All three engines delivered their power smoothly, with no disruptive surges or flat spots. Pedal layout is decent, while not quite ideal for heel-and-toe downshifts, and there's a dead pedal where drivers can rest their left foot on long trips.

Driving and handling dynamics are mostly consistent across the line, about on a par with the Vibe and the Matrix but not quite in the same league as the more tautly sprung Mazda3 and much lighter Focus. There's not as much body lean in corners as we expected in a car this tall. Under hard acceleration, the Caliber SE and SXT show some torque steer, where the front-wheel drive tugs at the steering wheel, a shortcoming shared with every front-wheel-drive car we can remember in this class.

Likewise, the Caliber's weight is biased to the front, so understeer (where the car wants to go straight instead of turning) is the default mode when corners are entered a bit too fast. The all-wheel-drive R/T is much better mannered in both these regards, especially in tight corners, when the system distributes the power as appropriate between the front and rear wheels to put the power where it can be used best, as much as 60 percent to the rear wheels if necessary. One downside to the AWD is the added unsprung weight with which it burdens the suspension, mass that's felt over parking lot speed bumps and rough pavement.

The disc/drum brakes standard on the SE and in the SXT are competent. The R/T gets the best package, with discs at all four corners and ABS. We're sure there's a good marketing reason behind making ABS an option on the SE and SXT and Brake Assist optional only on the SXT and R/T, but we're disappointed these safety features aren't standard as they increasingly are on off-shore brands in the Caliber's price range. We feel the same way about the electronic stability program, which can help drivers avoid crashing.

There's little wind whistle at everyday highway speeds, and even at extra-legal rates of travel, we carried on conversations in normal tones. Road noise increased with the size of the tire's footprint, meaning it was most persistent in the R/T. The added grip from the larger footprint more than compensated for this intrusion, however.

Summary

The 2007 Dodge Caliber is at the same time innovative and retro, a hatchback that's more like a station wagon but with hints of the utility of a minivan. The SE offers good, basic transportation, the SXT is more fun to drive, and the R/T delivers affordable advanced technology with the assurance of all-wheel drive.

NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Tom Lankard filed this report from Scottsdale, Arizona

Model Line Overview

Model lineup:Dodge Caliber SE ($13,425); SXT ($15,425); R/T AWD ($19,425)

Engines:148-hp 1.8-liter inline-4; 158-hp 2.0-liter inline-4; 172-hp 2.4-liter inline-4

Transmissions:5-speed manual; continuously variable automatic (CVT)

Safety equipment (standard):frontal airbags; full-coverage, side curtain airbags; child safety seat anchors (LATCH)

Safety equipment (optional):front seat-mounted side airbags; antilock brakes; brake assist; electronic stability program with traction control

Basic warranty:3 years/36,000 miles

Assembled in:Belvidere, Illinois