Already an attractive offering, the Caliber notches up the interest level in the 2010 model year with a new interior. The five-door compact car’s cabin is now even more appealing with a padded armrest/center console/stow bin, soft-touch trims on the door panels, and chrome accent rings on the gauges and heating/air conditioning vents. But what’s truly nifty about the Caliber is all the uncommon stuff—illuminated cupholder rings, a covered bin integrated atop the dashboard as well as available rechargeable and removable LED flashlight, 115-volt power outlet on the outer side of the center console, wave-shaped cooling shelf in the glove box for cans and bottles, and a fold-flat front passenger seat. Rear seatbacks can be reclined via a pull strap to go backward approximately 35 degrees.

Front wheel drive Caliber’s source of power is a choice of 4-cylinder engines, a 2.0-liter that produces 158 horsepower and a 2.4-liter that produces 172 horsepower. Engines mate to a 5-speed manual, a continuously variable transmission (CVT), or a CVT with auto stick. The Caliber is available in SE, SXT, and R/T models. Express, Mainstreet, Heat, Uptown, and Rush versions provide an array of bundled features. The 103.7-inch wheelbase car has a perfectly matched front and rear track (59.8 inches). Caliber’s how-to guide isn’t a multi-page book; the owner’s manual is simply a slim CD. With 2.4-liter engine and CVT, Dodge Caliber Rush has estimated mpg of 21 city/25 highway and carries a MSRP of $19,995.