|  Dodge has introduced a remarkable replacement for the Neon. The all-new 2007 Dodge Caliber draws the best elements from hatchback, wagon and minivan designs, delivering a vehicle that doesn't truly fit in any existing category but does a lot of things quite well.
A five-passenger, five-door hatchback-cum-small station wagon, the Caliber offers a choice of four-cylinder engines. There's also a choice of front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, the latter making the Caliber a capable winter vehicle. The Caliber is relatively affordable. Its starting price is below last year's Neon, and fuel economy is respectable, achieving 28/32 City/Highway miles per gallon in its most frugal form, according to federal government estimates. At the other end of the scale, an SRT4 version is expected in spring 2007 with a turbocharged engine generating 300 horsepower.
The front seats are comfortable, with lots of headroom, and there's a large amount of cargo space here. 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 more likely, a surfboard. 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.
The interior on the 2007 Dodge Caliber offer an interior sport color package to coordinate with exterior colors in the hot range, like the orange, red and yellow, as well as the blue. Opt for the MusicGate Powerä Boston Acousticsâ sound system with 9 speakers and subwoofer. It comes with a set of rear articulating speakers so you can crank out the sound for your tailgate party. An MP3 auxiliary jack is available to expand your listening power, as well as an optional Sirius satellite radio package. If you get lost often, opt in for the Mopar GPS navigation system.
The multi tiered glove box of the 2007 Dodge Caliber is a real space advantage with a cooling compartment for drinks or sashimi, if you prefer. The cup holders in front of the arm rest light up at night so you can make a connect in the dark, with one of those 45 degree sodas from the glove compartment. Airbags offer all around protection including sides and a knee bag. Variable height seating, along with the design maximizes driver comfort for a variety of heights. The adjustable armrest features a 115-volt two pronged auxiliary outlet. A 12-volt outlet is located on the instrument panel.
The 2007 Dodge Caliber cargo area load floor has a 250-pound weight capacity and can be removed for cleaning. The pull out tailgating shelf is a real plus. The rear seats are 60/40 and recline up to 12 degrees, as well as fold flat to allow more cargo room. The front passenger seat also folds flat to accommodate extra long items. The overhead cargo light is removable and doubles as a flashlight.
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