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The Dodge Caliber: mini-SUV cars

dodge caliber production carsee: 300-horse Caliber SRT4 | Caliber forum
Review | Jeep Compass | Jeep Patriot

The 2007 Dodge Caliber was launched with a starting price of $13,985 (including destination) and was to be sold in 100 countries, according to Chrysler.

Reliability was a major goal. The Belvidere assembly plant has empowered-team-based production; in the launch review, suppliers were on hand to address quality concerns (supplier issues have given a number of past Chrysler vehicles, including the Cirrus, an initial black eye).

Europeans get a diesel engine that provides about the same horsepower as the base 1.8 gas engine, albeit at lower revs, along with more torque than the biggest gas engine - and more than double the torque of the base powerplant, with an EU-estimated 30 mpg city, 46 highway (assuming our conversion from 5-8 liters/100km is correct; thanks, Filip Norrgard).

Engine HP (Dodge.com) HP (Press Kit) MPG Lb-Ft N•m
1.8 liter (stick) 143 @ 6,400 rpm 148 @ 6,400 rpm 28/32 125 @ 4,400 rpm
124 @ 5,500 rpm 		169
2.0 liter (CVT) 150 @ 6,400 rpm 158 @ 6,400 rpm 26/30 141 @ 5,200 rpm
135 @ 5,200 rpm 		190
2.4 liter (CVT) 173 @ 6,000 rpm 172 @ 6,400 rpm 23/26 165 @5,200 rpm
164 @ 4,400* 		224
2.4 turbo (stick) 300 300 22/28 260 352
2.0 VW diesel (stick) 140 @ 4,000 rpm n/a 30/46 229 @ 2,500 310
Gas mileage (FWD except for the 2.4) is estimated; figures out there vary wildly.
* Press kit / dodge.com respectively.

The Caliber’s wheelbase is between the first and second generation Neons, at 103.7 inches. It is just a little (1.4 inches) wider, and is only 4.4 inches taller (60.4 inches), though it looks much higher due to its styling. The Caliber has seven inches of ground clearance; the Jeep Compass based on it has eight.

caliber gauges

Dodge Caliber is full of interior features rarely found on entry-level compact vehicles, including (many of these are optional):

Powertrain engineering

A 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine is available outside North America. Unusual options available in some locations and on some models include stability control (ESP). Three World Engines offerings (1.8-, 2.0- and 2.4-liter) provide 148 hp, 158 hp and 172 hp, respectively — with the 2.4 engine beating Volkswagen’s five-cylinder Rabbit engine by 22 hp. Chrysler engineers met aggressive performance and fuel economy targets through advanced cylinder head port and intake manifold design. Technologies used in the Caliber include dual Variable Valve Timing (VVT) and intake manifold design with flow control valves, firsts for a Chrysler Group compact car. Combined, these features produce more power, better fuel economy and smoother, quieter operation than engines without them.

dodge caliber enginesThe 1.8 liter engine is coupled to a five-speed manual transmission, while the larger engines come only with the CVT.

Dodge Caliber’s CVT2 is a second-generation CVT that Chrysler Group engineers have calibrated for precise ratio control and an AutoStick® feature that allows for manual control with the simulation of six stepped gears. CVT2 contributes to a fuel economy improvement of 6-8 percent compared with a traditional 4-speed automatic.

Dodge Caliber is the Chrysler Group’s first compact car with available electromagnetically controlled all-wheel drive with variable torque output.

inside the dodge caliber inside

To ensure its success in global volume markets, Caliber launched outside North America with both right- and left-hand drive models and an available turbo diesel engine. Dodge Caliber also meets and complies with all regulatory requirements, as well as off-set crash tests in Europe and Australia and front-impact compliance for Japan and Australia. Dodge Caliber’s manual and automatic transaxle shifters are packaged in the center stack instead of the floor console, which is more common in Japanese and European markets. The Caliber’s transaxle also has been upgraded to provide excellent shift quality and shift effort that is as smooth as any compact car on the road today.

The Federal government gave the Caliber five-star crash test ratings for all tests, while the IIHS gave it Good ratings in all but one test.

Repairs and problems

“Mr. Source” wrote: “Some Calibers are suffering from rattles and noises coming out from the dash, suspension, and other areas. There is problem in the welding of the "A" pillar, not easy to fix at the dealer.”

An ex-Chrysler engineer responded: “I would think the issues are with the 3T spotwelds for the retention bracketry for the IP, not anything structural to the body. (3T means 3 layers of sheetmetal being spotwelded together into one assembly-the weld heat and time is critical over 2T to ensure adequate attachment.) About all the dealer can do is to use Sikaflex adhesive (something like Sika252) and possible Hucks to repair any spotwelds that are failing. Remember, this is only a guess and opinion!”

This problem has probably been solved at the factory already.

caliber and pt cruiser

oh20 noted the following service bulletins, which don’t indicate serious or widespread problems, but are advisories to dealers (they have probably already been fixed at the factory, or can be fixed easily by flashing the computer, or are simply information on how systems work):

Pricing and models at launch

iPodAt a U.S. MSRP of $13,985 (including $560 destination charge), the Dodge Caliber SE includes a standard 148-horsepower 1.8-liter engine coupled with a five-speed manual transaxle. Other standard equipment includes standard side-curtain air bags, a vinyl load floor, auxiliary radio input jack, electrically lit front cup holders, 12-volt power outlet, a center console sliding armrest that moves forward 3 inches to accommodate shorter drivers. The armrest lid features a unique flip pocket for storing a cell phone or an MP3 player. Additional standard features include body color grille and fascias and black door handles, flexible 60/40 split-fold rear seats, manual windows and locks, fabric seats, tilt steering wheel, dome and cargo lights and 15-inch wheels and tires.

Optional features include a 158-horsepower 2.0-liter World Engine coupled with the second-generation CVT2 (which includes standard anti-lock brakes), six-disc radio with cassette and MP3 CD play capability, Power Group (which includes driver one-touch power window, power locks, remote keyless entry and power mirrors), body color liftgate appliqué, air conditioning, Chill Zone®, integrated instrument panel beverage cooler, speed control, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, Uconnect™ hands-free communication system, trailer tow group, floor mats and MusicGate Power.

Dodge Caliber SXT adds to the base SE model 60/40 rear seats that both fold flat and recline, a fold-flat front passenger seat, a dual-purpose re-chargeable/removable interior lamp, map light, air conditioning, Chill Zone® tachometer, power windows, mirrors and door locks, remote keyless entry, 110-volt electrical outlet in the center console, manual seat height adjuster, floor mats, bright silver IP bezels and switches. The Dodge Caliber SXT’s exterior features standard black dual power mirrors, body-color body-side molding, chrome grille and 17-inch wheels and wheel covers.

dodge caliber car reviews

Options on the Dodge Caliber SXT beyond those offered on the SE model include a 2.0-liter engine coupled with the CVT2, leather steering wheel with radio control options, heated seats, power sunroof, fog lamps, 17-inch aluminum wheels, a Security Group (which includes tonneau cover, alarm and air filtration system) and a Driver Convenience Group (which includes compass and temperature gauge, universal garage door opener, electrochromic mirror and tire pressure monitor) and a Leather Interior Group (which includes leather seats, heated front seats and manual lumbar adjuster).

A Sport Package also is available on the SXT model and includes fog lamps, 17-inch aluminum wheels and a Sport Appearance Package (which includes cloth seats with colored inserts, color-keyed PRNDL and instrument panel bezels).

The Dodge Caliber R/T with all-wheel drive features a standard 172-horsepower 2.4-liter World Engine with dual VVT coupled with CVT2, anti-lock brakes, AutoStick, a sport-suspension, performance steering and 18-inch aluminum wheels.

Caliber SE: 2966 lbs
Caliber SXT: 3039 lbs
Caliber R/T FWD: 3156 lbs
Caliber R/T AWD: 3308 lbs

In addition to the standard features on the SE and SXT models, standard features on the Dodge Caliber R/T include leather steering wheel with radio controls, tonneau cover, premium fabric seats, silver bezels on the instrument panel and chrome interior door handles. The Dodge Caliber R/T’s exterior features a chrome grille, body-color lower fascias, body-color sill moldings, chrome plated body-side moldings, body-color door handles and fog lamps. An optional feature on the Dodge Caliber R/T models equipped with all-wheel drive, beyond those offered on the SXT, include 18-inch chrome wheels.

All 2007 Dodge Caliber models will be available in red, orange, marine and steel blue, silver, black, and white. All models feature a two-tone interior color theme of dark and lighter shades of gray or beige. An optional Sport Appearance Package includes gray with red, yellow, orange or blue seat inserts that coordinate with the exterior color, center stack and shifter bezels.

caliber car review - dodge

Production of the Dodge Caliber began in early 2006 at the Belvidere, Illinois Assembly Plant. The new four-cylinder World Engines for this vehicle were built in the state-of-the art Global Engine Manufacturing Assembly (GEMA) plant in Dundee, Michigan.

More news and such

cargo bayThe engine idles quietly and at a very low rpm, but the 2.4 can be raucous and buzzy when revved. Size-wise, the Caliber is similar to the Matrix, though it seems a bit wider and lower — like the Commander, it looks taller than it is; it isn’t all that high but seems to have nice interior space. Inside it looks like other recent Dodges, with dull, thick chrome rings around the gauges; it's not far from the Charger overall.

As with the Neon, the Caliber will benefit from a long model year of 18 months - the 2007s will be made starting in January 2006 - and 2008s will start showing up in August 2007. Chrysler believes they will sell 370,000 Calibers in that time (18 months), which would make it considerably hotter than the Neon currently is (around 120,000 per year). By comparison, the 1995 Neon, which sold starting in January 1994, ran to 112,511 Dodges and 89,607 Plymouths, barely exceeding 200,000 units. (Just for fun, we checked on 1974 Plymouth Duster figures and found 277,409 were sold - along with 127,430 Valiants, 51,000 Scamps, a few thousand Broughams and Duster 360s, and a slew of Dodge equivalents!).

A 1:87 (HO) Caliber model is available now in Inferno Red and Sunburst Orange and will be offered in Black Clearcoat and Brilliant Silver in the fall. It can be obtained from Burbank’s House of Hobbies or Truck Stop Models. The Caliber model and the forthcoming Charger, 300C, and PT Cruiser models made by Ricko can be obtained through any retailer served by Horizon Hobby, Models 11, or William K. Walthers, Inc.

We have a Caliber discussion forum.

Caliber: unfair comparisons to the Neon

While the Caliber is neither as slippery as the first-generation Neon nor as light, both of which make its performance nowhere near as good as a stick-shift Neon, it has more cargo space, more passenger room, and higher safety and emissions standards...not to mention a high performance diesel option for Europeans. In addition, the CVT makes gas mileage for the Caliber automatics better in some cases than the Neon stick-shift, though still disappointing (especially given that the Kia Optima, using a similar engine, managed to post a full 7 extra highway miles-per-gallon with a conventional automatic).

The base model gets lower EPA ratings than the 1995-99 or 2004-05 Neon stick-shift models (29/38), but in real life it may do better, thanks to variable-valve technology (both intake and exhaust) and, for automatic buyers, the continuously variable transmission. By comparison, incidentally, the Toyota Corolla automatic gets 30 city, 38 highway with 126 hp; or 26 city, 34 highway with the 164 hp XRS and a stick, but the Corolla is much lighter (and possibly smaller). The Caliber SRT-4 blasts the XRS out of the water, but is rated at the same acceleration as the Neon SRT-4; it is probably safer and easier to drive, though.

Dodge Caliber engines and transmissions

The Caliber is an international and multibrand vehicle, with one series of engine designed in at least three nations by three different companies; a Mercedes variable valve system, Nissan-subsidiary-supplied transmission (JATCO is almost entirely owned by Nissan), and Chrysler vehicle platform and general design - albeit based on a Mitsubishi platform that we'd assume uses Mercedes stability control systems.

Thanks for the pre-release information, guys!

Our source really came through — the Caliber is exactly what we were told it would be. Some of the more exciting items that were predicted: the Volkswagen diesel (for Europe, or so we’re told), and the continuously variable transmission calibrated to act like a six-speed automatic, as well as the choice of two or four wheel drive and the World Engine in three different configurations. Thanks to our 'Cuda-fan source and oh20.

We will have this from our ’Cuda fan: “The diesel should be available in the U.S. also. It's a Volkswagen diesel with a 6-speed manual! The block has 1.9/2.0 L cast in, with a Garrett turbo. Several Bosch components on the motor, with VW and Audi symbols on them!”

Features and models

oh20 wrote that the European Caliber will be released with these features:

2.0 liter diesel engine DOHC
6-speed manual trans
Antenna, removeable short mast
Battery, premium 700 amp
Brake assist
Cabin air filter
Euro lighting, seat belts, suspension, and power steering (firmer)
ESP (Electronic Stability Program)

 

Headlamp leveling system
Locking gas cap
Power heated mirrors
Premium security alarm
Rear fog lamps (be glad these won't be sold in the US)
Side repeater lamps
Continental tires
Tow hooks

Joint design details

The name and the variants

Dodge CalibreWe were expecting the name Rebel to win out, because it won an employee contest; some sarcastic observers suggested that the treatment of the name (discarded) shows what Chrysler thinks of employee opinions. Rebel might have been applied to a now-cancelled coupe or sedan version.

Several sources said the Caliber would be the only Neon replacement, with one saying, “Chrysler put all their eggs on the mini-SUV thing. They are obsessed with the Toyota Matrix.”

Winter driving (thanks, redriderbob)

All-Wheel-Drive System: Electromagnetic coupling works on demand, driving only the front wheels until power to the rear wheels is needed to keep gas mileage high. All-wheel drive is also used on dry pavement between speeds of 25 and 65 mph to enhance handling during performance driving. The system provides added traction in the snow, ice and other low-traction surfaces automatically and seamlessly without having to be switched on and off.

Electronic Stability Program (ESP) enhances driver control and helps maintain directional stability under all conditions. It provides the greatest benefit in critical driving situations such as turns and emergency lane changes, and is especially valuable when driving on mixed surface conditions such as snow, ice or gravel. If there’s a discernible difference between what the driver asks through the steering and the vehicle’s path, ESP applies selective braking and throttle input to put the vehicle back onto the driver’s intended path. (late availability)

All-Speed Traction Control System: Senses drive-wheel slip and applies individual brakes to the slipping wheel(s) and can reduce excess engine power until traction is regained.

MOPAR® Winter Accessories include an engine-block heater, remote start, rooftop ski carrier, slush mats, and splash guards.

Market research and such

In North America, Dodge Caliber will draw from the compact and mid-size car segments and appeal to first-time new car purchasers, including those whose first car may have been used. It also will draw from the small and mid-size sport-tourer segments. The compact car segment has held at a steady 10- to 12-percent share of the U.S. car market for the past few years, with approximately 1.9 million units sold annually. The sport-tourer segment is growing, with more than 800,000 units sold each year. Small sport-tourer sales account for 40 percent of the total sport-tourer segment and also continue to grow.

With the all-new Caliber, Dodge is targeting 20-something first-time new car buyers who earn a median income of $45,000. Thirty-five percent are college graduates. Dodge Caliber is also designed to appeal to forty-something parents buying a car for their children. These parents demand safety and consider the cost of ownership before buying a vehicle.

Outside North America, Caliber will spearhead the Dodge brand’s expansion into Europe and other global volume markets as a boldly styled, affordable entry into the competitive C-segment.

Specifications

F/R Dimension Dodge Caliber Dodge Neon
  Wheelbase 103.7 105
  Length 173.8 174.4
  Width 68.6 67.4
  Height 60.4 56
Front      
Headroom without sunroof 40.0 (1015.6) 38.4
Leg Room 41.8 (1061.5) 42
Shoulder Room 54.2 (1377.8) 53.4
Hip Room 52.2 (1325.3) 52.4
SAE Front Volume Index, cubic ft. (cu. m) 52.4 (1.485)  
Rear Seat
Headroom 38.9 (989.3) 37
Leg Room 35.6 (905.1) 35
Knee Clearance 0.9 (21.8)  
Shoulder Room 53.4 (1357.2) 53
Hip Room 49.6 (1260.8) 53
SAE Rear Seat Volume Index, cubic ft. (cu. m) 42.8 (1.212)  
SAE Interior Volume, cu. ft. (cu. m) 95.2 (2.697)
Cargo Volume Indexes
Rear Seats Up, cu. ft. (cu. m) 18.5 (0.525) 13
Rear Seats Folded, cu. ft. (cu. m) 48.0 (1.36)  
EPA Interior Volume Index, cu. ft. (cu. m) 113.9 (3.225)
Liftover Height 27.6 (701.4)

Styling

The following gushing praise comes from Chrysler's press release.

Dodge Caliber is a five-door vehicle that combines a sporty coupe-like profile with the strength, stance and functionality of an SUV. Caliber's sheer surface treatment commands attention and evokes attributes that define the Dodge brand: bold, powerful, capable and street smart. 

“With its bold styling and clever packaging, Caliber is pure Dodge,” said Trevor Creed, Senior Vice President—Design, Chrysler Group.  “The Dodge Caliber brings emotion to the competitive compact car segment,” Creed added.

There is no mistaking Caliber. The all-new compact car has Dodge’s imprint stamped into its DNA from the grille to the tailpipe. The signature crosshair grille gives Caliber the distinct face of Dodge and defines its strong, muscular front view.

Strong, sculpted fender forms, broad shoulders and a distinctive hood give Caliber its proud, powerful stance. Large, crystal headlamps and available fog lamps complement the Dodge grille and create an integrated look that completes Caliber's sporty appearance.

A black graphic design accent, which runs the length of the roof, melds into an integrated rear-roof spoiler, creating a coupe-like visual quality from the side view. New and unique glass-to-body proportions give the Dodge Caliber a tough, protective presence, and the forward sweep of the tailgate further emphasizes Caliber's sporty profile.

The rear view of the Dodge Caliber is as distinctive and powerful as the front. The black roof spoiler with integrated center high-mounted stop lamp (CHMSL) and large modular crystal taillamps fill Caliber’s rear corners and provide distinct focal points of the Caliber’s rear-view design. Dodge’s “do more” philosophy is evident in Caliber's rear liftgate, which provides easy access to the vehicle’s spacious interior.

 

CVT

See Dodge's new Caliber web site.


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