Wagons and Hatchbacks
2010 Dodge Caliber Heat
What it Is: Five-door, front-wheel drive hatchback.
Who it's For: Families who want five-door hatchback convenience and need only two LATCH positions.
What's Hot: Low base price, satellite radio standard (requires subscription), Chill Zone beverage storage.
What's Not: Stability control, navigation not available.
Family Friendly Options: Navigation, Bluetooth
How It Got Its Score: The Caliber gets good gas mileage and mostly good safety ratings except for the IIHS side-impact test.
Dodge sells the Caliber with a 2.0-liter, inline, four-cylinder engine or a 2.4-liter, inline-four, with a choice between a five-speed manual or a constantly variable automatic transmission. Forgoing the previous letter designations for 2010, the various models have names, including Express and Rush. The base model Express is powered by the 2.0-liter engine, and comes only with a five-speed gearbox, delivering gas mileage of 23 mpg city, 31 highway. Heat, Mainstreet and Uptown models are equipped with a continuously variable automatic transmission, but fuel economy dips to 23 city and 27 highway. While there are some nice standard features like the Cool Zone drink chiller, some desirable such as navigation and Bluetooth aren't available on the Express, and buyers even need to move up the model ladder just to get stability control, part of a $940 Security Group. The Caliber gets five-star safety ratings from the government but falls short with a Marginal side-impact rating from IIHS.
Specifications
Price |
|
| MSRP |
$17,995 |
| Destination |
$750 |
| |
| |
| |
|
Other Models (Base Price) |
Express ($17,630)
Mainstreet ($18,810)
Uptown ($20,745) |
Mechanical
Engine Size |
2.0 liters |
|
Engine Type |
Inline-4 |
|
Horsepower |
158 hp |
|
Torque |
141 lb.-ft. |
|
Fuel |
Regular Unleaded |
|
Drivetrain |
Front Wheel Drive |
|
Transmission |
Continuously Variable |
|
Optional Transmission |
5-Speed Manual |
Fuel Economy
EPA City |
23 mpg |
|
EPA Highway |
27 mpg |
|
EPA Combined |
25 mpg |
Utility
Vehicle Type |
Compact |
|
Family Friendliness |
7.7 |
|
Doors |
Five |
|
Seat Rows |
Two |
|
Passengers |
Five |
|
LATCH Positions |
Two |
|
Cargo Space |
18.5 cu. ft. |
|
Max Cargo Space |
48.0 cu. ft. |
Safety
NHTSA Driver Front |
5 Stars |
|
NHTSA Passenger Front |
5 Stars |
|
NHTSA Driver Side |
5 Stars |
|
NHTSA Rear Passenger Side |
5 Stars |
|
NHTSA Rollover |
4 Stars |
|
IIHS Front |
Good |
|
IIHS Side |
Marginal |
|
IIHS Rear |
Good |
|
Stability Control |
Not Available |
|
Traction Control |
Not Available |
|
Brake Assist |
Not Available |
|
Side Airbags |
Curtain |
|
Collision Avoidance |
Not Available |
|
Active Cruise Control |
Not Available |
|
Photos
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