2007 Dodge Caliber SE review from UK and Ireland

ABS light came on, sensor replaced.

Rear driver side passenger door lock wouldn’t engage.

Trim falling off.

My company offered me this car, as its previous new owner no longer wanted it. So my one-year-old Ford Focus was given to another colleague. What a grave mistake I made. The fascination of owning a new American brand in the UK such as Dodge quickly dissolved.

The car definitely standouts amongst all the euro looking cars on my road, but I just wished it had the same quality and ride comfort of my old Ford Focus. The diesel engine is much more louder from within the cabin than any diesel car I have sat in recently. Vibrations are felt in the cabin, particularly the gear stick and steering wheel. It is also not as economy as I was expecting. I’m averaging about 36mpg. The same engine in a VW Golf gets 47mpg plus. The ride is harsh and I always thought American cars were soft riding.

The biggest disappointment is the cabin. It feels very cheap. All the plastics are hard, with some sharp edges on the door pockets and grove box lid. The heating control knobs are coming loose and the passenger side window button has fallen into the trim. I blamed this on my girlfriend, but now I think it is due to the quality. The overhead light is a neat feature, but won't stay in place and the plastic surround on the handbrake has came off.

I have recently been in a few Chrysler and Dodge cars in the showroom while waiting on repairs being carried out on my own car. I’ve discovered that the quality of any of their cars is sub standard. It reminds me of the quality of old Kia’s, but even Kia nowadays is more than a match. I have to keep this car for two years before my company upgrades me. Two very long years. I want my old Ford Focus back.