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Written by Jeff Zurschmeide
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Thursday, 17 January 2008 |
The new Dodge Caliber SRT4 has been compared to every other 4-cylinder pocket rocket on the market these days - and for sure, it’s a contender. With 300 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque from a turbocharged 2.4-liter DOHC 16V engine, run through a 6-speed manual front wheel drive transmission, it’s got the power to hit 60 MPH in under 6 seconds. And it will do this and still give you 21/26 MPG - nice at today’s gas prices!
 Fast and Fun to Drive The base price on the Caliber SRT4 is a thrifty $22,435 - right in line with the MAZDASPEED3 and other comparable “pre-tuned” hatchbacks. With the good stereo and a wheel package, our test model came in at $24,360, which is still attractive. The MAZDASPEED3 also gets about that much for the leather/stereo package, so clearly the folks at Chrysler have done their homework.  Nice Interior
Driving the Caliber is nice - the car looks and feels bigger than it really is - probably due to the tough, blocky lines. Really, the Caliber is about the smallest and most car-like crossover SUV you will ever find. But it corners flat, like a sports car, and you’ll never have cause to complain about a lack of power.
The 6-speed shifts nicely, the engine has lots of pull at any RPM, and the Caliber goes where you point it. What’s missing compared to a car like the MAZDASPEED3 is the sports car feel - you can tell that the Caliber was designed and built by the same people who built the Charger and Challenger - it’s got more of that sort of muscle.
Inside, you get some great seats - very comfortable, and nice white-face gauges - including a turbo boost gauge that looks like the world’s best aftermarket installation. A nice touch - Dodge could have integrated the boost gauge, but in this market segment the aftermarket is king. The stereo is nice. Enough said about that.
I have to say that I’m not a big fan of the Caliber’s looks. I liked the Neon - especially the last-generation SRT4 version, which the Caliber SRT4 replaced. To me, the Caliber looks too much like a pickup truck or a Jeep product. I like both Dodge trucks and Jeep products, but if I’m buying a sports car, I’m not looking for that. But there will be plenty of guys who will dig the Caliber’s lines, so this is strictly a question of taste.  Maybe a little too much SUV DNA
Along with a great engine and great gearbox, I also think the Caliber is strong in the cargo-utility area. I recently hauled a bunch of Subaru parts in my MINI Cooper S, and remarked that this was a true Sport Utility Vehicle - perfectly utilitarian and useful, while also being quite a bit more sporty than any 4WD truck-thing ever made. With its full four-door body and a big hatch, the Caliber has plenty of room to haul your stuff, and plenty of power to haul ass - and isn’t that a good combination?
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 16 March 2008 )
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