William Maley

Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com

December 26, 2011

On Christmas Eve, Chrysler made the announcement that production of the Dodge Caliber has ended to make way for the new Dart.

Introduced back in 2006, the Caliber would replace the long running Neon. But the Caliber got a lot of negative press due to lack-luster driving dynamics and a cheap plastic interior.

The Caliber's replacement, Dart will makes it's first appearance at next month's Detroit Auto Show. Analysts believe the Dart will be more successful than the Caliber.

Source: The Detroit News

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Caliber was alright but it felt bunker like, didn't drive well, and was cheap inside.

I will be interested to see how crappy the Dart is.....it is a Fiat, right?

I expect the Dart to be a pendulum swing in the complete other direction.

Caliber was alright but it felt bunker like, didn't drive well, and was cheap inside.

Unless no cars should be called bad, it was bad.

now we need an srt swinger/demon package on it.

I should have loved the Caliber--a smallish wagon with a reasonable price--but the thing never really tripped my trigger. The cheap interior was a turn-off, as was the too-high beltline. Even if I barber-chaired the seat up until my dome was rubbing the headliner, I still felt claustrophobic inside of the Caliber (though not so much with the Jeep Compass, for some reason). I have high hopes for the Dart.

I wonder when the Patriot goes out of production, and if Compass/Patriot production will be ramped up at Belvidere with Caliber's death before the changeover to the new Fiat-based small Jeep.

i never thought the exterior was too bad. never liked the interior looked like it came from walmart. but everyone always said it was ugly i never thought so. you want ugly take a look at the nitro, dont know what it is the squared off headlights. the strange front end. but the car makes me want to vomit. which is strange because it is supposed to be a Jeepish type of car. and i love jeep. but i am super stoked for the Dart and i agree an srt edition is needed and double on the Demon package.

The Nitro front end always looked too tall and narrow to me.

My bro's Caliber is still going strong..they are tough little cars...

I spoke to ppl who own one of the three, and I read all of the owner reviews @ Edmunds, and I went on bespoke forums before making my purchasing decision. Everyone seems to get excellent wear out of these.