Dodge Caliber vs. Honda Fit

By KRISTIAN ALEXIS

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It's no secret that practicality and space efficiency are sometimes scant in automobiles. And as cars on the road get smaller and smaller, there is an even greater need for interior room. In the North American market, the hatchback goes widely unsung, and this can usually be heavily attributed to an overall deficiency of visual appeal -- very rarely does a highly attractive hatch appear on the streets.

However, two automakers tossing their hats into the ring with attempts to redefine the genre are Dodge, with its '08 rugged and practical Caliber, and Honda, with its hip and spunky Fit. Dodge elected to reflect the avant-garde styling of its flagships -- a cross between a shrunken SUV and minivan -- with the intent of filling the size gap between Toyota's Matrix and the Mazda5, while Honda opted to extend a more futuristic design with a size and look that falls squarely between the Toyota Yaris and Nissan Versa. What both Dodge and Honda have done is create a vehicle that adheres to the public's need for interior space and comfort without the sheer size and gas mileage associated with larger vehicles. Offering both practicality and a look that offers something a bit different from the competition, both the Caliber and the Fit are a perfect match for our head-to-head today. But, which modern hatch will hit the mark this time? Let's find out ...

See 2008 Dodge Caliber Photos

Dodge Caliber
MSRP (base): $14,560
Engine: 1.8-liter, 16-valve, DOHC, 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 148 hp @ 6,500 rpm
Torque: 125 lb-ft @ 5,200 rpm
MPG: City: 24; Highway: 29

Performance - 14/20
Dodge's most recent edition of the Caliber, in base trim, is bolted onto a unique scaffold from the Chrysler group and exits the Detroit factory solely available in FWD. The front suspension is a composite that falls somewhere between rigid and loose, and experiences a fair share of body roll when pushed. The SE and higher-trim SXT muster what they can from the modest 1.8-liter, DOHC, 16-valve, 4-cylinder engine. The result is an amassed 148 hp @ 6,500 rpm, and an accompanying 125 lb-ft of torque @ 5,200 rpm. Unfortunately, the dynamics of this hatchback don't make an appearance until late in the powerband -- perhaps a little too late. In fact, the engine output doesn't seem to properly correlate to the Caliber's curb weight. Shy of the SRT-4 package, consumers would do well not to place bets on the drag strip as the acceleration has been cited as quite sluggish. This lazy five-door has a five-speed manual transmission or optional auto-stick, and will creep to the quarter mile in just over 18 seconds.

Exterior design - 16/20
The Dodge Caliber, for all its under-hood deficiencies, boasts one of the most aggressive sketches in its class and lends evidence to the adage that you can't judge a book by its cover. The design is a well-pronounced derivative of Dodge's most popular trucks. The muscular, stout fenders with modern lines, black plastic molding, jewel-like head- and taillight clusters, and overall unusual proportions blend together to form a hybrid shape that falls somewhere between a traditional hatchback and crossover vehicle. And if you can look past the bulbous back-end, the Caliber really does have an appealing, manly look.

Interior design - 5/10
Delving into the Caliber's cabin you will find yourself surrounded by cheap cloth fabrics and an overall, under-constructed design. The overbearing use of abrasively rough plastics that don't sit flush with their backings and the absence of a telescoping steering wheel earn the Caliber low marks in this category. Amidst all of the aesthetic flaws, however, there are a few marvels to behold: The forward-sliding center armrest accommodates pilots of different proportions, an auxiliary power outlet allows for iPod and PDA hook-ups, a removable flashlight in the cargo hold makes for quick finds in the dark, and the actively chilled cup holders located above the glove box mean your drinks stay chilly (but only when you have the air conditioning on). The 60/40-split rear bench has ample legroom for all occupants with a moderate level of lower-back support. There's also 18.5 cubic-feet of cargo area, which balloons to 48 cubic feet when the seats are folded.

Sound system/goodies - 6/10
The multimedia outfittings of the 2008 Dodge Caliber straddle the fence, but ultimately find themselves on the more favorable side of things. From the motherboard, the cues seem standard enough with a basic AM/FM radio setup, with an MP3 jack that can be scrapped for an audiophile system with a higher trim level, or replaced by a six-disc in-dash CD changer at the expense of sacrificing the auxiliary MP3 jack. Working your way toward the back puts the premium sound of nine Boston Acoustic (complete with subwoofer) speakers. Chrysler's unique Music Gate speakers, also available on higher-trimmed models, broadcast the hatch's wattage externally from the flip-down speakers hidden in the hatch door. Much of the Caliber's redemption lies in its entertainment package, however, Dodge has yet to equip the Caliber with a navigation system.

Bang for your buck - 15/20
Disappointingly, and based on its abundance of mediocre reviews, the latest incarnation of the Caliber places 11th out of 12 in the Affordable Compact Wagons bracket according to U.S. News & World Report, being narrowly edged out by the Chevy HHR for last place honors. Granted, the Caliber isn't as fancy or high-tech as some of the vehicles out there, but it still does the job and for a great price. Plus, the exterior design of the Caliber has just the right amount of "different" to make it stand out on the road, in a good way.

See 2008 Dodge Caliber Photos

Driving experience - 14/20
The Dodge Caliber has been called a "solid daily driver" by some auto reviewers, and if by "solid" they mean providing none-to-little driving excitement, then we really can't disagree. Not only is ABS not a standard feature, but this hatch plows through corners as if riding in a truck, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, except for the fact that it's not a truck. Factor in the unpleasant body-roll and the all-too-tight turning radius of the rack and pinion steering and it practically forces you to look at other options in market. But then again, would you really be pushing your Caliber to such extremes on the road to even feel such shortcomings? For the market at which this Dodge is aimed, we doubt those drivers would ever find the glitches we did, and for that reason we'll agree that, yes, the Caliber really is a solid, practical daily driver -- but nothing more.

Overall score - 70/100
Perhaps the Dodge Caliber should have been given another name, something a little less lofty. While it means well, and definitely tries hard, the Caliber leaves far too many gaps in its engineering and design to be filled by competitors, such as the Honda Fit.

Next Page: 2008 Honda Fit

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315 comments

Goodgrendl 01:57:48 PM May 17 2008

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Dodge stepped on their family jewels when they dropped the Cherokee Sport for the Liberty. Idiots!

I have 230K on my '95 sport. It is a mountain goat. Next to a wrangler, it will go anywhere. Finally they came out with the Patriot to try to cover the mistake. I understand it will 4X4 well and gets up to 28 mpg. The Caliber is for the street. Sorry but you need to get off road to know real trouble. However, for all WX commuting, the AWD Caliber looks good. I'd love to see a Patriot with all it's room sporting a 2.2 TDI engine. I'd expect 35 mpg even while churning all that grease in 4WD and torque to die for, just the ticket when rock crawling or pulling a patrol car out of the ditch in a foot of snow.

GaryCraven 01:26:49 PM May 11 2008

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Continues .
They cut this off. I Love Our Jeep Compass which is the same base as Caliber witha large 4 cylinder CVT tranny and 4X4 SUS as they call it. In checking the fuel tanks we've use we got 25.0 in town before leaving and 28.9 on Interstate round ribon trip. Not bad at all. But here's the thing I really wanted in but was cut.
I saw a Smart Two on the Interstate yesterday. There were 2 people in it and going with the traffic at around 70MPH. Never saw a real one before. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to get an Electric Car around this size just for local trips that could be re-charge at home in a few hour.

Bwaaderant 12:17:38 PM May 11 2008

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Want fun to drive, looks, and excellent gas mileage? Try a Porsche 944! Yeah, they're old, and not made anymore, but my 1986 944 got 28 mpg city, and 34 highway and with it's huge gas tank I could get over 600 miles per tank. When I sold it in 2003 it had over 250,000 miles and not a rattle or squeak, still as tight as it was when it came from the factory. Talking to other 944 owners showed that mine was the norm and not some freak from the factory.

Rad619 12:13:05 PM May 11 2008

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I have owned Dodges since 1957, I aquired my fist new Dodge in 65'. I have never had a lemon. Except for one that was totalled by a drunk running a stop sign, I have managed better than 100,000 miles on each; one I sold when it had 160,000 miles on it. So considering a different brand would be a difficult choice for me. The Honda would need to be rather spectacular to make me change; though Honda appears to have a good dependability record as well.

Fovans 11:56:06 AM May 11 2008

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WOW!! I'm jealous. Bought a Honda Fit Sport 5 spd about 6 weeks ago and only get 34 city (EPA 28). Combined city and highway is 40-42 mpg. Don't know what highway only will be but you can guess(EPA 34). Prius will give you better mileage for an addditional $8-9k. Why buy a gas hog and then complain about the high cost of gasoline? Why are Harley sales dropping when you can get 50 mpg? I'm paying for the Fit (owe 11,000) with the money I save from not driving my '03 GMC pickup--which I love.

PAWE37 11:44:35 AM May 11 2008

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We bought a 2007 Dodge Caliber SXT in April, 2006, and have been more than pleased with it. We're not really "car" people as we have a conversion van and have always driven motor homes. But we wanted something economical for running around town and it has been great. We get up to 32 mpg in city and 38 plus on the road. We'll be driving it on our next 3200 mile trip, considering it will cost half as much or less than it will cost to drive the van.

Bancheesez 11:36:53 AM May 11 2008

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Dodge caliber-- rented one twice , great car,handles great, a very pleasent experience. i would buy one in a heartbeat. never knew it was so cheap. its a lot of car in 08 for 15k. Good stuff for once in a otherwise lousy world!

Cycleman52756 10:17:59 AM May 11 2008

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I own a 2007 Fit and it cost me $14,520. I bought the 5 speed knowing it would get better then its EPA and it does every day. I get 36 to 38 arround town and on its one long trip with less then 1,000 miles on it I got 43 miles per gallon at 70 to 75 miles per hour. I put 2 bicycles inside and all our gear for a weekend of riding and am smiling everytime I fill my Fit. I actually did look at the Caliber when my motherinlaw needed a new car and had to laugh at the supposed "GOOD GAS MILEAGE" we drove in to the dealership with my wifes 2006 Honda Civic. When I told them that we were looking for a care that got gas mileage that matched the Civic ,they recommended the Caliber< When I laughed at the GOOD Gas Milage rating and told them her Honda got 37 -45 they said OH ITS a HYBRID, it is not it is a regular engine 5 speed . I actually went out to the car and got my pad that I keep track of the Gas mileage and had them figure it out as they did not belive me. The big 3 do not have a clue a

Tylerchristensen 07:57:14 AM May 11 2008

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We leased the '07' R/T AWD model when they first came out in '06'. We live in a northern state and the five or six times in the winter when the plows have not showed up yet and you need to get to work it handled the snow very well. Everyones complaining about the cornering and it confuses me. This is not a sports car. Good gas mileage, reliable in extreme conditions, and looks unique makes us believers. we will buy the lease out and own it.