All Cars, All the Time

Dodge Caliber: The European Perspective

I've written up a couple of the stories on the Caliber. The first post was about the less than stellar rankings that the Caliber has notched up in comparison tests. As a followup to that post, a second story covered the sales success that Chrysler seems to be having with the Caliber. Now I'd like to present a third angle: Auto Express. There is a short blurb on the Caliber in issue number 907. AE found the "boot" to be small for the class, but found plenty of space for the front and rear passengers. They liked the iPod holder and fold out sound system, but wondered why more money wasn't spent on quality components. For example AE found the plastics hard and cheap and too many sharp edges. Confirming what we knew from other comparisons, AE found the Caliber to be nowhere as agile as the Golf, Focus and Civic. What did catch their eye, however, was the price! Entry level models start at £11,495 while the flagship diesel is £15,430. AE thinks that at this price, the Caliber should do well.

It's a bit of a bummer to me that this Chrysler has to use price to compensate for quality. I don't understand why Chrysler didn't spend a few more $ on the interior bits. Especially since DCX is spreading the cost out over so many models, the Compass, Patriot and Caliber, and selling it in so many markets. From the first moment thaofficialal photos were available people were carping about the interior. Most manufacturer's are wising up about the importance of interiors, Chrysler's own Ralph Gilles admitted that the 300 needs to be improved in that area. I read a story where a supplier was quoted as saying that most interiors are a mere $50 or so away from being vastly improved.