2011 Dodge Caliber Iowa

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The front-wheel drive 2011 Caliber, which represents Dodge in the hatchback segment, is available in five lifestyle trims: Express, Mainstreet, Heat, Rush and Uptown. The Dodge Caliber carries over with minimal changes for 2011. The high-performance SRT4 model has been dropped from the lineup last year.  Electronic stability control, including traction control and brake assist, is now standard on all but Express trim levels, while the Mainstreet gets a 6-way power driver's seat. Additionally, the optional navigation system gains real-time traffic information. The 2011 Dodge Caliber has six new available exterior paint colors, a new navigation/audio system with Sirius Travel Link, retuned steering, available 18-inch wheels on the Uptown model, red and blue stitching on seats in the Rush model, a standard six-way power driver's seat on the Mainstreet model and standard electronic stability control on the Heat, Mainstreet, Rush and Uptown models. The Caliber comes with a unique-for-its-class driver's knee airbag designed to keep the driver positioned properly for the other primary restraints. An electronic stability system is now standard on Heat, Mainstreet, Rush and Uptown models, and not available on the Express.Many of the options found on the upper trim levels are offered as options on the lower trims. A sunroof and a navigation system are also available.

New Caliber Trim Levels

The entry-level Express model comes standard with 15-inch steel wheels, air-conditioning, cloth upholstery, full power accessories, cruise control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, Bluetooth connectivity and an AM/FM/CD stereo with auxiliary audio/USB jacks and satellite radio.

The next trim up, Mainstreet, gets 17-inch alloy wheels, a touring suspension and foglights. Interior upgrades include a tachometer, fold-flat front passenger seat and 60/40-split-folding and reclining rear seatbacks.

The Uptown model gets you rear disc brakes, automatic climate control, leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver seat, heated front seats and a premium nine-speaker Boston Acoustics audio system with steering-wheel-mounted controls and flip-down speakers in the liftgate.

The sporty Caliber Heat takes the Mainstreet model's equipment list and adds 18-inch polished alloy wheels, sport-tuned suspension and steering, rear disc brakes (versus drums) and specialized interior trim.

Building on the Caliber Heat is the Rush, which adds a larger 2.4-liter engine, 18-inch chrome-clad alloy wheels and a rear spoiler. Inside, the Rush also gets a few more creature comforts including automatic climate control and a premium audio system with a touchscreen interface and 30-gigabyte hard drive.

Design of the 2011 Caliber

The Caliber is clearly a Dodge, thanks to the crosshair grille. The Caliber has large wheels for a car of its size and class. 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. The trademark crosshair grille dominates the front end; depending on model, this is either body color or trimmed in chrome. Massive headlights are notched into the leading corners of the front fenders. A pouting lower lip-like bumper separates the grille and headlights from a slimmer, lower air intake and (uplevel) fog lamps. The roofline arcs cleanly from its junction with the hood just aft of the front wheel wells over the side door windows to pinch off at the tail end of the rear quarter glass. The back end pulls from the discontinued Magnum, with a steeply raked backlight beneath a roof-mounted spoiler and above a mostly upright lower liftgate, employing a hatchback style arguing against any comparisons with a traditional station wagon. A relatively short rear overhang and oversize taillight housings add credence to the argument.

Inside the Dodge Caliber

Every Caliber is equipped with air conditioning, cruise control, a CD player with MP3 capability, satellite radio, iPod control and UConnect wireless connectivity. Additional trim-dependent features include 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels, a power sunroof, fog lamps, heated front seats and leather upholstery, along with a multimedia centre boasting a hard drive-based navigation system with 30 gigabytes of internal memory, a touch-screen LCD display and DVD video capability.

This compact four-door hatchback that replaced the brand's entry-level Neon sedan back in 2007 has some strong points in its cabin, including almost 50 cubic feet of cargo space plus several unique bells and whistles like a chilled glovebox beverage cooler, a built-in rechargeable LED flashlight and a premium stereo with rear speakers that can be flipped down and pointed outside the open liftgate.

2011 Dodge Caliber Power

For 2011, the Caliber is powered by either a 2.0- or 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. The standard 2.0-liter comes with a five-speed manual transmission. The Caliber is available with a manual or a choice of two continuously variable automatic transmissions. Front disc and rear drum brakes are standard, but all-disc brakes are optional. All base engines deliver their power smoothly, with no disruptive surges or flat spots. Pedal layout is decent, and there's a dead pedal where a driver can rest the left foot on long trips. The suspension delivers a decent ride quality, and handling is adequate enough for daily driving.

Conclusions

Overall, consumers enjoy the 2011 Dodge Caliber for its fun, well-rounded package, versatility of a sport utility vehicle, and value and fuel-efficiency of a compact car. Safety features include anti-lock brakes, active anti-whiplash front head restraints, front airbags, an inflatable driver knee blocker, and side curtain airbags for front and rear occupants; an electronic stability control system, including traction control and brake assist, is standard on all but the Express. The Caliber earned perfect scores in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests, including five stars in both frontal and side impacts. Visit the official Dodge Caliber website for the latest updates on this vehicle.