Dodge Caliber (2006 - 2014) Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Manual transmission model seems very reliable so far, decent fuel economy hovering 28-30mpg at highway speeds. Trunk space is adequate for most errands, I picked up 10 moving boxes and 4 50 lb bags of salt and still had room available. The ride is acceptable though it doesn’t match the ride comfort of a Buick or similar. For an everyday dependable ride (with manual transmission) I find this vehicle meets all my needsJan 26, 2025

I bought this car as a first car for my daughter and it was a perfect fit. Easy to drive, easy to park and loaded with a lot of features. The all wheel drive gave her more confidence when driving in the snow. The front and side airbags let me breathe a little easier when she was out driving to school, work or just around with her friends. Perfect car for a new driver or someone looking to downsize.Aug 25, 2014

I have owned this car for about 3 months now and it has been fantastic, no complaints about performance except power. And the gas mileage is fantastic. avg 29-30 mpg. Love this car inside and out. I'm always thinking of adding a turbo into the engine however that is just me wanting to experiment. For my age at 20 years old in school and my current pay from my job, this car is extremely practical and will only let go of it if I have to.Oct 30, 2013

This is has all the good features of a caliber, but performs nothing like a normal one. The second the turbo spools up, you just take off like a jet. Smooth acceleration, and there is a lot of acceleration! Good times, very reliable, good on gas (30mpg including "spirited" driving), household receptacle, loads of storage space in the hatchback, not to mention the hood scoops, agressive body kit, 3" exhaust, 19" rims, sport leather bucket seats. The 6-speed manual transmission, and 300hp engine helps too :) Overall, the best car I've ever owned!Aug 24, 2010

The only regret i have about this car is that i couldn't afford the SRT4 model. Dont get me wrong, the 2.0L inline 4 with the CVT is great on gas, but i would love to have the turbocharged version just to have a little more fun in. Planning on putting on a K&N intake on it once i have the money for a little extra boost in the near future. Handles great, amazing stereo, and tons of room for college stuff. Just wish it had a V6 maybe........Jul 18, 2009

Although the mileage isn't quite what the sticker said it would be (for in town only - it exceeds highway estimate), it's not bad. For the price of the vehicle, it had the most "extras" and special features. It is extremely comfortable, even on very long trips, and very spacious for both front and rear passengers. I regularly have a 6'6" person in my back seat and he never complains about space. It's fun to drive, even though I'm used to a bigger engine, the 4 cylinders perform nicely, even on steep inclines. I would buy this car all over again!!!!!Feb 20, 2009

Brilliant black paint is stunning. Interior is stylish, very roomy and exceedingly comfortable.2.0 engine is powerful and smooth. Ride is tight and quiet. My only complaint is visibility out of rear side windows is poor, but I just added small, convex mirrors to the door mirrors and solved that issue. 35mpg at 80mph. Awesome! I absolutely love this little car! Would not change anything. Jan 04, 2009

I've rented this car twice now; the first time, in the spring, wasn't too bad - it was during one of those relapses into winter where the roads were terrible, which kept me on my best (read: most granny-like) driving behaviour. However, during this second rental stint, in a very mild, dry November, ideal driving conditions have uncovered the serious flaws in this car's character. The car accelerates decently, with the optional 2.0L, 158-hp engine pulling with some strength and a CVT that lets the engine rev to its power band and remain there. However the CVT is as much a problem as a benefit - transitions between lift-throttle (idling, coasting) give you the directness (or choppiness) of a manual, but the hesitation of an automatic - the worst of both worlds. Braking is adequate but pedal feel is vague and non-linear - finding the right amount of pressure to stop from 70-80 km/h without passengers falling out of their seats takes some trial and error. The car's handling is among its biggest downfalls. It starts off badly, being tall for a compact car (seating positions are at a similar height to vehicles like the Toyota RAV4) and heavy. Body roll is moderate, but controlled and fairly predictable. It's when you hit a bump that the car really bites back. Taking corners too quickly, especially loop ramps onto or off the freeway, can be dangerous as each axle will 'hop' if you hit a bump, effectively making your car side-step into a wider turn. Also, being front-wheel drive the natural handling state is understeer, but it arrives with no warning. If this ever happens, let off the throttle and let the Stability Control do its thing - because the car needs it to stay on the roads sometimes. The entire inside of the car, aside from the seating surfaces, windows and roof, are made of cheap, low-rent plastics - worse than in my 1996 Camaro. Thankfully this car had the leather-wrapped steering wheel option, so my hands weren't as badly off as my right knee, which kept banging against the side of the centre console. This isn't a car you want to bang your elbow in, because it WILL hurt. Also detracting from perceived build quality were the squeaks and rattles emanating from somewhere in the rear of the car over certain bumps at certain speeds. At least the doors don't feel completely hollow, as they close with a hint of that solid 'thunk' you hear in better cars. The car's not a looker, to be honest. It could, of course, look worse - most anything from the 90s comes to mind. But, Civic, Corolla, Cobalt, G5, Sentra... they all look better. Even the Ford Focus is hard-pressed to look uglier than the Caliber. On the upside, the 2.0L engine is decently efficient - though not so much so as the 2.0L offerings from Nissan and Mazda, or the 1.8s from Honda and Toyota. Part of that is due to the weight it's forced to lug around. Overall, not a car I'd buy, and not a car I'd rent again, given the choice.Nov 17, 2008

Great little car, especially for gas mileage. Love the sporty look. Interior is a bit harder than my last car, but it is practical and easily accessible. For a car it's size, there is quite a bit of storage. Maintenance is low and I get about 27 to 31 mpg. For a 4 cylinder it has fairly good acceleration; slower when the air conditioner is on. It is a fun little car and I am glad I got it.Aug 15, 2008

This is a great car. It is a lot of car for your dollar. Has lots of little extras that come standard. The cool box in the glove compartment does work to keep cold beverages cold. The rechargable flash light in the rear dome light is a great addition. Seats are really snug and comfortable. The placement of the gear shift is very comfortable. The cell phone/mp3 holder in the middle arm rest is a nice feature as well. The fuel economy is great. View point while driving is nice because you sit a little higher than the average car in the same class.Mar 26, 2008