2010 Dodge Caliber: Noisy but nice

Things are looking up at the Chrysler Group as it recovers from last year's bankruptcy filing. Its finances look better, although it's still losing money. Its sales were 16 percent higher this year through November than a year earlier, and its market share was up, too. The redesigned Jeep Grand Cherokee looks to be a hit, and more new product is due in coming months.

Now controlled by Italy's Fiat, Chrysler still has problems to solve, including an overdependence upon sport utility vehicles and pickups at a time when gasoline prices are climbing again. But it seems to be moving in the right direction. This week's subject, the 2010 Dodge Caliber, is largely unchanged for 2011, and you might want to consider it for its fuel economy, top government safety ratings, friendly prices and the practicality of its station wagon shape.

The five-door, five-passenger front-wheel drive compact Caliber got a new interior for 2010 with materials that look and feel higher in quality. The old interior was one of Caliber's major shortcomings.

Another flaw, however, remains: noisy engines, whose racket is exacerbated by "continuously-variable" automatic transmissions, which allow more rise and fall of engine speed than conventional ones with fixed ratios. My tester had the smaller of two available engines, delivering 158 hp. The larger, 172-hp., 2.4-liter engine is the same as that in the Jeep Compass, which was discussed in this space Nov. 4 and which also was noisy.

The government estimates for fuel economy are 23 miles per gallon in city driving, 27 on highways with the 158-hp. engine, and I averaged just over 27 in a mix of local and highway travel. Nice.

Power is adequate. Once engine noise settles down, the cabin is fairly quiet and the ride is comfortable.

The suspension and steering are confidence-inspiring, but in the cheap "Express" version I sampled, there's too much sway in hard cornering. A "sport-tuned" suspension is offered in some versions. Another, relatively minor, flaw: The new instruments fitted for 2010 sometimes are obscured by glare.

For 2011, Calibers begin at $17,430 with freight.

Consumer Reports calls the Caliber "average" in reliability, which makes it better than most Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power and Associates also calls the Caliber about average in dependability. The federal government gives the Caliber five out of a possible five stars for frontal and side-impact protection.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety calls it "good" in frontal impacts but says the Caliber is "marginal" in side impacts unless the vehicle is equipped with optional chest-protecting side-impact bags.

2010 Dodge Caliber

Vehicle tested:

Engine:

2.0-liter, four-cylinder 158 hp.

Fuel:

Regular

Transmission:

Continuously-variable automatic, front-wheel drive

Safety:

Four air bags; front disc, rear drum brakes with anti-lock; tire pressure monitor; auto dimming rearview mirror; heated outside mirrors; fog lamps.

Place of assembly:

Belvidere, Ill.

Cargo room:

Rear seat backs up: 18.4 cubic feet; seat backs down: 47.4 cubic feet

EPA fuel economy estimates:

23 mpg city,

27 highway

Price as driven:

$20,050 with freight

Bottom line:

Friendly prices, average quality, nice ride, noisy engines.