4th place: 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4
If you're looking for a Hot Hatch to draw attention with, don't look any further. The SRT4 is the looker of the group and the car that drew the highest marks for its menacing bodywork. With a plethora of scoops, lumps and spoilers, and with those gorgeous 19-inch alloys, this Caliber is all about power and speed.
The SRT4 packs a turbocharged 2.4-litre engine, which belts out 285 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. That's enough to make the Dodge the quickest car of test, reaching 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds and claiming the quarter-mile championship with a time of 15.1 seconds at 151 km/h. The SRT4 is the hardest car of the quartet to launch; drop the clutch and keep both hands on the wheel, because you'll be in torque-steer city in no time.
But beyond straight-line thrust, the Caliber SRT4 feels like a work in progress compared to the other contenders here. The steering lacks precision and includes a noticeable on-center dead spot; the wheel itself is too bulky in our hands to encourage sporty driving.
Inside, fit and finish is underwhelming, and strange banging noises were heard from underneath the front end when we'd push the car hard through a corner. The 200-watt Kicker subwoofer, part of the $1,625 SRT Livin' Loud sound package, inconveniently hooks on the back of the rear seatback and vibrates; crank up the base, though, and you might just shatter the rear window.
The Caliber SRT4 has two advantages over its competitors here; first, the extroverted styling is sure to please a younger crowd which are probably the target audience. Second is price; starting at $24,995, the SRT4 is thousands less than the other Hot Hatches. However, for extra refinement, we're willing to shell out a higher monthly payment.
"The Caliber SRT4 reminds me of the Pony Cars of the '60s and '70s; lots of muscle but not much refinement." -Luc Gagné
If you're looking for a Hot Hatch to draw attention with, don't look any further. The SRT4 is the looker of the group and the car that drew the highest marks for its menacing bodywork. With a plethora of scoops, lumps and spoilers, and with those gorgeous 19-inch alloys, this Caliber is all about power and speed.
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The SRT4 packs a turbocharged 2.4-litre engine, which belts out 285 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. That's enough to make the Dodge the quickest car of test, reaching 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds and claiming the quarter-mile championship with a time of 15.1 seconds at 151 km/h. The SRT4 is the hardest car of the quartet to launch; drop the clutch and keep both hands on the wheel, because you'll be in torque-steer city in no time.
But beyond straight-line thrust, the Caliber SRT4 feels like a work in progress compared to the other contenders here. The steering lacks precision and includes a noticeable on-center dead spot; the wheel itself is too bulky in our hands to encourage sporty driving.
Inside, fit and finish is underwhelming, and strange banging noises were heard from underneath the front end when we'd push the car hard through a corner. The 200-watt Kicker subwoofer, part of the $1,625 SRT Livin' Loud sound package, inconveniently hooks on the back of the rear seatback and vibrates; crank up the base, though, and you might just shatter the rear window.
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The Caliber SRT4 has two advantages over its competitors here; first, the extroverted styling is sure to please a younger crowd which are probably the target audience. Second is price; starting at $24,995, the SRT4 is thousands less than the other Hot Hatches. However, for extra refinement, we're willing to shell out a higher monthly payment.
"The Caliber SRT4 reminds me of the Pony Cars of the '60s and '70s; lots of muscle but not much refinement." -Luc Gagné
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