Dodge Caliber SRT4 Part 2: Interior & User Experience

The Dodge SRT4 was never known for having class-leading interior quality, mostly because it didn't. You see, the focus with the original SRT4 was on performance, and there it absolutely delivered. But with this newest entry-level Dodge performance car - the Caliber SRT4 - the company's engineers clearly wanted to address some of the old car's interior shortcomings to better match its imported competition.

The new SRT4 features an interior that is a huge improvement over the old car's. You can actually have a conversation while driving down the road in a Caliber SRT4. And backseat room is expansive, as is cargo space under the hatch. All the good stuff from the original remains too: the well-bolstered seats, the boost gauge and the carbon-fiber looking upholstery material that is also used on the Viper SRT10.

Unfortunately, a lot of the bad remains as well, such as the acres of hard, over-textured plastics, the less-than-expensive-feeling switchgear and an interior lacking in design cohesiveness. Hard plastics and average design aside, there is a ton of content inside the SRT4. From a technology standpoint there's a 30 gig hard drive that lets you store photos - which you can use as screen savers - maps and points-of-interest, as well as up to 6700 digital music files.

Other positives? The build quality is actually really good, without a single rattle or squeak to speak of... surprising given all that hard plastic. Credit the work done by Dodge engineers to control noise vibration and harshness levels, and of course to the base Caliber's platform which is miles ahead of the Neon that was the basis for the original SRT4.

But while it is in fact more refined than its predecessor, the Caliber SRT4 hasn't forgotten its mission as the kid brother in the SRT family. And neither will you, with the healthy sounding exhaust note, the whistling turbocharger and that little gizmo that invites you to extract all you can from the SRT4. The optional "Performance Pages" display allows you to record acceleration times for 1/8-mile, 1/4-mile and 0-60 mph, as well as cornering and braking G-forces and more. It encourages you to practice and perfect your launch techniques - always challenging in a front-wheel drive car - to better your times. Pretty fun stuff, even the clutch and front tires appreciate the work out (just kidding).

So the interior is a hit and miss affair. The misses are well documented and, unfortunately, hard to... well... miss. But the positives are enough to grab your attention and hold it while the car's personality wins you over. But with a good mix of practicality, performance and content, the Dodge Caliber SRT4 presents a compelling American-made alternative to a segment dominated by imports. For those who prefer value pricing and boisterous behavior to subtle refinement, the Caliber SRT4 presents an appealing option.

Watch the video
Read Part 1: Design
Read Part 3: Performance

Dodge Caliber SRT4

Performance
- Acceleration: Traction control very obtrusive so it's best turned off - a bit of torque steer as the boost comes on, but the pull is relatively strong and steady
- Handling: Wants to push near the limit, but can be provoked into silliness with stability control defeated - missing the Neon-based SRT4's mechanical limited slip
- Braking: Can get wobbly at maximum attack, but the brakes are always there with little or no fade

Design
- Exterior: Has a certain brutal, aggressive, pitbull look to it that works... strangely - especially considering its origins
- Interior: Too boring, too gray and way too plasticky - but well built, practical and full of content

Utility
- Comfort: Excellent for four adults - not the best SRT seats though
- Space: Hatchback may not be pretty, but it sure is practical

Safety
- Dynamics: Understeer will conspire to keep you out of trouble... unless you defeat the ESP
- Technology: Electronic Stability Program and all the airbags you'll hope to never need

Value
- Price: Well priced, right in line with its competition
- Mileage: Buy the non-SRT version if you care - not great if you're hard on the throttle

Emotional Appeal
- Heart thumpin' factor: Trying to contain all that power going through the front tires can be fun - makes you grin
- Fun to spank: Fun, but would be more so if they gave us back the mechanical LSD from its predecessor

SPECIFICATIONS

Layout: Front engine / Front-wheel drive
Engine: 2.4 liter, turbocharged inline 4
Power (SAE): 285 hp @ 5700 rpm
Torque: 265 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
Gearbox: 6-speed manual
Curb Weight: 3230 lbs.
0-60 mph: 5.8 sec.
1/4 mile: 14.2 @ 104 mph
Top Speed: 155 mph (drag limited)
Mileage: 18 city / 25 highway
Base Price: $25,220
Competitors: Honda Civic Si, Mazdaspeed3, Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V, Subaru WRX