Face it: American brands haven't been competitive in the compact-car segment. The Ford Focus raised the bar when it was new in 2000, but has stagnated since. Chevrolet's Cobalt is a better car than the prehistoric Cavalier it replaced, but sets no particular standards. And the previous Neon had become little more than a rental-car favorite. In the meantime, the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla have captured buyers by the tankerload. Dealers are whining they can't get enough Mazda3s. And how about those Korean carmakers, at whom no one is laughing any more?
Something had to be done. So Dodge threw out the Neon with the bathwater and replaced it with the Caliber. Its platform architecture is new from scratch, as are its three powertrains; the same underpinnings form the basis of the upcoming Jeep Compass.
As DaimlerChrysler plans to sell the Caliber in nearly 100 world markets, a hatchback body style was necessary. Five-doors are famous for selling poorly in the U.S., but Americans' recent hunger for compact crossovers and sport/utilities may indicate we're getting past that bias. The Caliber is about a half-inch shorter in length, an inch and a half wider, and almost four and a half inches taller than the Neon it replaces, and no conventional sedan or other body style will be offered, at least for now.
The Caliber is a nice-looking piece. Its muscular fender lines give it surface detail and an air of substance. The black plastic molding that runs along the roofline hides the drip rails, and the head- and taillight clusters have the expected jewellike detailing. Parked next to a Neon, it has much more visual mass that translates into interior space. The tailgate aperture opens high for access to the 18.5-cubic-foot cargo area, which expands to 48.0 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded flat.
The beveled exterior surface themes continue inside, with a straightforward, three-dial instrument panel and large, easy-to-operate audio and HVAC controls. Some surfaces are of the soft-touch variety, others are hard plastic, but all are nicely finished and employ a variety of grains and tech-style looks. Base and uplevel seat materials are attractive and appear durable.
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