Dewey Dodge Chrysler Jeep
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2011 Dodge Caliber IowaThe Dodge Caliber carries over with minimal changes for 2011. Following up on last year?s interior redo, Dodge's changes include the addition of six new paint colors with whimsical names like Mango Tango and Redline 2. Stability control becomes standard on all but the Express trim level, and the optional navigation system gains Sirius traffic information. A new 18-inch chrome wheel design is available for Uptown models. Electronic stability control, including traction control and brake assist, is now standard on all but Express trim levels, while the Mainstreet gets a 6-way power driver's seat. Additionally, the optional navigation system gains real-time traffic information. The front-wheel drive Caliber is available in five "lifestyle" trims: Express, Mainstreet, Heat, Rush and Uptown. Safety features include anti-lock brakes, active anti-whiplash front head restraints, front airbags, an inflatable driver knee blocker, and side curtain airbags for front and rear occupants; an electronic stability control system, including traction control and brake assist, is standard on all but the Express. Cargo capacity is one of the Caliber's big advantages. The rear seats fold down 60/40 to provide quite generous cargo space. The available folding front passenger seat expands room further and allows for loading of long objects. The Caliber's rear load floor is plastic and removable, which means your stuff will slide around if not secured, but dirty cargo won't make a mess. The rear hatch is an easy-opening liftgate and the floor height is low enough to allow for easy loading and unloading.
Powering the '11 Dodge Caliber
Find New Dodge Caliber IAAll trim levels, with the exception of the Rush, are outfitted with a 158-hp 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, while the Rush gets more power in the form of a 172-hp 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine; available transmissions include a five-speed manual and a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). For 2011, all models except the Express get revised steering, while the Heat and Rush receive retuned shocks and a thicker rear anti-roll bar. Visibility out front is good. Gas mileage on the Caliber has improved to 23/32 mpg city/highway with the five-speed manual (1 highway mpg better than the 2010 model) and 23/27 mpg with a continuously variable automatic transmission.
Design of the New Dodge Caliber
The 2011 Caliber stays true to its Dodge name, thanks to the crosshair grille. Despite the look, the Caliber actually sits a bit higher than most compact cars. The Caliber has large wheels for a car of its size and class. A black rail that runs from the base of the A-pillars and along the roofline to the taillights tricks the eye into seeing a lower, sleeker shape. The Caliber is available in eight exterior colors, six of which are new: Redline 2, Mango Tango, Blackberry, Dark Charcoal, Bright White and Tungsten Metallic (late availability). The trademark crosshair grille dominates the front end; depending on model, this is either body color or trimmed in chrome. Massive headlights are notched into the leading corners of the front fenders. A pouting lower lip-like bumper separates the grille and headlights from a slimmer, lower air intake and (uplevel) fog lamps. The side view shows strongly blistered fenders front and rear beneath a wedge-shaped beltline. Tires mostly fill the wheel wells, but we expect aftermarket hardware will be popular amongst younger buyers. The lower portions of the doors wear longitudinal moldings, again, body color or chrome highlighted, that look like a bi-level rocker panel but aren't, but that nevertheless minimize the Caliber's height. Full-round door handles, either chrome-trimmed or body color, bridge scooped-out grip spaces.
2011 Dodge Caliber Cabin
Buy New Dodge Caliber Des MoinesEvery Caliber is equipped with air conditioning, cruise control, a CD player with MP3 capability, satellite radio, iPod control and UConnect wireless connectivity. Additional trim-dependent features include 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels, a power sunroof, fog lamps, heated front seats and leather upholstery, along with a multimedia centre boasting a hard drive-based navigation system with 30 gigabytes of internal memory, a touch-screen LCD display and DVD video capability. The 2011 Caliber sees minor changes after the interior was redesigned for 2010. The instrument cluster and center stack are the picture of efficiency. The shift lever extends from the base of the stack; the notched gate on the CVT makes ratio selections intuitive. In cars equipped with a manual transmission, the shifter falls easily to hand. An MP3 player/cell phone holder flips up out of the front of the center console armrest. As the Caliber is relatively tall, the Caliber is easy to get in and out of. Front-seat headroom is impressive in all Calibers. The stereos generate quality sounds, with the top-level Boston Acoustic setup Kicker outfit rivaling home systems of only a few years ago. Called MusicGate, the Boston Acoustics system features nine speakers, including 3.5-inch tweeters, a subwoofer and a pair of speakers in a boom box attached to the inside of the rear liftgate. When the liftgate is open, this assembly swings down so you can listen to tunes while tailgating. It's capable of entertaining the neighborhood.
Conclusions
The Dodge Caliber is a fun, well-rounded package, combining the versatility of a sport utility vehicle with the value and fuel-efficiency of a compact car. The Caliber comes with a unique-for-its-class driver's knee airbag designed to keep the driver positioned properly for the other primary restraints. An electronic stability system is now standard on Heat, Mainstreet, Rush and Uptown models, and not available on the Express. The 2011 Dodge Caliber is at the same time innovative and retro, a hatchback that's more like a station wagon but with hints of the utility of a minivan. Packaging is functional, with folding rear seats that have an optional reclining adjustment and an optional fold-flat front passenger seat to make room for a ladder or lumber. A couple of innovative options, especially for a car in this price class, are an air conditioned compartment in the glove box to chill water bottles or sodas and a swing-down stereo speaker panel attached to the liftgate that converts the back end to a sound stage for beach parties or tailgating. For the latest updates on this model, visit the official 2011 Dodge Caliber website.
2011 Dodge Caliber IowaThe Dodge Caliber carries over with minimal changes for 2011. Following up on last year?s interior redo, Dodge's changes include the addition of six new paint colors with whimsical names like Mango Tango and Redline 2. Stability control becomes standard on all but the Express trim level, and the optional navigation system gains Sirius traffic information. A new 18-inch chrome wheel design is available for Uptown models. Electronic stability control, including traction control and brake assist, is now standard on all but Express trim levels, while the Mainstreet gets a 6-way power driver's seat. Additionally, the optional navigation system gains real-time traffic information. The front-wheel drive Caliber is available in five "lifestyle" trims: Express, Mainstreet, Heat, Rush and Uptown. Safety features include anti-lock brakes, active anti-whiplash front head restraints, front airbags, an inflatable driver knee blocker, and side curtain airbags for front and rear occupants; an electronic stability control system, including traction control and brake assist, is standard on all but the Express. Cargo capacity is one of the Caliber's big advantages. The rear seats fold down 60/40 to provide quite generous cargo space. The available folding front passenger seat expands room further and allows for loading of long objects. The Caliber's rear load floor is plastic and removable, which means your stuff will slide around if not secured, but dirty cargo won't make a mess. The rear hatch is an easy-opening liftgate and the floor height is low enough to allow for easy loading and unloading.
Powering the '11 Dodge Caliber
Find New Dodge Caliber IAAll trim levels, with the exception of the Rush, are outfitted with a 158-hp 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, while the Rush gets more power in the form of a 172-hp 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine; available transmissions include a five-speed manual and a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). For 2011, all models except the Express get revised steering, while the Heat and Rush receive retuned shocks and a thicker rear anti-roll bar. Visibility out front is good. Gas mileage on the Caliber has improved to 23/32 mpg city/highway with the five-speed manual (1 highway mpg better than the 2010 model) and 23/27 mpg with a continuously variable automatic transmission.
Design of the New Dodge Caliber
The 2011 Caliber stays true to its Dodge name, thanks to the crosshair grille. Despite the look, the Caliber actually sits a bit higher than most compact cars. The Caliber has large wheels for a car of its size and class. A black rail that runs from the base of the A-pillars and along the roofline to the taillights tricks the eye into seeing a lower, sleeker shape. The Caliber is available in eight exterior colors, six of which are new: Redline 2, Mango Tango, Blackberry, Dark Charcoal, Bright White and Tungsten Metallic (late availability). The trademark crosshair grille dominates the front end; depending on model, this is either body color or trimmed in chrome. Massive headlights are notched into the leading corners of the front fenders. A pouting lower lip-like bumper separates the grille and headlights from a slimmer, lower air intake and (uplevel) fog lamps. The side view shows strongly blistered fenders front and rear beneath a wedge-shaped beltline. Tires mostly fill the wheel wells, but we expect aftermarket hardware will be popular amongst younger buyers. The lower portions of the doors wear longitudinal moldings, again, body color or chrome highlighted, that look like a bi-level rocker panel but aren't, but that nevertheless minimize the Caliber's height. Full-round door handles, either chrome-trimmed or body color, bridge scooped-out grip spaces.
2011 Dodge Caliber Cabin
Buy New Dodge Caliber Des MoinesEvery Caliber is equipped with air conditioning, cruise control, a CD player with MP3 capability, satellite radio, iPod control and UConnect wireless connectivity. Additional trim-dependent features include 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels, a power sunroof, fog lamps, heated front seats and leather upholstery, along with a multimedia centre boasting a hard drive-based navigation system with 30 gigabytes of internal memory, a touch-screen LCD display and DVD video capability. The 2011 Caliber sees minor changes after the interior was redesigned for 2010. The instrument cluster and center stack are the picture of efficiency. The shift lever extends from the base of the stack; the notched gate on the CVT makes ratio selections intuitive. In cars equipped with a manual transmission, the shifter falls easily to hand. An MP3 player/cell phone holder flips up out of the front of the center console armrest. As the Caliber is relatively tall, the Caliber is easy to get in and out of. Front-seat headroom is impressive in all Calibers. The stereos generate quality sounds, with the top-level Boston Acoustic setup Kicker outfit rivaling home systems of only a few years ago. Called MusicGate, the Boston Acoustics system features nine speakers, including 3.5-inch tweeters, a subwoofer and a pair of speakers in a boom box attached to the inside of the rear liftgate. When the liftgate is open, this assembly swings down so you can listen to tunes while tailgating. It's capable of entertaining the neighborhood.
Conclusions
The Dodge Caliber is a fun, well-rounded package, combining the versatility of a sport utility vehicle with the value and fuel-efficiency of a compact car. The Caliber comes with a unique-for-its-class driver's knee airbag designed to keep the driver positioned properly for the other primary restraints. An electronic stability system is now standard on Heat, Mainstreet, Rush and Uptown models, and not available on the Express. The 2011 Dodge Caliber is at the same time innovative and retro, a hatchback that's more like a station wagon but with hints of the utility of a minivan. Packaging is functional, with folding rear seats that have an optional reclining adjustment and an optional fold-flat front passenger seat to make room for a ladder or lumber. A couple of innovative options, especially for a car in this price class, are an air conditioned compartment in the glove box to chill water bottles or sodas and a swing-down stereo speaker panel attached to the liftgate that converts the back end to a sound stage for beach parties or tailgating. For the latest updates on this model, visit the official 2011 Dodge Caliber website.