Used 2011 Dodge Caliber Philadelphia
The front-wheel drive, five-seat, four-door hatchback 2011 Dodge Caliber is available in five lifestyle trims: Express, Mainstreet, Heat, Rush and Uptown. The Dodge Caliber carries over with minimal changes for 2011. Electronic stability control, including traction control and brake assist, is now standard on all but Express trim levels, while the Mainstreet gets a 6-way power driver's seat. The 2011 Dodge Caliber also has six new available exterior paint colors, a new navigation/audio system with Sirius Travel Link, retuned steering, available 18-inch wheels on the Uptown model, red and blue stitching on seats in the Rush model, a standard six-way power driver's seat on the Mainstreet model and standard electronic stability control on the Heat, Mainstreet, Rush and Uptown models. The Caliber is clearly a Dodge, thanks to the crosshair grille. The Caliber has large wheels for a car of its size and class. A black rail that runs from the base of the A-pillars and along the roofline to the taillights tricks the eye into seeing a lower, sleeker shape. Despite the look, the Caliber actually sits a bit higher than most compact cars. The 2011 Dodge Caliber is at the same time innovative and retro, a hatchback that's more like a station wagon but with hints of the utility of a minivan. The Caliber makes a good case when it comes to packaging and utility.
New Dodge Caliber Power
All trim levels, with the exception of the Rush, are outfitted with a 158-hp 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, while the Rush gets more power in the form of a 172-hp 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine; available transmissions include a five-speed manual and a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). Gas mileage on the Caliber has improved to 23/32 mpg city/highway with the five-speed manual (1 highway mpg better than the 2010 model) and 23/27 mpg with a continuously variable automatic transmission. The Caliber engines deliver their power smoothly, with no disruptive surges or flat spots.
2011 Dodge Caliber Design
For the 2011 Caliber, the trademark crosshair grille dominates the front end; depending on model, this is either body color or trimmed in chrome. Massive headlights are notched into the leading corners of the front fenders. A pouting lower lip-like bumper separates the grille and headlights from a slimmer, lower air intake and (uplevel) fog lamps. The side view of the '11 Caliber shows strongly blistered fenders front and rear beneath a wedge-shaped beltline. The lower portions of the doors wear longitudinal moldings, again, body color or chrome highlighted, that look like a bi-level rocker panel but aren't, but that nevertheless minimize the Caliber's height. Full-round door handles, either chrome-trimmed or body color, bridge scooped-out grip spaces. The roofline arcs cleanly from its junction with the hood just aft of the front wheel wells over the side door windows to pinch off at the tail end of the rear quarter glass. Topping this arc but stopping at the top of the backlight (rear windscreen) is an unbroken, thick strip of black molding the Caliber's designers say is supposed to work with the arc and the truncated back end to impart a coupe look. The Caliber is available in eight exterior colors, six of which are new: Redline 2, Mango Tango, Blackberry, Dark Charcoal, Bright White and Tungsten Metallic (late availability).
Inside the '11 Caliber
Inside the Caliber, the front seats are comfortable, with lots of head room, and there's a large amount of cargo space. Packaging is functional, with folding rear seats that have an optional reclining adjustment and an optional fold-flat front passenger seat to make room for a ladder or lumber. A couple of innovative options, especially for a car in this price class, are an air conditioned compartment in the glove box to chill water bottles or sodas and a swing-down stereo speaker panel attached to the liftgate that converts the back end to a sound stage for beach parties or tailgating. Every Caliber is equipped with air conditioning, cruise control, a CD player with MP3 capability, satellite radio, iPod control and UConnect wireless connectivity. Additional trim-dependent features include 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels, a power sunroof, fog lamps, heated front seats and leather upholstery, along with a multimedia centre boasting a hard drive-based navigation system with 30 gigabytes of internal memory, a touch-screen LCD display and DVD video capability.
Conclusions
The Dodge Caliber is a fun, well-rounded package, combining the versatility of a sport utility vehicle with the value and fuel-efficiency of a compact car. Safety features include anti-lock brakes, active anti-whiplash front head restraints, front airbags, an inflatable driver knee blocker, and side curtain airbags for front and rear occupants; an electronic stability control system, including traction control and brake assist, is standard on all but the Express. A five-passenger, five-door vehicle, the Caliber isn't easily categorized, combining the best elements from hatchback, wagon and minivan designs. Cargo capacity is one of the Caliber's big advantages. The rear seats fold down 60/40 to provide quite generous cargo space. The available folding front passenger seat expands room further and allows for loading of long objects. The Caliber's rear load floor is plastic and removable, which means your stuff will slide around if not secured, but dirty cargo won't make a mess. The rear hatch is an easy-opening liftgate and the floor height is low enough to allow for easy loading and unloading. For anyone looking for sedan-like handling but increased cargo and passenger capacity, the 2011 Caliber is a worthy look.