2006 Chevrolet HHR LT review from North America

I have had no mechanical problems or warranty claims with my car.

High tire wear with the factory installed Firestone Firehawk GTA03 ties. They have great cornering grip, but were worn near the tread-wear indicators after only 30,000 km of moderately aggressive driving. They also have a noticeable amount of road noise. A staple through the sidewall determined their fate and I replaced them with Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S that now have 21,000km and not showing any abnormal signs of wear.

I have the highest end HHR LT with all available options except side impact airbags and OnStar. In the US, it is the equivalent of an HHR "2LT" trim level.

The car is very attractive inside and out and I am frequently stopped in parking lots and asked about it. The versatility of this car is very impressive and I can reconfigure the interior to handle items over 8 feet in length by folding the rear seats and the front passenger seat to create a flat floor. The multi-level rear floor is very handy and works great for picnic's and tailgate parties.

The optional 7-speaker Pioneer sound system (factory head unit has XM, 6-Disk changer, MP3 playback and MP3 Player jack) plays excellent sound quality and is clear, distortion free even with the volume all the way up. XM Radio is excellent and I would not buy another car without it!

The car is very quiet to 90km/hr, but above this you start to hear some wind noise coming from the roof mounted whip antenna area. Overall it is very quiet at highway speeds, more-so with the replacement Michelin Pilot tires. The ride is smooth and well controlled and absorbs bumps without suspension noise that is typical of most small cars. The high-end LT model has the "sport" tuned suspension and the car handles very well and is comfortable taking curving freeway on-ramps at 90km/hr+ without tire squeal or excessive body lean. I really like the feel of the electric power steering compared to the hydaulic steering in most other cars.

The brakes stop the car well and are wearing nicely after 51,000km (60% pad life), no pulsation or squealing noises. The traction control system is handy in the snow, but allows more slippage than I expected when compared to my 2005 Pontiac G6.

I have the larger 2.4L VVT "Ecotec" 4-cylinder and the performance is very good for a 3,300 lbs car. My rough timing estimates have it to 100km/hr in 8.5 seconds and it gets up to speed quickly on freeway merge ramps. The window sticker estimates 22 city/30 highway MPG, but I am experiencing an average of 26 MPG city and 32 MPG highway (highway based on 110km/hr). At 120km/hr it drops to about 29 MPG. The engine is very smooth and does not have any vibration at idle or when waiting at traffic lights, and is smooth during acceleration. The 4-speed automatic is also very smooth shifting.

The leather seats are fairly comfortable for extended driving and the driver's seat has a 6-way power adjuster that makes it easy to find a nice driving position. I wish the steering wheel was telescopic like my G6. Heated seats warm up quickly to a very warm temperature compared to other cars I have been in. Passenger seat would benefit from a 6-way power adjuster like the driver's side to be more comfortable. Rear leg room is a little tight, but the seat is comfortable.

EXCELLENT HEADLIGHTS!!! The low-beams offer excellent distance and bright illumination, and the high-beams are phenomenal. We have nicknamed them "high beams of death". Cars frequently flash their high beams at us even though our low-beams are on.

Many hidden storage areas in the trunk area, but lacks a CD storage box. Cup holders could have been in a more logical location, but are functional once you get used to the location. I am not a fan of the center-stack power window switches, I see they have moved these back to the door for at least the 2008 SS model. Interior illumination at night is very attractive and balanced.

The GM oil life monitor is excellent and has reduced my oil changes from every 5000km to between 15,000 and 19,000km depending on how I've driven the car and the climate. This has saved me a lot of maintenance! the Driver Information Center has a host of useful items available and everything from the automatic power door locks to the interior lighting is customizable through the Driver Information Center.

The wipers work well, but I wish the "fast" speed cycled at a faster rate.

Excellent safety ratings (5-star frontal and side impact for all positions, highest rated for rollover in the SUV class).

Fit and finish inside and out are excellent with no mis-aligned panels or poor fitting pieces. The car still looks great after a wash (and dirty for that matter!).

I am very pleased with my purchase! I recommend the HHR to everyone looking for a solid, safe, reliable and economic small utility/wagon.