2007 Dodge Caliber Review

Dodge Caliber – Review: Foresight may be one of the most valuable qualities to have in any business, but especially the automotive business. While some companies were working feverishly on large SUVs and trucks, others were focused on small and efficient cars, or a blend of both. Among the latter was Dodge, ready to strike back against gas price hikes with its Neon replacement, the five-door 2007 Caliber, available with front- or all-wheel drive, between 148 and 172 horses, and a price ranging from $13,985 (SE) to $19,985 (R/T AWD), including a $560 destination charge.

Why We Drove It

Spurred primarily if not completely by rising gas prices, the small and midsize car markets are once again booming as buyers reevaluate their needs and budgets. Hence, we’ve seen increased interest in family sedans, crossovers, and relatively diminutive rides like the Chevrolet Cobalt, Honda Fit, and Nissan Versa. The 2007 Dodge Caliber also exists in that bunch, adding its own bold style, relatively powerful engines, and available all-wheel drive, all for a competitive base sticker price. We wanted to see if the Caliber was up to snuff, and found that execution fell short of expectations.

Performance

This is a prime example of horsepower ratings not meaning squat. The Caliber R/T’s 172 ponies may look respectable on paper, but they fail to translate to any thrill behind the throttle. Maybe it’s curb weight, maybe it’s a lack of power, or maybe it’s a combination of those plus a miserable CVT transmission that robs the Caliber or any real spirit. Off-the-line response is lacking, and even highway passes require some forethought. The CVT can be manipulated manually to extract just a hint of liveliness from the powertrain, but it can only do so much. Best to wait for the boosted SRT version.

Handling

There’s one point that drivers of the 2007 Dodge Caliber R/T will recognize quickly – the car is heavy, and feels it. As a result, like the powertrain, the 2007 Dodge Caliber R/T’s handling characteristics offer little to write home about. Steering is too vague with little concern for road feel, and there’s notable, if not terribly excessive, body roll, while the Firestone Firehawk GTA 215/55R18 tires do their best to maintain grip. When pushed along twisty back roads this little Dodge actually feels fairly well buttoned down, aided no doubt by the all-wheel-drive system. But the car’s weight, disconnected steering feel, and lackluster powertrain seriously limit the fun factor.

Visibility

On the plus side, 2007 Dodge Caliber provides ample side mirrors for a decent rearward view, and the side glass, while limited in height by the high beltline, affords plenty of side viewing area forward of the cargo area. However, there are limitations, such as rear three-quarter visibility hampered by a sloping roof line and wide pillar (small rear side windows serve to offset this a bit); a small rear window that takes a hit from large outboard headrests that don’t retract; and thick B-pillars which limit over-the-shoulder views when merging.

Fun to Drive

It may be labeled as bold, stylish, and versatile, but don’t buy into claims that the 2007 Dodge Caliber is a fun ride. Unless, of course, wishy-washy steering, a heavy feel, and a power train wholly unsuited for a car wearing an R/T badge fall under your definition of fun. Remedies are available, many of which we hope to see in the upcoming SRT version, namely added power, less body roll, responsive steering, and hell, toss in a manual transmission that doesn’t totally squander available ponies like, say, a continuously-variable automatic.

Front Comfort

They may be short of Barcaloungers, but the front chairs in the 2007 Dodge Caliber are ample for a small car. The bottom cushions are plenty long, with soft yet supportive cushions, though the side bolsters are rather insubstantial and give way easily on curvy roads. Adjustable headrests are plastic and not leather-wrapped like the rest of the seat. With a height adjustable seat and a tilt steering wheel, drivers can find a suitable position, though they won’t want to rest their limbs on hard armrests window sills for any long periods. Despite a tall dash that proves confining for legs, overall front passenger room is adequate.

Rear Comfort

Rear seat passengers in the 2007 Dodge Caliber enjoy gobs of foot room, but because of intrusive seat mounts, the foot well is narrow. Shorter riders should have enough legroom, but taller riders may rub their knees against the hard front seatbacks, and while there’s sufficient head room, the angled roof line makes for a confining feel. Hard sills and armrests make the door panels rather inhospitable, though they’re the only respite for tired arms as there’s no center fold-down armrest. Integrated rear outboard headrests are large and non-adjustable, sitting atop a flat, reclining bench seat devoid of bolsters.

Interior Noise

This puppy is loud. Fairly unrefined engine noise is always constant, made especially evident when running the continuously-variable transmission through its paces. Hammer the throttle and the CVT pulls the engine up past 6,000 rpm to redline where it hovers for some time, which when combined with a relative dearth of power, gets loud and annoying. Road noise is also intrusive, as poor sound insulation forces Caliber occupants to hear everything on the roadway. Wind noise may be a problem, though it’s too hard to tell with all of the racket in the cabin. Finally, the collection of plastics clunk and thunk over bumps.

Loading Cargo

Versatile looks aside, the 2007 Dodge Caliber is less cargo-friendly that it appears. Pluses for an average load height, dual pull-down handles on the trunk lid, a wide cargo area, and a portable flashlight incorporated into the overhead light. We also like the removable cargo cover and split seatback. Less desirable are struts stiff enough to make pulling down the trunk lid a chore, an optional Boston Acoustics subwoofer occupying valuable real estate, excessive use of durable but low-budget plastics, the absence of a paint-protection bumper pad, and steeply-raked glass that limits overall cargo capacity.

Build Quality

We’ve taken quality champ Toyota to task in recent reviews, but the brand can rest assured that it still outdoes models like the 2007 Dodge Caliber by a wide margin. On our particular R/T AWD example the plastic cargo floor was misaligned, countless interior plastic pieces rough edges from manufacturing, and various instrument panel parts didn’t line up correctly. Plus, the squeaky interior conjured up thoughts of a lifeless rental car rather than one with few miles on the clock. That being said, most interior fixings felt tightly secured, even if they didn’t necessarily look the part.