What do you like best? Scion Xb, Chevy HHR, PT Cruiser, Dodge Caliber?

Question

I am torn between all of these and would appreciate any info that anyone may have on them.

well, we drove the caliber, it has some neat features, but is not included on the employee pricing deal that is going on right now nor did it have any incentives (which for me was fine, it felt cheap and I think if I rode in it for a while it would give me a headache looking thru the ackward windows. Thanks for everyones comments... were still looking.

Answer 1

I'm not sure why others have chosen to comment on styling... if you're interested in all four of these vehicles, I assume you like the looks of all of them.

Out of these four, the Dodge Caliber would be my last choice. It's receiving a lot of hype because of its mini-SUV styling, but having driven one, I can tell you that it's not all that competitive in its class. The low seats, thick window pillars, and faraway windshield make the driving position feel awkward--like sitting in a minivan with the seat cranked way down--and although space is good, your other three choices are roomier. The interior plastics feel hard and cheap. On the road, the biggest disappointment is the Caliber's vague, darty, gummy steering. Its engines are also fairly weak, and the ride is noisy. Perhaps worst of all, the Caliber's current popularity means that you might encounter waiting lists and artificial price mark-ups at dealerships. Overall, it feels "unfinished."

The HHR suffers from some of the same defecits as the Caliber, but I think it's a better car overall. Its interior feels roomy, the plastics are of fairly good quality, and its seats are pretty comfortable. The view out, though, is restricted by the small windows--it's a little like driving a bite-sized tank. Like the Caliber, the HHR is not quick--even with the optional 172 HP engine--but it's not slow, either. Handling is fine except for the light, numb steering, and the ride is smooth and quiet. The downsides are that fuel economy is just okay--23/30 MPG--and that the Cobalt, which the HHR shares most mechanical parts with, has a poor reliability record. Plus, it just doesn't feel sporty.

While the Scion xB is an excellent little car, it does feel like a smaller, less substantial vehicle than the other three. From the inside, the xB feels tall and roomy, like a small minivan, with big windows for an expansive view out. It has the most rear-seat room of these four cars, though its cargo area is the smallest. On the road, the xB is fairly peppy, but it really needs the manual transmission to keep up with the other three. Its handling feels nimble and fun around town, but on the freeway, the engine revs too high, and the car feels unsettled and gets blown around by crosswinds. The ride is very stiff and noisy, too. The advantages here are low price, strong resale value, an excellent reliability record, and great gas mileage: 30/34 MPG. Just be prepared for the "small, lightweight car" feel.

The one that feels the most substantial and "grown-up" is the PT Cruiser. It doesn't feel as roomy as the xB, but it's just as roomy as the other three, and has a more upscale, higher-quality interior than any of them. With the base engine, acceleration is on par with the other three--not quick--but with the optional 180-horsepower turbo, this car is relatively fast and fun. Handling is the most stable and accurate of the four, and the PT feels the most confident on winding roads. The ride is almost as smooth as the HHR's. The downside is the poorest fuel economy of the four--20/25 MPG. The PT's reliability record is good, though, and it's the most likely of this four to have price rebates. Overall, the most balanced mix of qualities.

I wouldn't worry too much about crash safety and insurance rates between this group of four--they're all similar in these respects (though the xB has the weakest crash-test scores and highest insurance, by a small margin). If it were my money, the choice would come down to the xB and a turbo PT, but it's all a matter of your tastes and priorities.

Answer 2

I like the Dodge Caliber out of the four. The new comer replacing the Neon SRT4.

The Chevy HHR and PT Cruiser looks the same imo.

Scion Xb is my least favorite, I would go with the tC or the Xa.

Answer 3

The Scion Xb has very poor crash test ratings, and the insurance for the Xb is quite high.
Call your insurance agent and obtain price quotes for the vehicles you are interested in. This could help in your decision.

Answer 4

I like the dodge, caliber cause of, its unique design, if i could have somethin better about the caliber i would want 4 wheel drive and a towing capacitie of like 3000 pounds!

Answer 5

i dont realy like any of them but if i had to pick 1 it wood be the Caliber because of its style...

Answer 6

go with the Toyota Matrix. it is very similar to all these cars

Answer 7

pt cruiser