Comments on: 2010 Dodge Caliber revealed

By: James

James — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 04:27:48 +0000

Looks a litte crammed in.

By: Jan

Jan — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:22 +0000

Just read a Top Gear bit about Dodge Caliber. Their assessments are so much more fun to read!!

The Dodge Caliber offers the (pig ugly) looks of an SUV in the form of a poorly packaged hatchback. What’s not to like? Bearing in mind this is America’s attempt at the VW Golf, full marks must be awarded for sheer optimism.

Comfort
Soaks up the bumps, you have to give it that, but at the expense of any composure in quicker corners it’s a bridge too far.
8 out of 20

Performance
The 2.0-litre diesel is relatively lively, managing to find 100km/h in a respectable 8.8 seconds. It’s another VW unit though, so we can’t give Dodge any credit for that.

Cool
There aren’t really words to describe how far removed from cool the Caliber is. Anyone who buys one deserves public ridicule. And will surely get it.
4 out of 20

Quality
Not as bad as any number of its shabbily assembled countrymen, primarily because Dodge has gone for ‘chunky’ switchgear that is inherently hard to break. You’ll manage eventually though.
5 out of 20

Handling
In a market bursting at the seams with agile, sprightly offerings like the Focus and Golf, the Caliber is nothing short of laughable. Wallowing US-spec suspension and unsophisticated front-wheel drive make for a disastrous combination.

By: Myke

Myke — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:29:19 +0000

I must say I agree with you on the looks, saw one today in black in SXT form and it reassumed that belief. Would never buy one based on many reasons but its SUV/hatch appearance is a better attempt than the Dualis.

By: crouchy

crouchy — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:24:18 +0000

Hmmmm i once liked the look of these suckers. They obviously havent sold well because you dont see them anywhere. Nice to see the americans getting it together with the interiors for once, copied or not.

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:06:58 +0000

What sort of person buys one of these? The only sort I can think of would be men who’s wifes won’t let them have an SUV and wifes who’s husbands own a Nitro and want them to have the “smaller one”. It’s just a terrible car. I think Jeep make decent cars, but does anybody else agree that Dodge should just go away?

By: Baddass

Baddass — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 07:15:53 +0000

I remember liking the idea of the SRT-4. Didn’t it have like 224kw or near that? Looked pretty mean too.

By: swampdawg

swampdawg — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 07:07:48 +0000

Carfanatic says:
September 10, 2009 at 3:19 pm
WTF, There is a world outside waiting for you to go visit.

By: Carfanatic

Carfanatic — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 05:19:52 +0000

Well as I said J and I googled pics to confirm, those Air con dials are almost identical to those found in a CRV SE, the screen and stereo Buttons do have a VW look about them, but as I posted before, the Aircon Dials are blatantly Honda.

By: J

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:57:31 +0000

No, they are quite VW. Looks like the centre stack has been lifted straight from a MK 5 Golf (minus the boxy, dated gear surround).

Then there’s the issues of Dodge’s dodgy cabin plastics..

By: Casey

Casey — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:05:29 +0000

If only one of the storage compartments is chilled does that mean the others are stressed out?