I recently purchased my first new car ever, the Dodge Caliber SXT with the following options:
17 inch aluminum wheels
2.0L w/ CVT II (Continuously Variable Transaxle II)
Speed Control (Cruise)
Single-CD stereo w/AUX IN jack
Fog lamps

INTERIOR:

The interior is very modern and unique. Angular, almost futuristic lines dominate the mostly plastic interior. In this reviewer's opinion the amount of hard plastic in the interior whispers one connotation: "cheapish". The up side to the economy-leaning interior is ease of cleanup. I recently had my first soda spill in/on the center console and the cleanup tools were paper towels and plain water.

The center console is overall very functional. However, the sliding armrest feature is more than a little annoying. The armrest slides unabated from front to rear and there's no way to keep it in one position. There's not even a "click-stop" resistance track to keep it -mostly- in one position. The thing just slides and slides and slides. I'm getting used to this, but the constant sliding and hard plastic on the armrest definitely note a corner cutting area in the interior.

The glove box - or in this case, boxES - are also convenient and, in GENERAL functional. The "Chill Zone" beverage storage compartment, however, fell far short of my expectations from the marketing blitz and glitz. To use the "Chill" feature on the Chill Zone, there is a panel on the top that slides (yes, another sliding gadget) front to rear. To vent your A/C to the Chill Zone, one is supposed to pull the panel forward about 1/2". The same problem that plagues the center console is present here as well. The darn thing won't stay in the "vent open" position! I do not know if mine is flawed, but I've seen this complaint on several online forums for this vehicle as well. I had to place a discreet piece of duct tape to keep the chill function operational. Duct tape shouldn't be the tool of choice in a brand new car in my opinion.

Aside from the D- Chill Zone, the upper and lower compartments provide ample storage for day-to-day items. I added a bit of non-slip shelf liner to the upper compartment so CD cases wouldn't slide around inside.

The front and rear seats are actually a pleasant surprise for a car in this price range. The front buckets are very comfortable and bolstered well for those quick corners. The rear seats recline. This is a saving grace functionality due to limited legroom for rear seat passengers. It's fine for us right now as our rear seat regulars are 6 and 8 years of age right now. The rear seats fold down as does the front passenger seat creating a large storage volume. I've even transported a six-foot ladder with no problem and a few inches to spare.

The rear cargo area continues the hard plastic theme from the forward cabin. The cargo floor is removable, but seems to be vulnerable to scratches. I added the same non-slip liner to the rear floor to keep my cargo from sliding around on the hard plastic floor. With the floor removed the FULL-SIZE spare is revealed. Below the spare is another indicator of cost-cutting measures - bare body panel with no sound deadening material. The resulting cavity; hard plastic, tire, and metal; acts as a speaker for road noise. Not unbearable, but I plan to add DynaMat to the spare tire well in the future.

The dash area is actually appointed nicely. Chrome-like rings surround each of the EL (electroluminescent) gauges which are easy to read and conveniently located. The accessory controls (lights, wipers front and rear, cruise) all make sense and are easy to learn. The shift knob is capped in a chrome-like finish to match the gauge rings. It is located on the vertical center console, aka "European Style". This is likely due to the fact that this vehicle will be marketed in around 100 countries according to Daimler Chrysler. The other noticeable thing about this area is the sheer size of the dash. Due to the sloping coupe-like roofline combined with the rearward placement of the front passengers (to increase leg room?) the bottom of the windshield is WAY out in front of the driver. So much so that one can't see the front of the vehicle. This makes for interesting parallel parking until you learn the limits of your Caliber's front end.

The radio reviewed is the base model. It is the utilitarian one CD model backed up by four large speakers. The speakers are actually quite nice for stock models. They are responsive over a broad range of frequencies and feel solid. Not performance drivers by any means, but these were one of the nice surprises in the interior. One nice feature is a built-in AUX IN jack right on the face of the radio. This coupled with the flip-up MP3 player holder in the center console is definitely a plus, especially on long trips.

DRIVETRAIN:

I had no delusions when purchasing this vehicle. My major motivation was fuel economy as I average 500mi. a week commuting to and from work. The ol' Ram 1500 pickup was killing me on fuel. That said, the engine/CVT2 combo was another good news story... ...for the most part.

The little 2.0L inline 4 "World Engine" is a joint effort of Daimler Chrysler and Mitsubishi. It will be the mid-level motor in many models to come. This is encouraging as I think of parts availability in the future. It starts with a snap and runs very, very, VERY quiet. So quiet, in fact, that I can see the possibility of many people re-cranking the thing while it's already running. The reported MPG ratings on cars are often extremely optimistic. In this case, however, I'm getting very close to the average MPG and the vehicle is not fully broken in yet. Very surprising considering I am cursed with more than a little lead in my right foot! The motor is very responsive considering its soda-bottle displacement.

The CVT2 is a very new thing to me. It took quite a bit of getting used to. At highway and passing speeds it handles the driver's request for more power quite nicely. One suggestion would be that, when executing a pass, one should roll on the throttle to begin instead of simply "matting it". In the city the CVT is a little jumpy as it tries to figure out what you want. This is most noticeable when you start to accelerate and have to lift due to someone cutting you off or turning without signaling. In this situation the jumpy protest from the CVT seems to scream "I thought you wanted to go FASTER!?". Not too annoying, just takes some getting used to... ...preferably in a remote area away from other drivers of varying skill levels. Another learning curve issue is simply the darn thing getting away from you. Most of us are subconsciously trained that RPMs = speed. One doesn't often think about this "drive by feel" concept until you pilot a vehicle with this transaxle pleasantly humming along at 2K RPM - all the while increasing in MPH/KPH! At first, controlling your speed is a challenge. On the way back from a dealer, in a 70MPH zone, I noticed that the World was going by me fairly quickly. I looked down to see the speedometer approaching 90 MPH! Suffice to say keep an eye on your speed when adjusting to this CVT2 technology.

MISC:

The tires that came stock on the Caliber, Firestone Affinities, are pretty much bargain basement offerings. Unexpectedly they are better in the rain than on a dry surface. Very strange. In the rain they handle like normal super-economy tires. In dry conditions it feels as if they are "scrubbing" in the corners. It's like they are destroying themselves in moderate cornering. I have come to expect more on a new Dodge vehicle. At the very minimum some mid-level Michelins should be in order. Ah well, yet another four cost-cutting victims.

The 17 inch wheels are simply stunning in my opinion. They have the Argent Silver fine metal flake finish and really set off the lines of this little "Baby Magnum". I test drove an R/T with the 18" wheels and did not like the rough ride that the larger wheels and performance-tuned suspension offered. The "chrome-clad" wheels offered are awful. "Chrome-clad" apparently means chrome-ish plastic wheel covers. No way. The 17" wheels win out as the best looking option for the Calibers in my opinion.

CONCLUSION:

Even with the flaws listed above, this is a great car for the commuter or student. Someone with up to two small children will find it fits nicely as well. Plenty of room in the back for car seats and anchors are included in the seat backs. Putting five full-sized adults in the Caliber would be a stretch, especially on a long jaunt. Styling is always subjective, but in my opinion it's a great-looking little ride. It is also a blast to drive once you get used to a few things like the CVT, driver position, and long dash. I love this little red car and I look forward to taking it cross-country this summer to see my Dad. Purchasing this car went against some of my principles. Namely, "Never buy new car", "Always pay cash", and "Never buy the first year model". I'm very glad I decided to purchase this car. My average MPG so far is 26.7 and getting better with every fill up. That said, I mostly drive highway miles.

I would definitely recommend the Dodge Caliber SXT to anyone looking to downsize from a gas guzzling vehicle with the following caveats:

Don't expect a Cadillac - this is still an economy car.
Don't expect a Viper - it's a "four-banger"
Expect a good little car at a great price that's a little quirky, but tons of fun to drive.