Caliber is a hatchback that refuses to accept ho-hum reactions. There’s really no reason a vehicle can’t be fun, practical and affordable, and the Caliber is a fun, practical, and affordable vehicle. The five-door mixes fun and smart via its illuminated cupholders, center armrest that conceals a spot to stow a cell phone/MP3 player, and the 60/40 split fold-flat rear seats that can be reclined – and those fun-n-smart features are standard fare. The optional fun-yet-practical features include a cooling bin for beverages, a fold-flat front passenger seat, and a removable/rechargeable flashlight in the cargo area. Among the new-for-2009 features is uconnect tunes—essentially a 30-gigabyte hard-drive that can store up to 6,700 MP3, AAC or WMA-formatted songs and photos. The Dodge Caliber offers 4-cylinder engines in 1.8-liter, 2.0-liter, and 2.4-liter displacements. The largest displacement 4-cylinder (2.4-liter) produces 172 horsepower and 165 pounds-feet of peak torque. Front wheel drive Caliber is sold in three models: SE, SXT, and R/T. The 2009 Caliber is a bit less noisy than previous model year Calibers as insulation was added to the engine compartment and under the interior floor. Caliber R/T’s standard fare includes 18-inch aluminum wheels, sport-tuned suspension and steering, heated front seats, and Boston Acoustics premium sound system. The Caliber R/T with a continuously variable transmission and 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine has estimated per gallon fuel economy of 21 city and 25 highway. Suggested base price for the Caliber R/T is $19,545.