Indy 500 Carb Day Practice To Franchitti; Dixon...
News
Reviews
Guides
Gas Mileage
Car Types

2010 Dodge Caliber: Fewer Engines, 30 MPG Highway, Better Interior Page 2

 
8,868 views Sep 1, 2009
Follow John

2010 Dodge Caliber R/T

Dodge is very proud of the "bright accents" throughout the interior, including chromed surrounds for the heating, ventilation and air conditioning vents, the shift bezel, and the instrument cluster rings, and chrome spears on the door.

A few cool options

Optional features include the kinda-cool Chill Zone cooled bin for your beverages, a 115-Volt power outlet in the console, and a rechargeable LED flashlight.

You can also get a fold-flat front passenger seat, and a nine-speaker Boston Acoustics premium sound system with a pair of speakers that swing down from the tailgate, for those impromptu parties in the parking lot.

Sadly, no Eurodiesel

What US buyers will not be offered is the newly revised CRD diesel model that's a requirement to sell the 2010 Dodge Caliber in Europe. That 2.2-liter turbodiesel, mated to the six-speed manual no longer offered in the States, puts out 163 horsepower.

And its mileage? A whopping 40 miles per gallon on the European cycle. It's worth noting that last year, Chrysler sold more Dodge Calibers outside the US than any other model, including all of its Jeeps.

So far, only two diesel hatchbacks are offered here: the 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI, which we think will be diesel's big winner, and the new 2010 Audi A3 TDI.

Even though it's built in Illinois along with the US-bound Calibers, the CRD diesel is strictly for Europe. There, of course, deliberate tax policies make diesel fuel much cheaper than gasoline. But here in the States, it appears, we prefer hybrids for fuel economy.

[Chrysler, Detroit News, Car and Driver]



HI-RES GALLERY: 2010 Dodge Caliber R/T




Tags:
Posted in:
 
Contribute
Send us a tip Comment Contact the editor
Follow Us

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

  • Posting indicates you have read this site's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • Notify me when there are more comments
Comments (5)

  1. By Mr. D Posted: 9/1/2009 2:06pm PDT

    If Chrysler were smart, it either have Volkswagen supply already certified clean diesel engines or enter into a joint venture to build already certified clean diesel engines in an underutilized plant. This way more Calibers would be sold in the USA, you could then report on great instead of poor fuel economy numbers, and the Obama administration can crow about Detroit delivering fuel efficient vehicles. The same could be done for the 300, Charger, and Grand Cherokee with the already certified clean diesel engines available in the Mercedes M, G, R, and E Class vehicles.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  2. By  HID Posted: 10/7/2009 12:15am PDT

    That's what they call new? come on...
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  3. fb_539475451 avatar Glenn Laycock Posted: 10/30/2009 11:37am PDT

    Mr D: Yes I`ve thought the same thing too. Not sure if you knew this but almost all the Chrysler cars, including the minivan and pt cruiser were engineer to have the diesel -- and many do in Europe. Chrysler in the past very much copied VW, the Horizen-Omni cars were such close copies of the Rabbit, that the engines and transmissions could have been flip flopped and fit perfectly.
    Caliber has a lot in common with the much praised Mitsubishi Lancer and Kia Forte BTW. Transmission is made by Nissan (well a company they own) and versions are found in Lancer, Cube, Murano, Sentra, Versa, etc.
    The new finishing I suspect will be pretty good, and received well -- the car does sell well -- the key is to get people to objectively see it.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  4. By Mike Posted: 6/7/2010 1:21pm PDT

    I've had a Caliber 2.0 CVT for 2 years now and I can't figure out who is reporting the gas mileage ratings on these cars. I consitently get 26-27 mpg in the City and 30-33 mpg highway. The only time I get 23 city and 27 mpg highway is in sub-zero temperatures. Someone is giving this great little gas sipper a bad rap!
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  5. fb_100000538240666 avatar Michael Meyer Posted: 1/7/2011 6:23pm PST

    Just ordered a new 2011 Caliber Rush - 2.4 w manual. Did alot of research and test drives. Comparitively equipped I could not touch a VW golf or Mazda 3 and they sit too low. Also really wanted a hitch and the Caliber will tow - don't think I'd try that with the others. I can buy alot of gas with the thousands I saved.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

Find Green Cars

Go!


More from High Gear Media

 
 
Green Car Reports
  • Follow Us
  • Twiiter
  • Facebook
 
 
© 2011 Green Car Reports. All Rights Reserved. Green Car Reports is published by High Gear Media. Send us feedback. Stock photography by Homestar, LLC.