![]() The Caliber’s R/T model is a nod to the hairy-chested Dodge Charger “Road/Track” muscle cars of days gone yore. Back on the blacktop, during highway and around town driving, it’s understeer uber alles baby, guided by a heavy (though predictable) helm. That said, the Caliber’s lack of tread was almost our undoing on one tight bend we- OK, “I” spun out in an impromptu four-wheel drift. Despite 18" rims, the car clung to mixed surfaces with good-natured glee. The Caliber R/T handled well enough on the thick gravel, rock and washboard. It’s an irritating affectation, but driving off a cliff is the only way you’ll get the Caliber to go any faster. Calibre bend reviews manual#Take advantage of the Caliber’s Autostick manual mode and the car’s computer simulates gear shifts on your behalf. Under max throttle, the Caliber reminds me of a fat kid wheezing away on a Power Wheels tractor the revs climb faster than the vehicle accelerates. Blame a CVT (continuously variable transmission) that sacrifices urge on the altar of smoothness. The diddy Dodge takes over 10 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60. With 172 horses pushing 3308 pounds, you’d think the Caliber would be acceleratively challenged. Suffice it to say, keep the rpm around 3500 and the Caliber motors along in relative quiet. Step on the loud pedal and you are rewarded with a… Bronx cheer? Oh well. Unfortunately, there’s that engine note out back, which errs on the “fart in a can” side of aural stimulation. The interior is also well insulated from intrusive noise and annoying vibration. Completely closable vents were another bonus, given the huge rolling dust clouds trying to strip the car’s paint. Without going into specifics, the integrated glove box/beer holder also came in handy. Otherwise, the Caliber has plenty of room for official paperwork, a cubby hole for a radio mike, a center console with a 115 volt auxiliary power outlet for radio and siren controls and a washable hard-surfaced cargo area for rally signage. The high seating position provides terrific visibility, but left me feeling a bit perched. The R/T’s leather seats cater to sybarites who shun side support. The Caliber’s cabin is generic DCX: hard, stark plastics arranged with Germanic efficiency. Oh and a bitchin’ Boston Acoustics sound system called "MusicGate" that hangs a couple of laughable speakers off the liftgate like a set of dangling testicles. Our $20k press car had on-demand AWD, a more energetic 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, leather seats and a sunroof. Meanwhile, road rally organizers and TTAC journos travel fully-loaded (so to speak). You can pick up a Caliber SXT for $14k, complete with air conditioning, power windows, a gutless engine and a gearless transmission. Luckily, the Caliber’s bargain basement price softens the blows inflicted by its questionable style. I’m not saying it’s ugly, but only time will tell whether we look back on the Caliber as the Dodge Omni of the new millennia. With its raked roof line, muscular fenders, beefy four-box grill and awkwardly angular rear, the Caliber looks the unholy spawn of a Dodge Ram and a Chevy Malibu. So there I was, ferrying the club president and organizer from one end of the road to the other, wondering if Dodge had the right ammunition for the sales campaign ahead.ĭodge’s SUV-flavored hatchback is certainly a better choice for off-road work than the chick car it replaces (the Neon). Chrysler Canada figured it was the ideal spot for a car journalist to test the mettle of their ‘07 Dodge Caliber AWD R/T. This statement was issued on Augby Entrata, Inc.The Galway-Cavendish Forest Rally is a challenging mix of changing elevations, sweeping curves, tight turns and blind drops that runs through nine clicks of thick forest. ![]() We will do our best to respond to your feedback within five business days. Feedback:Įntrata welcomes feedback in relation to the accessibility of this website. Entrata is proud of the efforts that we have completed and that are in-progress to ensure that our website is accessible to everyone. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has established Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) for website designers and developers to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities, and this website strives to be conformant to WCAG 2.1 level AA. We are continually applying relevant accessibility standards to improve user experience for everyone who visits this website. (“Entrata”) is dedicated to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. ![]()
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