Her name is Caliber, and this is the first Dodge vehicle to receive official permission to be sold in Russia. The American manufacturer with the mountain ram on its emblem has finally reached the European market. On June 1st, dealers began accepting orders for this new model, thus starting the brand's "invasion." The main hero of this landing was the golf-class hatchback Caliber, which was initially designed with the European buyer in mind. Well, let's meet the American "landing force." 
To believe that the Caliber is an ordinary golf-class hatchback, you need a long session of self-hypnosis. It is large, but it's not even about the actual dimensions, but its appearance. Massive, rough shapes, solid ground clearance, huge 17-inch wheels, and, of course, a radiator grille that many Japanese crossovers would envy. It feels like it was borrowed if not from a highway tractor, then definitely from a huge pickup truck. In general, the car is imposing! So much so that, noticing the characteristic cross in the rearview mirrors, other drivers not only give way but literally shy away to the sides. And it's not just about small cars—even cars two classes higher, upon seeing the approaching Caliber, respectfully hug the right side. Of course, with such a "mouth"—it will swallow you without noticing. But when the Caliber peacefully stands in a traffic jam, the fear around it disappears, and people begin to show almost unhealthy curiosity: they circle around, examining it.
Although formally this is pure truth—it's a golf-class car. The huge dimensions are more of an optical illusion. After all, in length it exceeds the average classmate by only 20 centimeters, no more. But how it stands out against the general background! However, despite the appearance and ground clearance, the drive here is only front-wheel. In the States, there is also an all-wheel-drive modification, but they don't plan to sell it here—it would be too expensive.
There won't be a 2.4-liter engine either, but a 300-horsepower SRT-4 version is expected—already with all-wheel drive and a six-speed manual. That will be truly interesting, but for now we have what we have—1.8 and 2-liter engines producing 149 and 156 horsepower. With the first engine, only a manual transmission is available, while the second is sold exclusively with a CVT. It's these cars that were gathered at the presentation. Moreover, out of the ten Calibers brought, all were red except "ours"—the only black one. So we got a doubly unique specimen.
After such "clothing," you expect a lot from the car inside as well. So, what do we have from the argali? First of all, there's a whole scattering of various "features." For instance, the trunk light is a real flashlight that can be removed and taken with you. There are two glove boxes, one of which is divided into two zones—a regular one and a "freezer" that fits four 0.33-liter cans (0.5-liter bottles also fit, but then the "door" won't close). In the adjustable armrest, there's a convenient place for gadgets—an iPod or mobile phone. The rear seats can not only fold but also change the backrest angle—this is convenient on long trips. And there's a lot of free space—from the inside, the Caliber also doesn't feel like golf-class. True, it's unclear why rear passengers were deprived of a central armrest. Apparently, so they don't relax; they already have enough comforts.
Inside, it's bright, pleasant, and comfortable. It's nice that the phrase "stylish car" doesn't necessarily mean "not for this life."
The driver also has no reason to complain—all controls are at hand, the seats are comfortable and quite grippy. Still, the American origin makes itself known. The trim is simple, and small details in the interior design are practically not worked out. The instruments and central panel are simplicity itself. Although everything is assembled well and neatly, some little touches, polish, are missing.
Actually, I'm far from a fan of flashing high beams to clear the left lane. But when I drove the Caliber, many gave way on their own. Just to be safe...
To evaluate the driving qualities, the organizers prepared a 300-kilometer route for us, which had almost everything—from the perfectly smooth Minsk highway to broken narrow roads near Borodino. There were also landmarks and "dangerous" places like the traffic police training center—there we were threatened with at least half an hour of questions about the car. In general, we didn't have to be bored.
We started at 12 o'clock. True, while we were looking for a dark place to test the built-in flashlight, almost all colleagues had already left. And it's time for us—we head out onto the highway. We're not going to catch up with anyone—we need to check what the two-liter Chrysler World Engine, created jointly with Mitsubishi and Hyundai, is capable of. I press the gas to the floor, the tachometer needle flies to the "6" mark and freezes there. Acceleration begins. In principle, not the weakest, but from 156 "horses" you expect more. Although, maybe it's a matter of perception—the CVT smoothly changes the gear ratio, creating the illusion of one "big" gear. True, there's plenty of noise—the engine, and with increasing speed also the wind, howl in a duet constantly. Sometimes they're joined by the loud drumroll of stones hitting the wheel arches. Not bad musical accompaniment, but we'd rather turn up the stereo, especially since it sounds quite decent.
And then the winding forest roads began. On them, the Caliber looked quite convincing—it willingly dived into corners, confidently accelerating in the "breaks" between them. The CVT turned out to be quite adequate, especially in manual mode with six fixed gears. But on the highway, Dodge's American roots showed themselves. If you drive on a smooth highway, everything is fine at any speed. But with the appearance of irregularities, the reactive force on the steering wheel disappears, and it starts to sway slightly from side to side, requiring corrections. The car doesn't veer off course, but it doesn't let you relax either. True, this fully manifests at speeds above 120.
There are also unclear moments in the equipment. On one hand, everything vital, like power windows and air conditioning, is there, and there are even many pleasant little things, like the same flashlight, adjustable armrest, and cooled glove box. Even the simplest stereo sounds very decent, and the optional one with a bunch of speakers, subwoofers in the front doors, a fold-down boom-box in the rear, and the fashionable Boston Acoustics label should be even better. On the other hand, climate control can't be installed even for an extra charge.
But still, the impressions of the car are purely positive. And largely thanks to its uniqueness. It has the only design in its class. Although why talk about classes and segments—it's hard to name competitors for the Caliber. After all, in the golf class, it's the only one. Dodge captivates with its brutality. And against the background of the Caliber's muscular body, many of its formal "classmates" look small, skinny, and weak.
By the way, this almost spy photo was taken by accident. The Dodge Caliber surrounded by classmates looks much bigger. By the way, when the organizers approached the cars, they asked us not to photograph them. Of course, I obeyed, and after that, I didn't take a single shot!
So the Caliber has an excellent chance to become a fashionable car. Its daring, rough appearance is bound to appeal to those tired of endless Japanese and European hatchbacks with their deliberate sportiness. And the price from 17,700 euros for the base version with a 1.8-liter engine and a "stick" to 23,100 for a fully equipped SXT with a two-liter engine and CVT won't scare them off. After all, in this case, it's determined not only by quality, equipment, or even size, but by the unique charisma of the car itself.
This is, if you will, an image car. And very original. And at the same time practical—the trunk here is 523 liters! And a fashionable and practical car today is a rare combination. And the fact that almost the entire annual quota of 800 cars allocated for Russia has already been sold out is not surprising. For the Dodge brand, this is an excellent start, because the main thing is to win a reputation. Which will later be supported by the no less charismatic Viper, Nitro, Caliber STR-4, and the next-generation Avenger.
Technical specifications
| Model / parameters | CALIBER 1.8 L | CALIBER 2.0 L | CALIBER 2.0 L SXT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body type | unibody, all-metal, 4 doors | unibody, all-metal, 4 doors | unibody, all-metal, 4 doors |
| Engine | 4 cylinders, 16 valves, inline | 4 cylinders, 16 valves, inline | 4 cylinders, 16 valves, inline |
| Drive | front | front | front |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual | CVT II | CVT II |
| Fuel | petrol AI-95 | petrol AI-95 | petrol AI-95 |
| Brake system | disc brakes | disc brakes | disc brakes |
| Dimensions (LxWxH) | 4415 x 1800 x 1535 mm | 4415 x 1800 x 1535 mm | 4415 x 1800 x 1535 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2635 mm | 2635 mm | 2635 mm |
| Ground clearance | 195 mm | 195 mm | 195 mm |
| Curb weight | 1385 kg | 1425 kg | 1425 kg |
| Engine displacement | 1798 cc | 1998 cc | 1998 cc |
| Fuel tank capacity | 51 L | 51 L | 51 L |
| Power | 149 hp at 6500 rpm | 156 hp at 6300 rpm | 156 hp at 6300 rpm |
| Torque | 168 N·m at 5200 rpm | 190 N·m at 5100 rpm | 190 N·m at 5100 rpm |
| Maximum speed | 170 km/h | 186 km/h | 186 km/h |
| Acceleration 0-100 km/h | 12.8 s | 11.3 s | 11.3 s |
| Fuel consumption | city - 9.6 L / highway - 6.0 L / combined - 7.3 L per 100 km | city - 10.1 L / highway - 6.9 L / combined - 8.1 L per 100 km | city - 10.1 L / highway - 6.9 L / combined - 8.1 L per 100 km |
Test drive organized
by DaimlerChrysler Automobiles RUS CJSC
Behind the scenes
