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| 2007 Dodge Caliber SXT Sport (Photo: Philippe Champoux, Auto123.com) |
Caliber SXT Sport: For $600 more than the SXT, the Sport model adds 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps and interior colour schemes. It's an interesting addition for a few dollars more.
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| 2007 Dodge Caliber R/T AWD (Photo: Philippe Champoux, Auto123.com) |
Caliber R/T AWD: Interesting on paper, it performed below our expectations. The extra horsepower in the R/T are taxed by the additional weight of the all-wheel drive. Those who are hoping for a mini-Magnum will probably be disappointed. At $23,995, the Caliber R/T is expensive. The plastic dash, adequate in the SE, just doesn't belong in a car this costly. On the other hand, the ride is still pleasant, the equipment level is reasonable, and fuel consumption isn't higher than in other Calibers. Some folks at DaimlerChrysler told us that this model is spiking interest among regular Subaru buyers. That's not a bad thing, since the R/T's biggest competitor is the Impreza 2.5i Sport Wagon.
Conclusion |
| 2007 Dodge Caliber (Photo: Philippe Champoux, Auto123.com) |
The SE versions will please those who need room for not much money, and they're the ones that got our highest marks. Those who are looking for style and a higher level of equipment will be happy with the SXT versions. The R/T models are addressed to those who want the rarest version of the lineup, and they are safe vehicles with their all-wheel drive. We'd like to see a front-wheel drive R/T in the future, which would be less expensive.
The Caliber's competition shouldn't panic, because this car doesn't revolutionize the compact segment. However, DaimlerChrysler has made a giant step compared to the SX 2.0, and will steal a lot of sales from its adversaries.
