Dodge Caliber R/T: Has the look of a muscle car
Cox News Service
September 22, 2006
The 2007 Dodge Caliber is a compact car that looks like it spent a lot of time in the weight room, assuming cars did that sort of thing. The styling is much more bold and aggressive than one would expect in an economy car. That, coupled with the wide, squat stance, gives the Caliber the look of a muscle car.
 Photo by Dodge
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Dodge Caliber R/T | |
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ABOUT THE DODGE CALIBER R/T:
Body style: Four-door hatchback
Trim lines: SE, SXT and R/T
Price: MSRP $13,425-$19,425, test car was $23,885
Drive: Front wheel, all wheel
Seating: Two in front, three in back
Engine: 1.8-liter, 2-liter or 2.4-liter four cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Miles per gallon of fuel: EPA estimate 23 city/26 highway
WHAT'S SPECIAL: The interior is thoughtfully designed for commuters who spend a lot of time behind the wheel. Buttons and knobs are placed right where you intuitively reach. The clever center console holds an iPod; the dash has an iPod jack. Illuminated front cup holder rings give you a glowing blue-green target for setting down your drink after dark.
WHAT WE LIKE: The Caliber joins the growing herd of cars with side-curtain air bags as standard equipment. Electronic stability control with brake assist will be available later this year. Both are safety firsts in their compact cars, the company says.
WHAT ISN'T THERE: Legroom for the driver. Tall drivers will likely find the key fob tapping their right knee. The front passenger fares better. Those in the back seat will be comfortable for rides around town, but not long road trips.
YOU OUGHTA KNOW: The Caliber comes with choice of three engines that provide 148 to 172 horsepower. All are mated to a continuously variable transmission that the company says boosts fuel economy by 6 percent to 8 percent compared with a four-speed automatic. The CVT also produces some high rpm whine when you punch the gas, say, when merging into traffic. The Caliber R/T test car had all-wheel drive.
EXTRAS: If you do any tailgating, consider the optional MusicGate Power sound system. The nine-speaker Boston Acoustics system has a subwoofer and a pair of liftgate-mounted speakers that fold down when hatchback is up, allowing you to broadcast tunes. The car also has a Chill Zone Box that directs air-conditioned air over drinks stashed in the dash compartment. Don't expect them to be too frosty, however.
AND ANOTHER THING: The Caliber R/T has a 12-volt power outlet and an available 115-volt power outlet to charge cellphones and other small electronic gadgets.
