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In the April edition of Motor Trend magazine, the Caliber is given high praise. They like the utility, the handling and the general performance of the car, as well as the look of it. Those're some credentials Daimler-Chrysler can put in the bank, because as one of most respected American automobile magazines, the editors of Motor Trend aren't quick to give praise to half-assed efforts, and they've been borderline ecstatic about the Caliber. Oh, it's still not the car for me, but according to Motor Trend, it's a worthy and much improved successor to the Neon as a well thought out family/utility automobile. Why do I still not want to buy one? To quote Motor Trend's article: "As the Caliber is tall and rides higher than most conventional sedans do (it has an almost 7" ground clearance! LPW), you'd expect it to have a higher center of gravity, and it feels like it does." I guess you'd have to expect a car that shares its platform with the new Jeep Compass would ride high.
The Motor Trend article also gave a hint of the up and coming SRT-4 version of the Caliber, with talk about 300 hp and still only FWD. That's a lot of horse power for a suspension that's already been pegged as one that exhibits torque steer problems (see below).
Motor Trend closes its "First Drive" article on the Caliber by saying, "A job well, if not perfectly, done, as this market segment and its buyers don't tolerate excuses."
On the other hand, the "enthusiast" magazine, Car & Driver, although praising D/C for carving what they describe as a new niche in the compact car market with Caliber's "high riding, brawny-lad muscularity," were less enthusiastic when commenting on the new CVT transmission, and seemed downright bothered by what they describe as torque steer which "bordered upon (the) unruly at full throttle." That's a suspension trait that can be "tweaked" out as developement proceeds on the Caliber, which Car & Driver also says is "meant to be Daimler-Chrysler's new world car, to be sold in 98 countries around the planet."
Like any new car, it's got some teething problems. I'm sure D/C will have them worked out in time. Another good reason (for me) not to run right out and "be the first on your block" to own one!
The Motor Trend article also gave a hint of the up and coming SRT-4 version of the Caliber, with talk about 300 hp and still only FWD. That's a lot of horse power for a suspension that's already been pegged as one that exhibits torque steer problems (see below).
Motor Trend closes its "First Drive" article on the Caliber by saying, "A job well, if not perfectly, done, as this market segment and its buyers don't tolerate excuses."
On the other hand, the "enthusiast" magazine, Car & Driver, although praising D/C for carving what they describe as a new niche in the compact car market with Caliber's "high riding, brawny-lad muscularity," were less enthusiastic when commenting on the new CVT transmission, and seemed downright bothered by what they describe as torque steer which "bordered upon (the) unruly at full throttle." That's a suspension trait that can be "tweaked" out as developement proceeds on the Caliber, which Car & Driver also says is "meant to be Daimler-Chrysler's new world car, to be sold in 98 countries around the planet."
Like any new car, it's got some teething problems. I'm sure D/C will have them worked out in time. Another good reason (for me) not to run right out and "be the first on your block" to own one!
I've had the throttle wide open more than once and have pushed the car over 100, and I've never experienced torque steer. If I have, it's not "unruly." 
