2011 Dodge Caliber has six new available exterior paint colors

Four-cylinder engines are the Caliber's calling card. When it comes to fuel economy, the Dodge Caliber earns a middling score. It is rated at 23/31 mpg for the base engine and five-speed manual gearbox, and 23/29 mpg for the larger 2.4-liter and manual. Flexibility is the Caliber's forte, with its large cabin, supportive seats and large hatchback opening. Safety lags, since stability control is not offered on the base model.

The Dodge Caliber is a five-seat, four-door hatchback. The Caliber comes in Express, Mainstreet, Uptown, Heat and Rush trim levels.
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 2011 Dodge Caliber receives improved steering feel, additional functions for the navigation system and standard stability control for most trim levels.
Disappointingly, the Dodge Caliber lacks the lively performance characteristic of this category.
The 2011 Dodge Caliber is a compact four-door hatchback offered in five trim levels. Stepping up to the Mainstreet trim level adds 17-inch alloy wheels, a chrome grille, a sportier suspension, foglights, a tachometer, a power-adjustable driver seat, a fold-flat front passenger seat, reclining rear seatbacks and a rechargeable flashlight.

The Uptown model gets you rear disc brakes (versus drums), automatic climate control, leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, 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 Dodge Caliber Heat takes the Mainstreet model's equipment list and adds 18-inch polished alloy wheels, chrome exterior trim, sport-tuned suspension and steering, rear disc brakes (versus drums) and specialized cloth interior trim.

Building on the Dodge Caliber Heat is the Rush, which adds a larger 2.4-liter engine, 18-inch chrome-clad alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, automatic climate control, leather upholstery and a premium audio system with a touchscreen interface and 30-gigabyte hard drive.

The front-wheel-drive 2011 Dodge Caliber is offered with a choice of two different four-cylinder engines. A 2.0-liter engine rated at 158 horsepower and 141 pound-feet of torque is standard on all trim levels except the Rush. The CVT with manually controlled simulated stepped gears is offered on the Heat and Rush as an option.

The 2.0-liter engine returns EPA estimates of 24 mpg city/32 mpg highway and 27 mpg combined with the manual transmission, and 23/27/24 mpg with the CVT.
Standard safety features for the 2011 Caliber include a driver-side knee airbag, side curtain airbags, active front head restraints and antilock brakes (rear drums for the Express and Mainstreet, four-wheel discs for the other trims). Stability control isn't available on the Express but is standard on the remaining trim levels. Front-seat side airbags are offered as options for all but the Express trim.

Among competing hatchbacks and crossovers, the 2011 Dodge Caliber's interior ranks midpack. One word to describe how the 2011 Dodge Caliber drives: mediocre.