The Dodge Caliber was never highly regarded by the UK's motoring press, and while it was never especially competitive in the new car market, this Focus rival can make a lot more sense as a used buy. Well equipped and spacious, the Caliber is good value but not that refined or competitive dynamically. The big question mark is over its durability; many owners have found that mechanical parts need to be replaced way before they'd expect, so if you're a high-mileage driver, you might find investing in a cheap Caliber is a false economy.
Key Dates
4/06: The Caliber reaches UK showrooms with 1.8 petrol or 2.0 Volkswagen turbodiesel engines. There are S, SE, SXT and SXT Sport trim levels for each powerplant, with even the entry-level cars coming with decent equipment levels.
9/09: A facelifted Caliber is unveiled in the US, with a 2.2 diesel engine and upgraded interior. It's meant to come to the UK, but the car is canned before the revised car gets here.
Checklist
- Check there's no slip in the clutch, as premature wear isn't unusual.
- The front suspension can also wear quickly, so make sure the dampers aren't shot.
- Brake discs don't last long either, while pads can also wear quickly.
- The windows can squeak as they go up and down; permanent fixes tend to prove elusive.
- The electrics and electronics can be temperamental, with dealers seemingly unable to fix some faults.
- If replacement parts are needed, they can take a while to arrive now Dodge is defunct in the UK.
We Like
- Value
- Equipment
- Practicality
- Economy of diesel
- Unusual
We Don't Like
- Lack of durability
- Cheap interior
- Mediocre dynamics
- Poor visibility