2008 Dodge Caliber SE

The Caliber shows every sign of becoming a hit. It's stylish, versatile and refined, plus it offers a range of drivetrains, with more to come. The only caveat involves price: The SE is stripped down; once you add features or jump to the SXT trim level, the price climbs significantly., , The Caliber fits in a class among the Ford Focus ZX5, Pontiac Vibe, Subaru Impreza wagon and Toyota Matrix. It's an ambitious project — a "world car" intended for sale in nearly 100 countries in both left- and right-hand drive. In North America it comes in SE, SXT, R/T and SRT4 trim levels. I tested a manual SXT and an automatic R/T., , The Caliber is the debut model for a new platform developed with Mitsubishi. It's built alongside the upcoming Jeep Compass in the Belvidere, Ill., assembly plant that formerly built the Neon. The Chrysler Group says a third model will be produced there. A Caliber sedan? A sister Chrysler hatchback or sedan? The company isn't talking., , Exterior, The Caliber is clearly a Dodge, thanks to the crosshair grille. It resembles the Magnum, though the latter is a wagon with a longer nose and cargo area. The Magnum's controversial greenhouse — short relative to the bodyside — appears again here. Higher Caliber trim levels have very large wheels for a car of this size and class: Fifteen-inch steel wheels with wheel covers are standard on the SE, but the SXT jumps to 17-inch aluminum wheels, and the R/T's are 18 inches. 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 — a design element used previously on the Chrysler Pacifica. The rear end, and especially the taillights, seem borrowed from the Chevrolet Malibu Maxx, but the overall effect here is good and modern., , The model line starts with manual side mirrors, black door handles and a body-colored grille. The SXT steps up to power side mirrors and a chrome grille. The R/T has chrome on the door handles and the tailpipe., , Ride & Handling, The Caliber might be considered a sport utility vehicle by some, simply because it's bigger than a compact car, has a liftgate and looks like some other models that are considered SUVs — not the least of which is its sister vehicle, the Jeep Compass. Its ride and handling characteristics are closer to those of a car — specifically a front-wheel-drive car., , Its stability is undeniable when compared to a truck, but one feels the car's height when flinging it around corners, especially in the SXT trim level, which has more compliant, touring suspension tuning and a bit more body roll. (The SE, which I didn't test, has the same tuning.) The R/T's suspension and ride are firmer. The expected understeer is present but not overwhelming, and the independent rear multilink suspension keeps the rear end connected to the road., , Going & Stopping, The Chrysler Group developed a new four-cylinder engine family with Hyundai and Mitsubishi, two companies in which DaimlerChrysler formerly owned a significant stake. Manufacturers increasingly are partnering up to share know-how and manufacturing capacity — and to achieve economies of scale. This is particularly important in affordable vehicles, which sometimes are sold at little or no profit. This seems like a, uh, moronic business practice, but the products serve a purpose: to present a full model line and to offset the poor fuel economy of larger vehicles, which can incur fines from Uncle Sam. The engines used in the Caliber are built in Dundee, Mich., , Currently cut in 1.8-, 2.0- and 2.4-liter displacements, the powerplants produce 148, 158 and 172 horsepower, respectively. They are modern: all aluminum with continuously variable valve timing and airflow-control valves — little butterfly valves in the intake ports that ensure more complete combustion by varying the way the air/fuel mixture swirls into the combustion chamber. What does all this mean? It all contributes to power, efficiency and emis