2007 Dodge Caliber Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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The Dodge Caliber is an adequate but underwhelming preview to the small crossover class.
The Caliber patterned its chunky grille and styling after the Magnum station wagon, Durango SUV, and Caravan minivan. It's a bold and imaginative design. Thick bumpers, swelling fenders, a tall roof, and a sloping hatch are most fetching with the R/T trim's polished chrome 18-inch alloy wheels. The base SE’s standard 15s and SXT trim’s 17s are unimpressive. The blackout trim surrounding the rear hatch glass that extends upward along the roof performs a visual trick to make the roofline appear lower and more coupe-like than it is. Overall, though, the Caliber is not a handsome thing.
The Caliber's interior might be one of the world's worst places to sit. Brittle, hard, and sharp plastics line every insert and surface, and it doesn't matter if you choose the cheapest or most expensive Caliber—which costs nearly 25 grand in Canada. The fit and finish are poor. The black on white gauges look good, as do the silver-painted climate controls and the silver centre stack. But compared to rivals from Ford and Mazda, Dodge appears to have cut corners everywhere it could.
Three engines are available. The base model and the midlevel SXT have a 1.8-litre four-cylinder with power specs of 148 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque. They pair with a five-speed manual transmission in this standard powertrain, which is superior to the laggy, noisy behaviour from the continuously variable transmission (CVT) that comes with the 2.0-litre engine, an option on either trim. That engine delivers 158 hp and 141 lb-ft. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is the only drivetrain choice unless you find an R/T, which brings optional all-wheel drive (AWD), a CVT, and a 2.4-litre version of that four-cylinder, good for 172 hp and 165 lb-ft of torque. Every Caliber but the R/T feels slow, in part because it's a heavier car than sedan and hatch rivals with similar engine output. Handling is also poor considering the Caliber's small size, with low grip and languid steering response. The R/T is better, as it comes with a stiffer suspension and larger tires. You won't feel the refined ride of a Ford Focus. Road noise pours into the cabin.
Fuel economy is rated from 8.5 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving and 6.8 on the highway for the smaller 1.8-litre engine and the manual transmission, while the 2.0-litre and CVT provide figures of 9.0 L/100 km city, 7.3 highway. The AWD R/T with the 2.4-litre engine burns 10.1 L/100 km city, 8.4 highway.
There are some unique innovations to an otherwise shabby interior. A "Chill Zone" on the passenger-side dashboard opens up a second glove box-sized bin that’s air-conditioned and large enough for four 20-ounce bottles. The front passenger seat can fold down. Out back is a rechargeable flashlight that stows in the roof.
But the Caliber isn't as roomy as it appears. The sloping roof and high seating position limit headroom for rear passengers, and their legroom is sparse. The doors don't open wide enough, as those large fenders block ingress. The steering wheel does not telescope. At least the front seats are supportive and the controls are simple to operate from the driver’s seat. Cargo space beneath the liftgate is good, however, at 525 litres or 1,359 litres with the rear seats folded. A trailering package adds wiring and an engine oil cooler, but no hitch.
The 2007 Caliber has a base price of $15,995 in Canada for the SE, and it increases to $24,195 for the Caliber R/T AWD, before options. Given the poor-quality interior, awkward styling, and underwhelming performance, we can't recommend shopping for a Caliber as either a new or used car unless the price is unmatchable elsewhere.
Note: Images show a US model.
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2007 Dodge Caliber Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Air conditioning delete: heater only · Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Driver knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · CD changer: 6 · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · AM/FM radio · Sirius Satellite Radio · 1 subwoofer · Total Number of Speakers: 7
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 10.8 · Front brake width: 1.0 · Front brakes: disc · Rear brake diameter: 9.0 · Rear brakes: drum
Comfort Features
Beverage cooler: cooled storage compartment · Floor Mats: front and rear
Convenience Features
Ashtray: with lighter · Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: rear · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 1 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 4.12
Exterior Features
Body side moldings: body-color · Paint: special factory paint
Headrests
Adjustable rear headrests: integrated headrests · Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Locks
Power door locks: speed sensitive central locking
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: manual
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: steel
Wheels
Wheel covers: full
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Driver knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · CD changer: 6 · 6 disc in-dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · HD radio · Sirius Satellite Radio · 1 subwoofer · Total Number of Speakers: 7
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 11.5 · Front brake width: 1.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 9.0 · Rear brakes: drum
Comfort Features
Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Ashtray: with lighter · Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 1 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Reading lights: front · Rear power outlet: 115V · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Manual adjustments: 6
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 4.12
Exterior Features
Grille color: body-color · Paint: pearl
Headrests
Adjustable rear headrests: integrated headrests · Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Sunroof: tilt/slide
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Heated: front seats · Rear seat folding: flat · Rear seat manual adjustments: reclining · Upholstery: cloth
Security
Anti-theft alarm system: remote
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Stability and Traction
Stability control: electronic
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: aluminum
Wheels
Wheel covers: full
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Driver knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · CD changer: 6 · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · HD radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Total Number of Speakers: 7
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 11.5 · Front brake width: 1.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 10.3 · Rear brake width: 1.39 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Ashtray: with lighter · Cargo cover: retractable · Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 1 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Reading lights: front · Rear power outlet: 115V · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Manual adjustments: 6
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 4.12
Exterior Features
Paint: pearl
Headrests
Adjustable rear headrests: integrated headrests · Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Sunroof: tilt/slide
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Heated: front seats · Rear seat folding: flat · Rear seat manual adjustments: reclining · Upholstery: leather-trimmed
Security
Anti-theft alarm system: remote
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Stability and Traction
Stability control: electronic
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: performance
Tires and Rims
Wheels: chrome aluminum
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Driver knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · CD changer: 6 · 6 disc in-dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · HD radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Total Number of Speakers: 4
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 11.5 · Front brake width: 1.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 10.3 · Rear brake width: 1.39 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front and rear · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Ashtray: with lighter · Cargo cover: retractable · Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: rear · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 1 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Reading lights: front · Rear power outlet: 115V · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Manual adjustments: 6
Drivetrain
4WD Type: on demand · Axle ratio: 6.12
Exterior Features
Paint: special factory paint
Headrests
Adjustable rear headrests: integrated headrests · Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Sunroof: one-touch
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Heated: front seats · Rear seat folding: flat · Rear seat manual adjustments: reclining · Upholstery: premium cloth
Security
Anti-theft alarm system: remote
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Stability and Traction
Stability control: electronic
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: performance
Tires and Rims
Wheels: chrome aluminum
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent