By EWAN KENNEDY
28 August 2006

Those who have previously complained that all modern cars look the same now have something that’s very different. Because Dodge is back in Australia after a break of some 30 years, and has come up with something really special in the styling stakes. An all-new model called Caliber.

The radical body shape shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone because Dodge is part of the Chrysler group and that American company has set the automotive styling scene on fire in the last few years. First with the Chrysler PT Cruiser and later with the big-and-bold Chrysler 300C

The shape of the Caliber is somewhat confusing as it breaks new ground in the crossover field. At first glance it appears to be a 4WD, yet is simply a family hatchback. Therefore it’s a well-priced, practical machine for those wanting something that’s right out of the ordinary.

It’s not just the outside of the Dodge Caliber that has a fascinating look. The interior has a semi-retro theme that works nicely and certainly grabs attention.

There's less space inside the Caliber than we had anticipated. It’s certainly not cramped in absolute terms, but this is a quite a large car externally and we feel the space efficiency could be better.

Check if for yourself if your kids are in their teenage years by taking them along for your test drive. We reckon they will just love the shape of the new Dodge.

While we are on the family front, the kids will also love to road test (picnic test!) a fascinating optional feature ($1075) in the Caliber's tailgate. The stereo speakers (two of nine in the full Boston Acoustics sound system) on the inside of the rear hatch fold down and out when the hatch is open so you can direct sound to the outside of the car.

Also good news on the picnic front is the chilled glovebox that can hold up to four cans of drink.

And when it gets dark you will find a built-in torch sitting neatly in its charger above the rear load area.

Ride comfort is good and noise and vibration are generally nicely subdued. Handling is slightly softer than we like it when Caliber is fitted with its standard 17-inch wheels. When the optional 18-inch wheels are specified the car really sharpens up beautifully. It has nicely positive steering and telegraphs its intentions to the driver very quickly.

At this stage these big 18-inch wheels are only offered on the topline Caliber SX-T, but Dodge tells us it’s seriously considering them for other models as well. A wise move considering the average Aussie drivers’ love of a sporty feel in their cars.

At this stage, Caliber power comes from a 1.8-litre, 106 kW petrol engine with a five-speed manual gearbox; or a 2.0-litre 110 kW unit with a CVT (continuously variable transmission). Later, a 2.4-litre petrol engine and a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel will join the range to give buyers one of the biggest choices of all in this car class.

We managed a couple of hundred kilometres with each of the engines during the launch of the Caliber out of Melbourne. Some may find the performance of the 1.8-litre to be marginal, but perhaps that’s the rev-head in us coming out. The 2.0-litre engine is delightful, with a lot more useable torque, and the almost instantaneous reactions of the CVT made this Caliber a great drive.

Caliber is well priced in its market class, starting at $23,990 for the 1.8-litre manual. There's not only the aforementioned big choice of engines, but also plenty of different models from which to choose.

The Caliber range with prices (excluding on-road costs) is:
ST 1.8-litre: $23,990 (manual)
SX 1.8-litre: $25,990 (manual)
SX 2.0-litre: $28,490 (automatic)
SXT 1.8-litre: $27,490 (manual)
SXT 2.0-litre: $29,990 (automatic)