2011 Dodge Caliber

The 2011 Caliber is offered in five trim options by Dodge to fit in every buyer's pocket. Although the prices do not rise drastically in any which way, the wide range of options in the trims makes it more appealing to buyers. There aren’t many creature comforts or luxury features on offer as Dodge intends to keep the costs down, and it is evident as even the top-spec trim having an MSRP of $21,335.

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Like we have said before, the wagon is available with a variety of options to fit every buyer’s needs. The Heat trim covers most of the bases right with all the necessary features bundled right in and also does not add up too much in terms of cost. If the budget isn’t too tight, the Rush trim does add a lot of convenience to the car.

The Dodge Caliber is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 158 horsepower and 141 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission or a CVT transmission, and the power is sent to the front wheels only.

Although there is sufficient power, the performance isn’t exciting at all. The 60 mph is achieved only after 9 seconds, whereas the quarter-mile is covered in over 17 seconds. 

The other cars in this comparison aren’t too spritely either and offer similar levels of performance as that of the Caliber. The Chevrolet HHR has marginally higher torque output and hence is just over half a second faster than the Dodge. The Elantra Touring, on the other hand, has a much lower engine output and is the slowest of the lot, but then it is much more affordable as well.

The low-powered engines are usually pretty frugal, and that is also the case with the four-cylinder engine under the hood of the Dodge Caliber. The EPA rates the Caliber for 24 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway, whereas the overall combined fuel economy is rated at 27 mpg. The 13.6-gallon fuel tank is on the lower side, which adversely affects the driving range, which is limited to just over 450 miles of highway cruising. 

Both the Chevy HHR and the Hyundai Elantra Touring have almost identical fuel economy figures, which are marginally lower than that of the Caliber. Although, the Chevrolet HHR employs a much larger fuel tank that helps it achieve a much longer 500 plus miles of driving range out on the highway. The Hyundai, on the other hand, has a driving range quite similar to the Caliber.

The Caliber received a mild makeover last year, which added a considerable amount of soft cushioned material at key touchpoints, but it still makes use of loads of inexpensive hard plastics that makes it feel cheap.

There is lots of practicality though; with loads of space for passengers and a flat load floor to make a place for large bulky cargo. The back seat is a bit tight on legroom though and so is the 47.4 cu-ft of maximum cargo capacity with the rear seat folded.

The Hyundai Elantra Touring has a much more spacious front seat with acres of legroom available. The back seat though is one par with the Dodge but the cargo space is amongst the best in the business. The HHR offers a much more balanced cabin as it has enough space for both the front and rear-seat passengers and also for their luggage. Major interior features include-

• 6-way power driver seat w/manual lumbar adjust
• Front passenger fold-flat seat
• Leather-trimmed front bucket seats
• Rear 60/40 split recline seat
• Heated front and rear seats
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Automatic Climate Control

How is the 2011 Dodge Caliber Wagon’s infotainment system?

The Uconnect infotainment system on offer with the Dodge Caliber is pretty much the same as what you get with any other Dodge. The 9-speaker Boston Acoustic audio system although promises a lot but is underwhelming. Not that it is bad in any way, but it isn’t up to the mark as other audio systems. Satellite radio, a navigation system, and voice commands are also available alongside 2 articulating liftgate speakers. Few key infotainment features available with the wagon are-

• Uconnect Infotainment system
• 9-speaker Boston Acoustic audio system w/subwoofer
• 2 articulating liftgate speakers
• SiriusXM satellite radio w/1-year service
• UConnect phone w/voice command

The exterior of the car is midway between a hatchback and a compact crossover SUV, with a pretty upright stance and looks mostly like a jacked-up hatchback to a certain extent.

The front grille and the large aluminum wheels do give it a butch look alongside the flared wheel arches. The chrome accents manage to add a bit of style to the otherwise mundane looking car. 

The Chevrolet HHR is the heaviest car here, while the Hyundai Elantra Touring is the longest, widest, and also has the longest wheelbase. The Dodge Caliber is the most compact car in this comparison but offers the best ground clearance whereas the Elantra Touring is the closest to the ground amongst the cars present here. Major exterior features are-

• Halogen headlamps w/Fog lamps
• Power heated mirrors
• Rear spoiler
• Bright grille
• 17-inch aluminum wheels

The 2011 Dodge Caliber is not really a great performer in terms of safety, and it is evident in its crash-test reports. The NHTSA has rated it with a 3-star overall rating out of a possible 5-star rating, whereas it performs average in the crash test conducted by the IIHS. The safety programs and the features available in the Caliber isn’t that substantial as well, which probably adversely affects the safety records. Some standard safety features of the wagon are-

• Electronic stability control
• Driver & front passenger multi-stage airbags w/front passenger occupant sensor
• Supplemental front & rear side-curtain airbags
• Front passenger seat belt alert
• Tire pressure monitor warning lamp

The Dodge Caliber although has a pretty frugal engine to offer but the engine output and performance aren’t that great. The space on offer for both the passengers and their cargo isn’t that great either and rivals like the Chevy HHR offer a lot more space. The lackluster safety records and lack of features do affect the value and hence is better to opt for other competitors which offer a lot more in the same budget.