DODGE CALIBER CROSSOVER REVIEW

Performance

2 out of 5 stars

Both petrol engines have plenty of horsepower, but are short on pulling muscle. In a big, heavy car like the Caliber, this equates to slow performance. The Volkswagen-sourced diesel engine, however, performs well. It gives the best acceleration, the best refinement, and with a figure of 34.9mpg, the best fuel economy.
Ride & Handling

2 out of 5 stars

The driving experience is very similar to that of a 4x4, except without the extra four-wheel-drive grip. The Caliber is softly sprung, so rides well over bumps, but the handling isn't good. There is far too much body roll in corners, and the driven front wheels struggle for grip. In terms of driving pleasure, it's way off the pace.
Refinement

2 out of 5 stars

Wind- and road noise are both audible in the cabin, but aren't offensive. With a soft and comfortable ride, refinement would be pretty good, if it weren't for the petrol engines. Both sound coarse, and the 2.0-litre is even worse because of its continuously variable automatic transmission. The diesel version is fine though.

Buying & Owning

2 out of 5 stars

The Caliber is very cheap to buy, but the running costs aren't sensational for the class, with mediocre fuel economy and emissions figures. Residual values have been uncertain because of the unknown nature of the Dodge brand, but with only niche-market appeal for this car, they aren't all that good.
Quality & Reliability

2 out of 5 stars

Build quality isn't good, especially in the cabin. It's not just the materials, either. The fit and finish are suspect in some areas, too. Being a new brand in the UK, Dodge's reliability performance is hard to predict, but parent company Chrysler didn't perform well in last year's JD Power Customer Satisfaction Survey.
Safety & Security

3 out of 5 stars

All cars come with at least two airbags, side-impact bars and a Thatcham category 1 alarm and immobiliser. Upgrading to SE Spec brings you full-length curtain airbags. Diesel versions also get ESP electronic stability program.

Behind The Wheel

2 out of 5 stars

The steering column adjusts only for height, so some drivers might struggle to get comfortable. More worryingly, the quality of the materials used in the cabin's construction leaves a lot to be desired. The plastics are hard, scratchy and very cheap looking, giving the whole cabin a very low-rent feel.
Space & Practicality

3 out of 5 stars

The amount of cabin space you get in the Caliber is average by the standards of the class. However, the car itself is quite a bit bigger than most small hatchbacks, so we'd expected more. The boot is smaller than expected, too, but the rear seats and the front passenger seat all fold down to create a usefully flat loadbay.
Equipment

4 out of 5 stars

All Calibers are well equipped for the money, with entry-level models getting four electric windows, remote central locking and a CD player, but no air-con - that's a £495 option, which is the cost of upgrading to the next trim, SE. SE trim brings you air-conditioning, and SXT gives you alloy wheels and leather upholstery. SXT Sport trim tops the range, and carries pretty much everything the Caliber has to offer.