Used 2008 Dodge Caliber

Chrysler’s Street Racing and Technology (SRT) tuning division is charged with adding a performance edge to a variety of Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler products. Like Mercedes-Benz’s AMG or BMW’s M division, an SRT makeover touches on all aspects of the vehicle, including exterior styling, interior treatments, powertrain, brakes and suspension tuning. The 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4 benefits from this all-inclusive approach with a top-to-bottom overhaul that turns the typically tame Caliber into a tire-spinning, apex-clipping performance machine. All the while, the SRT4 maintains enough comfort and usability to function as a reasonable daily driver.

The promise of exhilarating performance made by the SRT4’s exterior isn’t empty, as indicated by a 0-60 acceleration time in the low six-second range. Ample power at all speeds makes the 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4 a joy to drive whether on the street or on the track. While its acceleration is commendable, perhaps more impressive is the way the Caliber SRT4 handles. The suspension is surprisingly supple for a performance-tuned car, absorbing road imperfections more willingly than one might expect. When the Caliber SRT4 is pushed hard, however, there is plenty of grip, body lean is controlled and steering inputs are met with an immediate reaction from the chassis.

A number of interior enhancements clearly delineate the 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4 from the more pedestrian Caliber trims. Most notable are highly-bolstered front seats that keep occupants in place during spirited driving and feature SRT logos and contrasting red stitching. Adding to the SRT4’s custom appearance are a carbon-fiber-pattern shift boot, aluminum pedal pads and a turbo boost gauge. Despite its many performance touches, the 2008 Dodge Caliber remains a practical wagon with good interior space, room for five and fold-down rear seats for hauling lots of cargo.

From nose to tail, the 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4 looks like it just stepped out of a "Fast and the Furious" movie. Its imposing face is a hodgepodge of aggressive vents, scoops and black mesh grilles. Sitting behind the Caliber’s crosshair grille is a conspicuously light-colored intercooler that cools the air being pumped into the engine and announces to the world that the SRT4 is serious about performance. Other sporty details include a larger rooftop spoiler, four-inch exhaust tip, low front and rear fascias and bold wheel arches filled with big 19-inch wheels.

Turbocharged Engine
The 2.4-liter turbocharged engine of the 2008 Dodge Caliber offers the kind of satisfying near-instantaneous acceleration for which driving enthusiasts yearn. As a bonus, fuel economy is a reasonable 26 miles per gallon on the freeway.

Performance Pages
For someone who likes to quantify a car’s performance, the 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4’s Performance Pages option displays important performance-related data, including 0-60, quarter-mile and eighth-mile acceleration times, lateral and longitudinal G-forces and braking distance.

Among the 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4’s standard features are air conditioning, a six-speed manual transmission, 115-volt power outlet, 19-inch wheels, six-disc CD changer, power windows, power mirrors and keyless entry. Standard safety features include anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control, front airbags, two-row side curtain airbags and an inflatable knee blocker that helps position the driver so the airbags can work more effectively. Also standard is an electronically-tuned Brake Lock Differential that uses the front brakes to redirect power from a tire that is slipping to the tire with more grip.

The options available for the 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4 include front-seat side impact airbags, polished aluminum wheels, power sunroof, Goodyear F1 Supercar tires and a Reconfigurable Display with Performance Pages that display vehicle performance data. Music fans can add a Kicker premium audio system that includes 13 speakers, a 322-watt amplifier and a 200-watt subwoofer.

The 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4 features a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces a stout 285 horsepower. Many high power front-wheel drive cars suffer from a phenomenon called "torque steer," where the steering wheel pulls to one side or the other under hard acceleration. The front-wheel-drive SRT4 is no exception, requiring a firm grasp of the steering wheel to keep it pointed in the proper direction when the gas pedal is pressed firmly. Power is sent from the engine to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission, the only transmission offered for the Caliber SRT4.

2.4-liter in-line 4 Turbocharged
285 horsepower @ 5,700 rpm
265 lb.-ft. of torque @ 2,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/26