Full Caliber

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The others are rated higher: My test SXT is rated at 26 in the city and 30 on the highway. In a stretch of 508 miles of mainly (fast) highway driving, I got 25.4 mpg.

Not surprisingly, the Caliber is selling well so far. DaimlerChrysler has sold 50,881 of them this year through the end of July. That's far fewer than the 75,996 Neons it sold during the same period last year, but it's a strong performance, considering that dealers are still selling the last Neons out of inventory, and Dodge sales in general are off 9% this year.

Calibers are moving off the lots as fast as the company can make them: On average, they sell in a mere 12 days, according to the Power Information Network, vs. nearly 60 days for the average car. (Like Business Week and BusinessWeek.com, Power Information is owned by The McGraw-Hill Cos. (MHP).)

Behind the Wheel The driving experience is not this car's strong suit. Even the more powerful R/T takes more than 10 seconds to go from 0 to 60, which is annoyingly slow. This car really lumbers when you punch the gas from a full stop, and there's not a lot of oomph when you move out into the passing lane at highway speed. Handling isn't distinguished either. And the steering has that slightly heavy front-wheel-drive feel to it.

The continuously variable automatic transmission, which was supplied by Jatco, a Nissan (NSANY) subsidiary, also takes some getting used to. When you hit the gas to move out onto the highway, for instance, the transmission steps down, then runs out in one continuous, undifferentiated arc. You keep expecting it to shift gears, but it never does.

I drove my test car from northeast Pennsylvania to Boston and back in a single day (more than 500 miles), and found it reasonably comfortable for a small car. The seats are supportive, with plenty of side-bolstering, and the driver's seat is easy to adjust manually. On a long drive, you appreciate small comfort-enhancing features such as the tilt steering wheel and the adjustable sliding armrest.

However, I also discovered that my test car seemed to have a major design flaw. When you put the rear windows down at highway speed, the wind-buffeting was shocking. The car started to vibrate and made a continuous wind-tunnel-type noise that would drive you batty if you had to listen to it for more than a few minutes.

The first time it happened, I pulled off the highway to check the tires and look under the car because it felt like something was dramatically wrong. The problem occurs even with only one rear window down, and the buffeting starts as soon as either rear window is lowered more than one-third of the way.

Most people don't drive on the highway with the rear windows down because it negates the air conditioning while reducing fuel efficiency. Still, if you're considering buying a Caliber, test-drive it on the highway with the rear windows down first.

The Caliber is too new to have J.D. Power ratings, but Dodge as a brand scored slightly below average in Power's latest Initial Quality ratings, and further down the list in the longer-term dependability ratings. So, quality glitches are always a worry.

Buy It or Bag It? This car's main appeal is its practicality. It has much of the versatility of the Honda Fit in a slightly bigger, more solid-feeling package. With the back seats folded down, cargo space is 48 cu. ft. The hatchback and relatively wide rear doors make it easy to get dogs and cargo (and rear-seat passengers) in and out. The passenger seatback also folds down to create a flat table, opening up space for hauling long objects. The floor panel in the rear cargo space is removable and washable.

Despite its lumbering acceleration and the weird wind buffeting, I'd still consider buying a Caliber, though the base model seems too stripped down for my taste. If you live in the Sunbelt, I'd suggest going with SXT and paying a bit more for the upgraded interior. It's a good alternative to the Ford (F) Focus and the Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix (neither of which come with all-wheel drive).

If you live in the Snowbelt, the all-wheel-drive option makes the Caliber is good alternative to, say, a Subaru. Plus, it's manufactured in Belvidere, Ill., which gives it the added appeal of being made in America.

Most buyers seem to agree that the better-equipped versions of the Caliber are worth the extra money. In the real world, according to the Power Information Network, the average price of the Caliber is $17,840, slightly less than a Honda Civic ($18,685) and more than a Toyota Corolla ($15,903). The Caliber is selling well because it has a lot of value packed into it at that price.

To see more of the 2007 Dodge Caliber, click here.

Thane Peterson reviews cars for BusinessWeek.com.