Test Drive Dodge Caliber since 2006 Hatchback

All photos of Dodge Caliber since 2006

Separated by the ocean

Dodge Caliber

Five-door hatchback as a serial debut in Detroit in 2006. In the USA, sell the all-wheel drive version, in Europe from the spring of 2006, front-wheel drive.
Engines: in Russia gasoline 1,82.0 l (149156 hp).
Transmission: 5-speed mechanical (1.8 l), stepless variator (2 l).
Features: P0, P1, P2, for SXT P1, P2.
Price of basic complete sets: є17 70023 100 ($ 22,30029 100).

Volkswagen Golf.
The fifth generation of the model debuted in 2003. All-wheel drive version 4motion a year later. Release with third-and-five-door hatchbacks.
Engines: In Russia, gasoline 1.62.0 l (102150 hp), diesel 1.92 l (105140 hp).
Gearboxes: 5- and 6-speed mechanical, 6-speed automata.
The configuration: Trendline, ComfortLine, Sportline.
The price of basic complete sets: $ 17,90027 300.

Ford Focus C-Max

The prototype of the five-seater mini-Ven was presented in the fall of 2002. The serial car based on Ford-Focus of the second generation started in the spring of 2003.
Engines: In Russia, gasoline 1.62 liters (115145 hp), diesel 1.6 l (110 hp).
Transmission: 5- and 6-speed mechanical.
Required: Ambient, Trend, Ghia.
The price of basic complete sets: $ 17,95024 340.

While he went to the cash station of gas stations, three of the red Dodge was already three. With interest, bypass the car, trying through the glass to consider the salon. Of course, in the original stylist, you will not refuse the caliber. Due to the combination of a massive radiator grille, chopped feed and fade wings, a rather large car looks very big.
The American stands out not only in the city stream. The opponents on the test we were picked up especially picky. After all, formally caliber slightly conversation model C-class, but on the salon is clearly close to them. Road clearance like a different sort of fair, but four-wheel drive only for Americans. A stounted car helped reader responses to material about the presentation of the caliber (SM, 2006, No. 6). The car was interested in those who looked after the C-class models. For consideration of interest we brought borderline models: three-door Volkswagen Golf and five-seater Ven Ford Focus C-Mah.
Dodge-caliber

Looking at such a monumental car, wait for not the luxurious, but solid trim of the cabin, a rich configuration. Meanwhile, the details of the light interior as if from different machines, and maybe the era. Rough plastic is too hard, ringing on a slight tapping. Under the plywood lid of the topless box, black heads of self-tapping screws. What kind of cars are they from? Well, obviously not from this, where the skin on the seats and the steering wheel.
Landing spacious, free. Seat comfortable. But to raise the back, for some reason you need to pull it on yourself, while holding the lever at the same time. Rotating handle is too road for a car for 22 thousand green?
Why are the turning on the air conditioner and glass heating buttons so meather and were attached close to the fan handle? The right-hand drive switch is clearly overloaded.

Headlights, fog perspective, adjustment of the brightness of the instrument combination wherever nothing went, but also the ring for the inclusion of plafimon in this company in my opinion, bust. By the way, to splash with water to the windshield, you must not pull the handle, but to push away from yourself. Original, so in everything!
Do you like the current Chrysler design with powerful sidewalls and low windows? I, in principle, is also not against but the fee for it is mediocre visibility. In the salon mirror, too, little is visible. But lateral cancellations. The siblings of the design will be the side passengers in the back sofa, if between them the third. Heads will inevitably manage to the ceiling under a spectacular bevel of the roof. However, five in such cars are rarely driving. In addition to group journeys in Calley, it does not have a small, not at all for the growth of the car, the trunk.

On the move, Dodge Calibr is no less controversial. Engine power is enough. With a calm ride there is no need to think how the variator works there. However, it is worth pressing the pedal to the floor of the tachometer arrow flows flattering at 6000, but the car, already exploded, is thinking for a couple of seconds and only then rushes to overtaking. You can accelerate somewhat faster, go through virtual transmissions manually. But here you need some habit: the pedal is better not to put pressure on the floor, but keep 30004000 rpm.
On a flat road, the caliber floats quite comfortably. True, even here it is sometimes necessary to twist, turning the steering wheel on too noticeable angles. It is worth going to a more wavy track, Dodge and there is a cargo habits at all: swinging in all directions, work steering permanently. At the turns noticeably passed, trying to leave the trajectory. The only plus of an American high waves and the grooves fear should not be: under the outlet line of 195 mm, under the engine all 210! You can only go to the cottage without a feet. Only he is still not a dachank: led for family and skarba. Rather, his element of the highway motorway, where there is no crossroads, do not go out to overtake on the oncoming or refueling the machine on the trajectory after another road wave. Paradox: Just for America, the car makes all-wheel drive. Who are you, Mr. Dodge?
Volkswagen Golf

Yellow round lemimple do not hide with a large five-door car? And here is not! The wheel is not closer at all, the entrance is no less convenient. True, the landing in the golf is quite low, besides, you have to overcome the developed sidewall of the chair in the standard of sports. However, it strains only rather fat.
Of course, it is not very convenient to climb back. But taking this work to himself, you find out that threesome there are not bad: there are enough knees, they do not rest in the ceiling. Still anterior armchair returned to the original. The fact that he needs to regulate again, seated passengers back, for such a well-thought-out car strangely. But the trunk behind the spins of passengers is more spacious and comfortable in shape than in the dodge.
The dynamics of the 2-liter Volkswagen is beautiful. Especially if you translate the automatic transmission lever to S (Sport). Then the machine changes the transfer faster than usual and does not go to the sixth. The need to move into manual mode does not occur.
The operation of the suspension and steering for this class is perhaps the reference. An obedient German is responding quickly and clearly on the slightest swigs. But this pleasant feature commemorate on not too smooth roads. A very rigid suspension transmits information about each batch not only the body, but also through with

pull seat driver. By the way, the chair provides a convenient, correct, but too strict landing. Perhaps I would not choose such for protracted travels, especially on Russian roads.
Good brakes. Actually, all tested showed very good results on this part. But on Volkswagen, driving a slowdown is easier than on Dodge and Ford: the machine is responding to the pedal exactly as I expected.
At first glance, climate control is the dignity in front of primitive air conditioning. But on compact cars, with an outdoor temperature, about + 25c in the cabin you need to set a delibeous cold of degrees 18, otherwise it will be approximately as outside. This also applies to Volkswagen, and to Ford. Therefore, I would fully arranged and cheaper air conditioning.
Still, the class, which includes Volkswagen Golf, is still not in vain, still call him name. However, the question corresponds to the advantage of the price greater than the value of many classmates, I think, not everyone will answer in the affirmative.

Ford Focus S-MAX
To understand what a mini-Ven compact class is strong, start acquaintance of course, from the trunk. Here is really space! And if you fold the seat of the airfield! The middle part of the sofa can be turned into a table or remove, and side apart. True, I would sacrifice the volume for the sake of full-size spare. This is not an obsession. I just imagine well what kilometers in two hundred from civilization change the wheel, which, which is good, is not subject to repair. Even if this happens once a few years, memory and respect for the normal store will remain for a long time.
In the back seat is not bad for three, only the ceiling is low. By the way, here is an example of the fact that the established stamps, let's say, the mini-Ven is high, not always and not quite correct. Nevertheless, Ford honestly earned an increased assessment for the transformation of the cabin. Front cozy, convenient, even somehow homely. Good chairs that have been clear from the first seconds of the management authorities. It's nice that the onboard computer communicates in Russian.

From such a car, we are waiting for a leisurely, as if the bus fullness. However, with a 2-liter engine frisky and assembled, quite passenger car. Motor allows not part with transmissions. But turning on the transfer down, you can make a very rapid overtaking. By the way, the operation of the switching process is better not to call gears turn on easy and clearly.
Swing even on corrugated (to put it mildly!) Roads are practically no, as well as banks in the turns. On the suspension and steering designers have worked on glory. Steering response are not as sleepy as that of Dodge, but not as sharp as that of a Volkswagen. That's right, because this is not a sport coupe Focus Although there is a common feature: the ground clearance of 120 mm under the motor protection to the family van is very little!
Still, Ford Focus C-Max is perhaps the most balanced of the three experimental, versatile vehicle. Including in terms of price.

On different banks
So after all, who are you, Mr. Dodge? Full answer, we have not found. Obviously only that a representative of a novice, not quite familiar world. , In which the broad, straight highway ride smoothly and steadily, McDonald's is considered a restaurant, children's Adventure is referred to the serious cinema, and even speak a little bit different, not quite English.
In my opinion, despite all the differences Volkswagen and Ford expressed themselves much clearer. Fans overseas culture, lifestyle and cars, of course, have the right to disagree with this.

Sergey Kanunnikov:
Cars that do not fit into the usual framework and laws not only verifiable figures, but the more tacit, not run, and will never find adherents. It is important that the second is clearly aware of the advantages and disadvantages first.

Dodge Caliber American is not only the appearance, but also the nature. Him in like SMOOTH, wide freeway or irregularities, to overcome very slowly.
Overall rating 7.3
+ Expressive, original appearance, very high ground clearance.
- mediocre visibility, small trunk, sluggish steering tendency to the buildup.

Volkswagen Golf MAKING CONCEPTS German car: fast, rational, but soundly rid of, obedient and roads.
Overall rating 8.1
+ Excellent controllability, good dynamics, excellent brakes, spacious interior.
- Harsh suspension, uncomfortable front seats are moved, the high price.

Ford Focus C-Max family car BALANCED, equally convenient for travel and city.
Overall rating 8.1
+ Cozy, comfortable interior, huge trunk, high-torque engine.
- Mal ground clearance dokatka in the car for travel nonsense.