2007 Dodge Caliber SXT 2.0 CVT from North America

Summary:

Sporty car, yet fuel efficient

Faults:

The front suspension squeaks when you go over a speed bump or through a large dip. Took it to the dealer and fixed it for a day then they started again. It is still under warranty so still trying to figure it out.

Driver side door catches and won't shut all the way but dealership fixed with no problems.

The I Pod holder on the arm rest broke. The pin fell out on one side but still works.

General Comments:

I love how sporty this car looks. The CVT is hard to get used to because it uses high RPM's then your speed catches up so it took some getting used to, but now I love it! It saves a bunch on gas I am getting 30 MPH.

It is tough to speed up fast although once you get going you can really go.

When the engine is cold it is pretty loud, but once in warms up it is really quiet.

The seats are really comfortable for long trips and the back seat is HUGE!! I haven't seen anyone squished in the back seat.

The drink cooler is really nice for bottles of water but I wish it would fit bigger bottles.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th March, 2008

30th Mar 2008, 01:05

Treat the CVT like an airplane. Set your rpms & go. Like an airplane propellor pulling you down the road (runway), the CVT Caliber accelerates very smoothly with no hitches. Like an airplane, the rpms stay the same. The CVT will give OK MPG only if you very very carefully accelerate & keep your highway speeds low.

The rear seat isn't overly roomy. The exterior Caliber is 2 inches wider than the Hyundai Accent small car. Yet the Accent's interior width equals the interior width of the Caliber. Also, the middle passenger in the rear has a terrible time finding space for their feet.

31st Mar 2008, 09:53

Have 30,000km on the clock not one reliability issue yet. Seems to be a reliable car. Ride is quiet. Cruising speed is very smooth. Highway driving is o.k. as well.

2007 Dodge Caliber R/T AWD 2.4 from North America

Summary:

Sure footed, economical, and stylish

Faults:

Had to have the CVT software updated. That's all.

General Comments:

The CVT tranny does take a little getting used to. Once you become accustomed to it, then it's fine.

Mileage is good. I average 25-26mpg. Considering it is an AWD car, that is quite good IMHO.

The AWD system is superb. I put a set of Blizzaks on it for the winter and the car is unstoppable in the snow. Goes through anything with confidence!

Musicgate stereo with the sub sounds great for a factory system.

Don't waste your money on the leather interior or the chrome wheels. The interior is nice, but not worth the extra $$, and the chrome "clad" wheels for $700 more is a huge ripoff. I bought the car off the lot at a good enough price that those options were OK, but given the choice I would not pay the money for them.

Interior is quite roomy, and driving position is comfortable. The longer I own this car, the more I like it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 13th February, 2008

1st Mar 2010, 14:44

I'm driving a 2007 R/T AWD. The car is loaded with every option except the GPS navigation, which wasn't available when this early Caliber was made.

So far, so good. She hasn't failed me yet, and we're getting close to 70k miles. I haven't had any work done for issues with the car, just general maintenance.

Pros:

Winter performance is exceptional: Haven't had snows yet that could stop this car.

Economical performance: I'm averaging right about 24 miles per gallon.

AUDIO: The musicgate system is killer. 6 CD system, with satellite was one of the major must-haves for buying the car. I has not let me down.

Heated Leather Seats: Wasn't sure I would like this luxury, but I've been spoiled by them. A heated empty passenger seat makes a great spot to keep take out foot warm for the trip home!

Cons:

CVT Transmission: I've never gotten used to this. I haven't driven a properly tuned car that is this sluggish and with this poor pedal response. There were times I almost caused a pile up because she couldn't get out of her own way. (I say "tuned" because if you can imagine driving a car with high mileage, in need of a tune-up, that's what this pedal response would feel like)

Suspension: The car performs well in the turns, but ride comfort is non existent. My caliber came with the 18in Firehawk OEM tires, which were absolute garbage. The tires cupped after 15k miles, even after I made sure to rotate them properly (Note: Cupping is warped tread wear and your car sounds like you're riding on off road tires). I had 4 wheels aligned at 34k miles, brand new OEM tires all around and within 6 months the tires were cupped again. I believe at this point it's really a problem with the OEM 18in tires. In addition to this issue, the suspension bushings, struts, shocks become VERY noisy in cold weather. The car is prone to rattles and excessive vibration below 40 degrees.

Interior comfort: At first the plastic console and door handles didn't bother me. After my first road trip of over 40 miles, I was singing a different song. I drive from my elbows, so I use the rests a lot in whichever car I'm driving. The plastic components just wore away at my elbows and caused significant discomfort on longer trips.