Reasonable ride, great handling
HHR SS's slammed suspension and huge wheels enable cornering at up to 0.86 g, according to GM. Of course, such handling from a tall wagon requires extra stiff suspension components--so the ride can get noisy or even downright jarring on certain surfaces.
Thing is, it loves to rip up corners with quick steering and plenty of grip. On smooth roadways, wind and road noise are kept reasonably in check, too. Don't listen to how the HHR SS looks--it's seriously fun to toss around. Braking is impressively powerful as well, though lacking somewhat in pedal feel.
A heck of an engine
HHR SS's powerplant is a legend in online compact-tuner discussion boards. It's a two-litre mill, the supercharger now dropped in favor of an intercooled turbo that helps net 260 horsepower.
The engine's lovely orchestra of burping, hissing and puffing means that it's hard not to drive the pants off of it--and doing so, you'll experience fierce acceleration and a great exhaust note that are only let down by a stiff, rubbery shifter. The engine delivers decent mileage in any situation, with heavy footed driving averaging just over 10 L/100 km. That's about the same as the smaller, less-powerful VW GTI.
The tester came with an optional limited-slip differential, intended to help the car accelerate in a straight line with confidence. The tires don't stand a chance if the road is wet, but in the dry, they begin to squeal delightfully once the turbo gets to work in first gear.
There's always an impression that the engine is delivering a tick more power than the tires can put down. This keeps things exciting and reminds drivers to leave both hands on the wheel as the steering squirms about.
Launch control, no lift shifting, 160,000-km warranty
Two-handed driving is especially important when using the car's 'Competitive Mode', which features a tempting 'Launch Control' light that activates whenever you stop, as well as a built-in 'No Lift Shift' function. These are tools which can help drivers misbehave when nobody's looking, or lay down consistently fast drag-strip passes.
HHR SS's slammed suspension and huge wheels enable cornering at up to 0.86 g, according to GM. Of course, such handling from a tall wagon requires extra stiff suspension components--so the ride can get noisy or even downright jarring on certain surfaces.
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| HHR SS's slammed suspension and huge wheels enable cornering at up to 0.86 g. |
Thing is, it loves to rip up corners with quick steering and plenty of grip. On smooth roadways, wind and road noise are kept reasonably in check, too. Don't listen to how the HHR SS looks--it's seriously fun to toss around. Braking is impressively powerful as well, though lacking somewhat in pedal feel.
A heck of an engine
HHR SS's powerplant is a legend in online compact-tuner discussion boards. It's a two-litre mill, the supercharger now dropped in favor of an intercooled turbo that helps net 260 horsepower.
The engine's lovely orchestra of burping, hissing and puffing means that it's hard not to drive the pants off of it--and doing so, you'll experience fierce acceleration and a great exhaust note that are only let down by a stiff, rubbery shifter. The engine delivers decent mileage in any situation, with heavy footed driving averaging just over 10 L/100 km. That's about the same as the smaller, less-powerful VW GTI.
The tester came with an optional limited-slip differential, intended to help the car accelerate in a straight line with confidence. The tires don't stand a chance if the road is wet, but in the dry, they begin to squeal delightfully once the turbo gets to work in first gear.
There's always an impression that the engine is delivering a tick more power than the tires can put down. This keeps things exciting and reminds drivers to leave both hands on the wheel as the steering squirms about.
Launch control, no lift shifting, 160,000-km warranty
Two-handed driving is especially important when using the car's 'Competitive Mode', which features a tempting 'Launch Control' light that activates whenever you stop, as well as a built-in 'No Lift Shift' function. These are tools which can help drivers misbehave when nobody's looking, or lay down consistently fast drag-strip passes.
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| The engine delivers decent mileage in any situation. |