While the 2010 Caliber has slimmed down the choices and spiffed up the interior, it is now more competitive with the best of its class. It now offers just two engines and two transmissions, slightly improving the gas mileage. Built on a global platform also used for the Jeep Compass SUV and midsize Dodge Avenger sedan, the tall-bodied Dodge Caliber comes only as a compact hatchback/wagon. The rear seats fold in a 60/40 split, increasing cargo space to a maximum of 48 cubic feet. The front passenger seat can fold forward to make room for longer items. The Caliber has decent headroom and legroom in the front and back, but it is still a small car built to a price, so don't expect luxurious accommodations. The sole pretext at sportiness is the high-end R/T trim package, which adds little more than 18-inch chrome wheels to the standard 2.4-liter engine and five-speed manual transmission, in front-wheel-drive form only. For the new model year, Chrysler's deleted the all-wheel-drive option, the optional turbocharged engines, and the SRT4 high-performance model. With a base price of $17,090, the Caliber competes against the likes of the Volkswagen Golf, the Kia Soul, the Mazda3, and the Subaru Impreza.
2010 Caliber Exterior
The 2010 Dodge Caliber has a sporty hatchback look that seems tall and narrow from some angles, but overwrought from others. Dodge Caliber is a five-door C-segment hatchback that combines a sporty coupe-like profile with the strength, stance and functionality of an SUV. The Caliber is available in one body style, an aggressive-looking five-door hatchback. The Caliber is clearly a Dodge, thanks to the crosshair grille. The Caliber has very 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.
Dodge Caliber Features
The SE has cloth seats; tilt steering column; an AM/FM/CD stereo with four speakers and an auxiliary input jack; a 60/40-split folding rear seat; removable and washable vinyl cargo mat; and P205/70R15 tires on steel wheels. The SE comes with manual roll-up windows and manual outside mirrors.
The SXT comes standard with air conditioning with the interior air filter and Chill Zone; Sirius satellite radio; anti-lock brakes; power windows, mirrors and door locks; floor mats; cruise control; stain-resistant seat fabric; remote keyless entry; 115-volt AC power outlet; a flashlight-like removable lamp that stows and charges in a receptacle in the rear headliner; height-adjustable driver's seat; fold-flat front passenger seat; a reclining 60/40-split rear seat; and all-season P215/60R17 touring tires on aluminum wheels.
The R/T comes with the SXT items, plus a variety of other features, including a sport suspension with performance steering, and P215/55R18 all-season performance tires on aluminum wheels.
Driving the '10 Caliber
The Caliber is available with a manual or a choice of two continuously variable automatic transmissions. Front disc and rear drum brakes are standard, but all-disc brakes are optional. Forged steel connecting rods, aluminum head and pistons, and fourth-generation direct-injection system provide durability, weight reduction and performance. Passenger refinement also improves as dual balance shafts. For 2010, the Caliber has discontinued its 1.8-liter four-cylinder, and now only packs either a 2.0- or 2.4-liter four cylinder engine. The standard 2.0-liter comes with a five-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The only other engine, which is available on the R/T trim level, is a 172-horsepower, 2.4-liter four, gets 23 mpg city / 29 mpg highway with the five-speed.
Inside the Dodge Caliber
The Dodge Caliber offers an array of unique interior features in its segment, including Chill Zone cooled-beverage storage bin, Uconnect Navigation with voice commands, iPod Control, rechargeable LED flashlight and an available MusicGate Power Sound Group, which includes two articulating speakers packaged in the liftgate that swing down for tailgating and other activities. The new Dodge Caliber now offers a more harmonious design aesthetic executed with premium materials and craftsmanship. An all-new designed instrument panel features a more integrated look and includes additional cubby space, center storage bin and larger climate controls. The 2010 interior redesign includes restyled instrument panel with center storage bin, extended chrome accents and upgraded soft-touch materials on the door panels and center armrest. The rear seats fold in a 60/40 split, increasing cargo space to a maximum of 48 cubic feet. The front passenger seat can fold forward to make room for longer items. The Caliber has decent headroom and legroom in the front and back, but it is still a small car built to a price, so don't expect luxurious accommodations.
Conclusions
Overall, the Caliber competes well with others in its class, which includes Saturn Astra, Toyota Matrix and Volkswagen Rabbit to name a few. This 2010 Dodge model comes in SE, SXT and R/T trim levels, and has an estimated MPG 23 City / 27 Hwy. It has a starting MSRP of $18,060 - $18,060. Visit Dodge's official 2010 Caliber site for more information on the details of this model. 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, 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 available. New for 2010, active anti-whiplash front head restraints are now standard. Built on a global platform also used for the Jeep Compass SUV and midsize Dodge Avenger sedan, the tall-bodied Dodge Caliber comes only as a compact hatchback/wagon.
