IT seems that every manufacturer offers some sort of crossover vehicle these days, whether it be a saloon posing as a coupé, a hatch masquerading as an MPV or in this case a… hhmm, well…
The first and most interesting question we face is how to classify the Caliber. Slightly larger than your average hatchback, it is not rugged enough to be confused with an SUV, even a soft-roader for that matter. The chore of classification becomes even more significant when it comes to matters of comparison. Definitely smaller than it looks in print, the Caliber lies somewhere between an estate and an SUV, so it truly is segment straddling.
A very prominent nose, like a miniaturised version of that found on other Dodge models, namely the Ram pickup and Magnum station wagon – two models that are not available here – leads, and is flanked by large headlamp units. In this SXT guise the Caliber rides on optional 18-inch alloys, which help to fill those large sculpted wheel arches.
From the dead rear view, styling reminded some of Volvo’s V50 estate and, were it not for the Dodge’s large tail lamps and high stance, at a distance you’d be forgiven for mistaking one for the other.
With a high waistline and bowed roofline, it has a shallow greenhouse that creates a sense of sleekness about the design. In general, members of our test panel tended to like the form of the Caliber.
Inside, however, we were not impressed. Almost all surfaces, bar the seats – thankfully – are covered in hard plastic. Interior hues are of the lighter variety, creating a very airy feel about the interior. The facia, however, was covered in a seat insert-matching blue, which we found to be kitsch, and boasted a bad case of the ‘orange-peel’ effect in the paint finish. In some cases, panels were ill fitting.
Rear head- and legroom are plentiful, with the drooping roofline impacting on luggage rather than passenger room.
With deep-set pedals, shorter drivers will find themselves sitting uncomfortably close to the steering wheel. A height adjustable driver’s seat and steering wheel make position tailoring easier.
This SXT derivative’s whitefaced clocks are good looking, and when back-lit at night give off a spooky glow, which is quite unique. The SXT’s leather wrapped steering wheel boasts satellite audio controls.
Also included in the SXT package is a Chill Zone drinks cooler in the glove compartment, front and side-curtain air bags, electrically operated windows, MP3 compatible radio, air conditioning, bodycoloured side mouldings, chrome grille detailing and front fog lamps. Optional extras on our test unit were 18-inch aluminium wheels and the MusicGate Power Group, comprising a powerful nine-speaker Boston Acoustics sound system with a boot-mounted subwoofer. Its party trick is a pair of speakers that swing down from the tailgate to face outwards when the tailgate is open. Ideal for those summer beach braais and post-rugby car park parties.
The luggage area is not cavernous, but 60/40 split rear seats foldflat, as does the front passenger seat, should you ever wish to carry your surfboard inside the car.
The luggage area floor is hard vinyl, which won’t provide any resistance to sliding shopping, but there are hooks to help in this regard. The floor covering is likely to show scratches quickly, though. Mind you, that removable floor is washable and will come in handy if you’re the outdoorsy type.
Loading the boot is easy thanks to a low ledge and sculpted bumper. If you’re around the six-foot mark or taller, you’ll want to mind your head on the tailgate latch.
Fire-up the 1,8-litre mill and… on more than one occasion we managed to stall the car, and it was not due to an awkward clutch action either. Rather, the lack of low down torque seemed to be the culprit. Investigation of the power graph reveals that the in-line fourcylinder develops just 169 N.m, at a rather high 5 200 r/min. So when pulling away, a fair few revs are required to make a smooth embarrassment- free take-off.
Make your first gear change and another foible is evident. The Caliber possesses one of the most cumbersome gearshift actions we have come across in some time. Quite heavy and ungainly, the box needs some work to achieve a smooth shift. Not to mention that the gear boot is made of a dodgy, cheap-feeling rubber.
If you tend to sit lower down in the driver’s seat, then the armrest impedes the rearward movement of your elbow when trying to select second and fourth gears.
At our test strip, there were no surprises, as the Caliber doesn’t project any sporting pretensions. Our test figures were similar to, if not better than those quoted by the manufacturer. Our 0-100 km/h sprint time of 11,33 seconds was quicker than the 11,9 claimed by the manufacturer, and we managed 180 km/h flat out, just 4 km/h shy of the claim.
Overtaking ability leaves much to be desired. In-gear acceleration runs show that you’re going to have to be busy with the gearlever to make safe overtaking manoeuvres. Even when getting back up to speed, you’re going to have to use the gears, the Caliber taking in excess of 20 seconds to cover the 120-140 km/h speed increment in top gear.
One the most unanticipated aspects of the Caliber is its handling ability. With a high centre of gravity and an SUV-like feel, the Caliber pleasantly surprised with its handling prowess. It provided a good deal of grip across a number of very twisty road sections, even in the wet. The tyres squealed in protest but, at speeds that were quicker than most would drive the Caliber, it still displayed a very strong resistance to understeer. The 18-inch footwear probably helps the handling cause. No surprise then, to find that the Caliber rides on a very modern MacPherson strut front and multilink rear suspension layout.
If the chassis provides plenty of grip relatively speaking, it’s the vague steering action that is the weak link in the set-up. There isn’t much communication fed back to the driver, and building up confidence takes some time.
Damping is acceptable in most circumstances, except when encountering mid-corner bumps under hard cornering. In normal driving, the Caliber rides comfortably, and isn’t too soft, as one has come to expect of an American vehicle.
Test Summary
Apart from the Jeep family, American vehicles have never thrived in our market, local buyers’ tastes being more aligned with those of their European counterparts. The Dodge Caliber, as a model that has been tasked with expanding the Dodge brand into more international markets, has some of the traits to make it more appealing to foreign markets, such as the firmer ride and decent handling.
Its unique styling, a slant towards those that spend more time enjoying outdoor activities, rather than the actual journey, and little touches like the tailgate speakers, mean that the model should find favour among younger South Africans. But it comes with a number of flaws too… Still, aggressive pricing and clever marketing will ensure that we should see a fair few of these on the roads sooner rather than later. Ultimately, though, the Caliber failed to blow us away.
