving over because you can't be entirely sure there was nothing there. While there is a good amount of storage space, the back seats are quite cramped for anyone over six feet tall.

On the road, the Caliber is a pleasure to drive overall. Our model had the 2.0L VVT four-cylinder mated to Dodge's CVT transmission. I learned that the engine was developed in conjunction with Daimler-Chrysler engineers all over the world, and it shows. It is remarkably smooth and quiet. At 158hp, it is by no means powerful, but it is quite sufficient. Cruising at 70mph, the engine is turning about 2300rpm, and is not audible at all. Passing at highway speeds feels almost effortless. The engine is also quite fuel efficient. A mix of about 70% highway driving and 30% city netted us 29mpg. A full tank of highway driving would likely be 31-32mpg. Further, the ride on a good stretch of pavement on the highway is solid and smooth. Steering weight is good, and body roll is not excessive. Hit a few bumps, however, and the short wheelbase makes its presence known with a vengeance. We had to drive a short distance on some of the decrepit city streets of Detroit before finding the interstate, and the Caliber felt more like a 1-ton truck than a car, letting us know it was not pleased. Neither was I.

The CVT takes some time getting used to. When we picked up the car I was not aware it had that transmission. I accelerated up to speed and was confused when the tachometer stayed steady at 2500rpm all the way up to 50mph. Once I figured it out I was surprised that Dodge would put that kind of technology into a compact, lower-priced vehicle. But it makes sense. It uses fewer parts as it operates by a rather simple expanding belt and pulley system, keeps the engine at an efficient rpm, and delivers better fuel mileage than a standard automatic transmission. Put your foot into it, and the engine will run at a higher rpm; accelerate more slowly and you can easily move through city traffic without ever going above 2000rpm. However, in the Caliber, the CVT is still in need of some refinement. At 30mph, letting off the gas and then reapplying it gives a noticeable jerk as the transmission engages again. Also, if you do not maintain a steady acceleration rate under 30mph, the CVT becomes confused, and drops the rpm so low you almost feel like the engine is going to stall.

The Caliber would not be on the top of my list when looking to buy a car. However, Dodge has laid a good foundation with the engineering of the Caliber, and with some refinements in the drivetrain, styling redesigns, and general improvement in the fit and finish, the Caliber has the possibility of being a very good vehicle.

Labels: automotive