2007 Dodge Caliber RT

2007 Dodge Caliber RT - The elevated sticker price on the Caliber R/T invites comparisons with cars that weren’t part of that cheap-car comparo, such as the Mazda 3. Although the Caliber’s chunky looks make it seem deceptively large, it’s actually three inches shorter than the Mazda. Compared with a Nissan Versa (which finished second in that comparo), the Caliber is four inches longer.

At least the Caliber’s interior space isn’t wasted. Head-, shoulder-, and legroom dimensions are all close to the Mazda's and Nissan's, but the Caliber's 19 cubic feet of storage space trump the 3's by two and the Versa's by one. When it comes to the feel of the interior, however, the Caliber falls far short of the competition. Our R/T test car came with a nice-looking glossy red surround to the radio and climate-control stack, but the rest of the interior plastics felt cheap.

Like the interior—well, actually like pretty much every part of the Caliber—the powertrain is a combination of good ideas and lack of refinement. The continuously variable transmission, which also has a manumatic mode, works smoothly and makes the most of the engine’s 165 pound-feet of torque. As in most CVT-equipped cars, though, making the most of that torque means holding the engine steady at high revs, and the droning of the taxed four-cylinder quickly becomes tiresome. Tiresome is also a good way to describe the acceleration. Saddled with a 3163-pound curb weight, the Caliber R/T takes 9.6 seconds to hit 60 miles per hour, which is just 0.1 second quicker than the base $15,185 Caliber from the comparo and 1.1 seconds slower than a Honda Fit Sport.

Basically, the Caliber is basic transportation. Its refinement isn’t on par with the competition, and the driving experience doesn’t excite. It’s still a perfectly good car, but it’s not the best in—or even near the top of—its segment. We, like any driving enthusiasts, expect more, even from an entry-level car like the Caliber.