2007 Dodge Caliber Review
2007 Dodge Caliber Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Versatile interior, fuel-efficient powertrain choices, availability of all-wheel-drive system.
Cons
- Lackadaisical acceleration, many safety features are optional.
What’s new
The 2007 Dodge Caliber is an all-new compact four-door hatchback. Highlights include a versatile interior design, fuel-efficient engine choices and truck-influenced styling.
Edmunds says
Though it doesn't quite live up to Dodge's "grab life by the horns" ad tagline, the Caliber has enough versatility and special features to make it a decent compact hatchback purchase.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2007 Dodge Caliber 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl 5M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$167/mo for Caliber Base
Caliber Base
vs
$179/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Vehicle overview
The new 2007 Dodge Caliber, going on sale in the spring of 2006, is a replacement for the now discontinued Neon and serves as the company's most affordable car. As a bit of a change-up, the Caliber is a hatchback/wagon, and there is no accompanying sedan version. It would seem that Dodge decided a compact hatchback would be a swell idea in light of America's recent and slightly elevated interest in smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. The Caliber is not a hard-core fuel miser, though, and is instead a pretty normal-sized compact. It features an all-new chassis design, and is being built at DaimlerChrysler's retooled Belvidere, Illinois, plant. Dodge placed a priority on giving the Caliber a high level of versatility, style and safety.
The Dodge Caliber is pretty easy to identify thanks to its distinctive styling cues. Up front, it apes the look of Dodge's big Ram truck with its large headlights, crosshair grille and buff fender flares. Eighteen-inch wheels are available on the Caliber, which is unusually large for this class of car. Inside, one will find the basic hatchback formula of seating for five and a 60/40-split-folding rear seat. There are interesting additions, though, including a chilled bottle cooler in the glovebox, illuminated rings for the front cupholders, an iPod holder and optional liftgate-mounted speakers.
In just about every regard, the 2007 Dodge Caliber is better than the now departed Neon. And for most of the things compact hatchbacks are expected to do, the Caliber suffices well enough. But shoppers in this segment should be aware that there are many other interesting choices, such as the Mazda 3, the Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe twins, Volkswagen's Rabbit and even Chrysler's own PT Cruiser. Compared to these models, the Dodge strikes us as being quite mediocre in terms of performance, build quality and interior design. Buyers wanting a hatchback that entertains as well as hauling stuff are advised to check out other competing models or wait until the SRT version arrives later in the model year.
Performance & mpg
Three four-cylinder engines are available on the 2007 Dodge Caliber. Front-drive SE and SXT models come standard with a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine rated at 148 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque. A 2.0-liter engine is an optional upgrade; it makes 158 hp and 141 lb-ft of torque. The Caliber R/T is distinct in that it comes with a 2.4-liter engine good for 172 hp and 165 lb-ft of torque, and an optional all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. In terms of transmissions, the 1.8-liter engine comes paired to a five-speed manual only. The front-wheel-drive R/T also has a five-speed manual transmission. The 2.0 and R/T AWD come standard with a continuously variable transmission, which is typically more fuel-efficient than a traditional four-speed automatic. An SXT with the 2.0-liter engine has an EPA mileage estimate of 26 mpg city/30 mpg highway.
Safety
SE and SXT have disc brakes in front and drums in the rear. On these trims, an optional antilock braking system with brake assist comes bundled with the 2.0-liter engine and CVT. R/T models have four-wheel disc brakes and standard ABS. All Dodge Calibers come standard with head-protecting side curtain airbags for all outboard passengers. There's also a standard knee-blocker airbag for the driver. Front-seat-mounted side airbags, stability control and a tire-pressure monitoring system are optional and will be introduced late in the 2006 calendar year.
Driving
CVTs are rare for this class of car. The CVT in the Dodge Caliber is the latest generation, and we suspect that many drivers won't notice any difference between it and a regular automatic. Only when one pins the throttle does the CVT's lack of distinct upshifts seem a bit odd, and it can make one a bit more aware of the engine's slightly thrashy nature. The Caliber has a smooth ride quality on city streets but rarely generates much excitement for the driver. For now, the most entertaining model is the front-wheel-drive R/T.
Interior
Being a hatchback, the 2007 Dodge Caliber is well suited for most daily tasks. It can seat up to five people, though putting three adults in back will likely result in grumbles about a lack of comfort for the center passenger. The rear seat can be lowered to create a flat load floor, and the rearmost part of the cargo load area is made of vinyl for easy cleaning. With the seats lowered, the Caliber can carry up to 48 cubic feet of cargo. The front seat also folds forward on most models. Dodge is particularly proud of the ChillZone, a special cooled beverage box that's integrated into the glovebox on all Calibers equipped with air-conditioning.
2007 Dodge Caliber models
The Dodge Caliber is a compact four-door hatchback. Three trim levels are currently offered: SE, SXT and R/T. The SE is weekend newspaper ad fodder; it doesn't cost very much and doesn't come with very much. It has 15-inch wheels and a CD stereo with an auxiliary input jack, but features like air-conditioning or power windows and mirrors are optional. The midgrade SXT is a better choice. It comes with the aforementioned options standard, as well as 17-inch wheels, keyless entry, a 60/40-split rear seat that folds and reclines, a fold-flat front-passenger seat and a 115-volt outlet. The SXT can also be upgraded with options such as alloy wheels, a sunroof, leather seating, heated front seats, color-keyed instrumental panel trim, Bluetooth connectivity and cruise control. Dodge also offers upgraded audio choices in the form of a six-disc CD changer, a special MusicGate speaker package and satellite radio. The R/T trim is similar to the SXT in terms of equipment but also has 18-inch alloy wheels, sportier exterior trim pieces and a sport-tuned suspension and steering rack.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2007 Dodge Caliber.
5 star(50%)
4 star(24%)
3 star(13%)
2 star(11%)
1 star(2%)
446 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4 out of 5 stars
This car is my baby.
August Greth, 10/19/2015
2007 Dodge Caliber SXT 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
My parents bought this car brand new in 2007 and I began driving it in 2011. It has been a fantastic family car and commuter car for all of us. Together we've put 142k miles on it with a good mix of highway and city miles averaging about 27 mpg. It has been extremely reliable and hasn't needed a single major repair. The only minor repairs included replacing the gas cap sensor which went … out at 140k, wheel realignment at 120k(tire wear had been normal until then), and minor break repairs around 130k miles.
A few cons... as a 6' tall adult my head brushes against the ceiling of the car. I also have to tuck my head above the steering wheel to see stoplights. Like any small car it also had a tendency to hydroplane when there is a significant amount of water on the roadway. Also, as I had the FWD model it didn't handle too well on unplowed roads or on steep icy roads. However, it still has managed to get me home during a few snow storms. All of these issues are what you would expect from a small FWD cars.
Also to address some of the other reviews on here... The CVT transmission has never had an issue. It changes speed without delay and rarely makes any clunking noises. When it does it has been a case where I had to slam on the breaks and immediately slam on the gas. As for acceleration it holds up well if I'm the only person in the car. However... with 1-2 passengers acceleration decreases noticeably. Its not great but has never inhibited my driving capabilities. Also tire wear has been completely normal. The struts, ball bearings, etc have been inspected and still hold up fine.
It has been a great investment for my family and I can easily see myself buying with Dodge in the future. For now I plan to continue driving it until the wheels fall off.
3.38 out of 5 stars
Expensive repairs early
car_customer, 05/18/2014
2007 Dodge Caliber SXT 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
I love driving this car. I love the looks of the car, the feel of the car, the response of the car. However, I have had two very expensive repairs early in the car's life. I had to replace the entire instrument cluster at 54,000. The illumination system on the cluster went bad. That was $500. Dodge would not help. Then, at 64,000, the ENTIRE k-frame was found to be rusted through, … rendering the car unsafe. Cost to repair was $1,400. Dodge would not help. There are 27 complaints on NHTSA for this same problem. This is a serious safety issue and Dodge will not acknowledge they have a problem. I know car parts are going to wear out. But these two parts are NOT typical repairs.
2.5 out of 5 stars
Run! Don't Buy the Caliber!
prozelle5, 03/24/2011
2007 Dodge Caliber R/T 4dr Wagon AWD (2.4L 4cyl CVT)
I bought the 2007 Dodge Caliber brand new off the dealer lot. At 13,000 miles the oil control valve and the cv joint in the rear had to be replaced. At 19000 miles the outter tie rod was replaced. At 50000 miles, I now have a leak in the oil pan the same outter tie rod has to be replaced again, the lower control arm and struts are leaking. The car will not pass inspection. Thankfully I … took out the extended warranty and some of it is still covered. I am a grandmother and dont drive out of control or crazy. I traded in a perfectly good 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee for this car. Wish I still had it. Can't wait to unload this car. It sucks! Dont buy one!
4 out of 5 stars
10 year review
Tony S, 01/28/2018
2007 Dodge Caliber R/T 4dr Wagon (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
I’ve had my caliber R/T for 10 years now, and overall it’s been a decent vehicle. Like a few others, I to had to replace the ball joints around 50,000 miles. I’ve replaced the battery twice. Replaced tires numerous times. Replaced the master and slave cylinder for transmission. That’s about it.
I bought the car used in 2007 with 14,000 Miles. The dealer had a number of calibers on the … lot, but I wasn’t fond of any until I saw this one. It looked great (still does), was an R/T, plus had many of the SRT upgrade features. Finally, it was a manual transmission which I love.
Over the years, I’ve racked up more an 100,000 Miles on this car, and although I’ve had a few repairs, I’ve never regretted buying it. Any car 10 years old will be be in the shop sooner or later. Even with the expense of repairs, it’s been the most economical and reliable car I’ve ever owned. Time and time again it’s got me where I needed to be, and never let me down.
I was looking for a economical car when I found the Caliber. Many told me not to buy it, but those same people were spending thousands more on a car than I wanted to. I bought it anyway and have never regretted it. Maybe I was lucky. Maybe I found the only decent Caliber out there. I don’t know. I like to think I took care of her, and she took care of me.
2007 Caliber Highlights
Base
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $13,850 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 26 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $167/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 18.5 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalMarginal
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintMarginal
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