For The Caliber is cheap to buy, while all models come well equipped. There's a good engine line-up, too.
Against Build quality can be suspect, and running costs are high. The boot is smaller than you'd expect, too.
What Car? says
An also-ran in the extremely competitive family hatch sector, and worth a look only if you want something different. It’s cheap to buy, though, and reasonably well equipped
There are 4 Dodge Caliber versions available
Buyer's notes
Target Price team says:
Small family cars are getting better and better, so the Caliber already seems a good few years out of date. It’s not a bad car, but unfortunately it battles with rivals in probably the most competitive sector of the market.
The handling is poor and prone to understeer because the suspension is set up for comfort, and the cabin is swathed in hard, scratchy plastics. The driving position also suffers because there isn’t enough steering wheel adjustment.
However, the car does make up some ground by way of a comprehensive equipment list. Dealers will discount aggressively, too, so opt for higher-specced Sport versions.
The VW-sourced turbodiesel is strong, if a little gruff, but the 1.8 and 2.0 petrols have surprisingly close power outputs. Both struggle with the Caliber’s bulk and are best avoided, and CVT auto versions suffer from shocking residuals - as low as 26% after three years.
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Caliber rivals
Caliber used rivals
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