2007 Dodge Caliber SE, SXT and RT - Review

The 2007 Dodge Caliber is a little SUV/Hatchback crossover with hopes of competing for market share with the PT Cruiser, the HHR and the Matrix.

2007 Dodge Caliber Exterior: Large Headlamps for maximum illumination and stone chip resistant fog lamps that cast a low, wide beam for maximum penetration. The outside appearance is a bit boxy, but contributes to headroom on the interior. Five doors, 4 passenger and 1 rear tailgate offer ease of access, no matter who or what you intend to transport. Dodge offers 8 color choices including the newly popular orange pearl (the white is great for southern climates and the red is really red!).

2007 Dodge Caliber Interior: The interior on the 2007 Dodge Caliber SXT and RT offer an interior sport color package to coordinate with exterior colors in the hot range, like the orange, red and yellow, as well as the blue. Opt for the MusicGate Powerä Boston Acousticsâ sound system with 9 speakers and subwoofer. It comes with a set of rear articulating speakers so you can crank out the sound for your tailgate party. An MP3 auxiliary jack is available to expand your listening power, as well as an optional Sirius satellite radio package. If you get lost often, opt in for the Mopar GPS navigation system.

The multi tiered glove box of the 2007 Dodge Caliber is a real space advantage with a cooling compartment for drinks or sashimi, if you prefer. The cup holders in front of the arm rest light up at night so you can make a connect in the dark, with one of those 45 degree sodas from the glove compartment. Airbags offer all around protection including sides and a knee bag. Variable height seating, along with the design maximizes driver comfort for a variety of heights. The adjustable armrest features a 115-volt two pronged auxiliary outlet. A 12-volt outlet is located on the instrument panel.

The 2007 Dodge Caliber cargo area load floor has a 250-pound weight capacity and can be removed for cleaning. The pull out tailgating shelf is a real plus. The rear seats are 60/40 and recline up to 12 degrees, as well as fold flat to allow more cargo room. The front passenger seat also folds flat to accommodate extra long items. The overhead cargo light is removable and doubles as a flashlight.

When it comes to the engine, all models of the 2007 Dodge Caliber are four cylinder, based on a joint development between DaimlerChrysler, Mitsubishi and Hyundai You'll choose from a 1.8, a 2.0 and a 2.4 liter. If you do much highway driving and need to dash out of the way of big rigs, opt for the 2.4 liter. If you know how to drive a 5 speed, opt out of the automatic transmission so you can maximize the low end engine power. If you are planning to scoot to the corner store or back and forth to school and practice with the kids, I'd still stick with at least the 2.0. None of these engines are overly powerful and getting out of the way quickly can be a challenge. The time lapse from standing still to merging onto the freeway can be unnerving. If gas mileage is your make or break consideration, you will get slightly more with the 2.0 (26 city/30 highway) than the 2.4 (23 city/26 highway).

There has been a move in car design away from niceties toward practicalities with these little SUVs. There is a significant amount of low end (tacky if you prefer) molded plastic inside the vehicles. But today injection molding is being churned out as the answer for a variety of consumer items including children's outdoor play products and furniture-cheap alternative, not particularly environmentally friendly.

Heck, you could live in the 2007 Dodge Caliber. And if the world keeps going the way it is, maybe the car manufacturers are one up on the rest of us. We won't be able to afford gas to run them, but we can charge up the battery enough to run our "mini" refrigerator and fold down the seats after our tailgate meal, when we need to sleep. Oh, and don't forget the removable and washable features-easy cleaning. All in all, it's a cute little car that appeals to the public's current desire to use less gas and haul all sorts of things, but falls short in the area of performance. Don't plan to take on any 6 cylinders or diesels on the road or make any short passes with your 2007 Dodge Caliber, unless you want to try out those airbags.