The Caliber is a compact hatchback that debuted last year as a more versatile, stylish Neon replacement. Although the Caliber does have more room and utility to offer buyers, certain weaknesses really take away from its overall competitiveness. And while this year's debut of the SRT4 trim with its 285 hp engine helps balance out some of the lackluster performance in the lower trims; the BuyingAdvice Team still doesn't see enough strength in the Dodge Caliber to make it rise above most competitors.
Besides the speakers that fold down to help underscore your tailgating and a cooling beverage compartment, there's just nothing all that exceptional about the Caliber. Even though the new SRT4 offers more horsepower than buyers can usually get for that price, the handling and driving experience end up feeling clumsy and not connected. Safety features that are often standard for models in this segment, like ABS and stability control, are optional on most of the Caliber's trims. And without AC and middling fuel efficiency, there are some hatchbacks that just offer more for their price.
Some competition the BuyingAdvice Team recommends is the Scion xD and the Nissan Versa Hatchback. The price will look a bit higher at first, but you get more standard features included up front.
