QUALITY | 7 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
Five-door configuration offers cargo-carrying versatility
Car and Driver
New sound insulation for a quieter ride
Cars.com
The interior, for instance, is decently laid out, but has spectacularly cheap materials.
Automobile Magazine
With its large cabin, supportive seats and large hatchback opening, flexibility and passenger space are the Caliber's strengths.
There's plenty of headroom front and back in the 2012 Dodge Caliber, though the front seats themselves aren't all that comfortable. And really whether you consider the Caliber downright roomy or not is a little relative. Compared to most other hatchbacks, the Caliber is tall and chunky--which makes it particularly good for cargo--while relative to smaller crossovers with the same footprint the Caliber doesn't have quite as much interior space.
Nevertheless, fold the 60/40 rear seatbacks forward and you'll find 48 cubic feet of stowage space. There are plenty of cubbies for smaller items, and the back seats are actually quite decent for space compared to other small cars. Materials, while improved somewhat a couple of years ago, remain middle-of-the-road, with a hollow feel pervading the dash and doors.
Ride quality is acceptable, although there's a fair amount of ride noise (and suspension noise) over coarser or bumpier road surfaces--not to mention the noise from the engine.
Conclusion
Cargo space remains the operative word. Otherwise the Caliber is average at best for comfort.
