2007 Dodge Caliber SXT 2.0 petrol

Summary:

Plastic Fantastic!

Faults:

Screen washer stopped working; had to remove the pump and clean its filter; quite an easy job.

General Comments:

Had mine 8 months, so this is hardly a long term review, but put a few miles on it in that time, as I use it occasionally for business.

It drives superb and has great comfort. I like the CVT gearbox, and you can make the car economical around town if you learn how to keep the engine revs low. Also the performance is great and I can't understand why some owners think they're sluggish, but perhaps mine is one of the better ones.

Also for a cheap car, I like the Musicgate stereo, built-in torch, and the tire pressure monitor. The ergonomics are fantastic and all the controls well thought out. Great aircon/ heater.

I do all my own servicing and the parts are cheap, although it hasn't needed anything apart from pads and oil/filters. Tires seem to last and don't wear unevenly.

I see Top Gear put the Caliber in their top 20 of worst cars of all time, but that's nothing new for them; there is one Caliber in the States that's done 528,000 miles if you search on YouTube!!

If Chrysler had sold the car from the start with the updated (2010) interior, it would have done much better.

Last but not least, I like the great Tonka toy styling.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th November, 2014

26th Feb 2015, 08:07

Good review, and greetings from southern Finland. I've been thinking about buying a used Caliber 2.0 petrol automatic for a while now, since I like the comfort, and the Caliber is one of the last masculine US everyday-cars (I've been driving some Calibers, though never owned one), but the reviews and statistics mostly seem to be way below average. But then again, if the car is maintained as it's supposed to be, and after the typical faults have been taken care of, you'll have some good miles to go for many years, right?

The other thing I'm worried about is the effect of varying and rough Finnish winter, which can wear out cars in general: lots of wet snow, humid, corrosive(?) road salt (to ease the slipperiness) etc.

In reply to 26th Feb 2015, 08:07

18th Apr 2015, 20:02

I still have the car and still no problems, 59k miles now. If you get one, get it sprayed underneath with a corrosion protector. If you get a diesel, make sure the clutch is OK; some in the UK are worn out at 30-40k. The turbos as well don't last long, as people don't bother with the cool down period after a long run; petrols are more reliable in the long run.

2006 Dodge Caliber SXT 2.0 TDI turbo diesel

Summary:

Looks well, but admire from the outside, don't get in

Faults:

Mass airflow sensor failed.

Brake drums screech regardless of adjustment.

Seats have lost most of their vertical support.

Interior drink holder lights keep failing.

Cruise control has failed.

General Comments:

This car has a nice ride height.

It looks well externally.

It starts every time.

However the interior is a big disappointment.

The interior plastics are very hard.

The steering column almost removes my kneecap when I get in, thanks to a protruding piece of plastic underneath.

The A pillars either side of the windscreen make big blind-spots.

The support from the seats is very poor.

The gearbox is very notchy.

The performance is lethargic/wheezy at best.

It really only moves when up in top gear on the motorway.

Wind noise is very bad.

The clutch slips in cold weather.

This was a company car with a pampered life before we bought it.

It was always main dealer serviced (we worked for the company so can verify this), so no excuse but bad build quality.

I have owned a few Chryslers before a few years ago and loved them, it was an automatic, much better for USA cars.

I'd buy another USA car, but not a Dodge Caliber.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 4th March, 2011

4th Mar 2011, 13:46

I rented one once, just for a day. I hated it.

4th Mar 2011, 14:11

I've rented several, each for a few days at a time, and liked them. I've rented a couple of R/T's from back in 2008, and recently rented a 2010 Caliber. There really has been an improvement in materials in just a few years. The door panels on the newer one, for instance, and the interior in general, was softer and more comfortable compared to the ones from a few years ago, which were hard plastic.

What I continue to like about them is the CVT transmission, which lets you zip up hills almost effortlessly without straining to change gears. It's always a pleasure to zip by the straining trucks and compacts in the slow lane, and you don't even lose speed.

I have never noticed this lack of power or hesitation thing that some people complain about, either. I do wish that they still made the AWD version. That would have been my first choice in a crossover station wagon.

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