By Lou Cataldo
For Dodge fans all over the world, the name SRT is synonymous with performance. Muscle cars like the Charger SRT Hellcat, or even high-performance SUVs like the Durango SRT Hellcat, carry the name as evidence of their track-ready features and design. And then there’s the Neon SRT4, which is the kind of cheap speed.
While the SRT brand has had plenty of hits to its name over the years, it has also had a few misses. One of these is the Caliber SRT4, an SRT version of a blob-like, slightly raised hatchback that didn’t last long on the market for a good reason. The Caliber was one of Dodge’s attempts at breaking into the European market, but instead of giving the brand a new territory to explore, it just ended up being a neither-here-nor-there product with no defined identity. It was only on the market for six years, and the SRT version even less, being discontinued after just three model years. Let’s take a closer look at this curious, forgotten Dodge.
The Dodge Caliber SRT4: An Overview
| Dodge Caliber SRT4 Specs | |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four |
| Horsepower | 285 hp |
| Torque | 265 lb-ft |
| 0-60 | ~5.9 seconds |
| Top Speed | 155 mph |
The Caliber SRT4 is a performance-oriented variant of the Caliber, a short-lived Dodge hatchback sold between 2007 and 2012. The SRT4 version was curated by Street and Racing Technology, the Dodge division famous for making high-performance versions of various models. It was somewhat of a spiritual successor to a previous SRT model, the Neon SRT-4, which had been discontinued in 2005.
The Caliber SRT4 was sold in Europe as well as the States, alongside the rest of the Caliber lineup. It was built to compete against European hot hatches of the era, such as the Volkswagen Golf GTI, and Japanese ones such as the Mazdaspeed 3.
The SRT4 version of the Caliber was powered by the most powerful engine in the Caliber family, a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four unit. A member of the “World” family of engines, designed jointly by Chrysler, Mitsubishi, and Hyundai, this particular engine was referred to as the “Warhawk”.
The engine produced 285 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque; it was paired with a six-speed manual transmission built by Getrag, which sent power to the front wheels. An upgraded suspension and exhaust, 19-inch wheels, and larger vented disc brakes completed the package. However, the Caliber did not wow the public or the automotive press. Dodge basically took the Caliber, which had a terrible interior, unrefined handling, and a noisy cabin, and added some more power. The result was horrible torque steer, and understeer. At least the Caliber had fold-down speakers in the trunk, but nobody cared and did what any reasonable person should have done, and purchased a Golf GTI.
While the Caliber as a whole remained on the market until the 2012 model year, the SRT4 version had a much shorter lifespan, being discontinued after 2009. It was quite a rare model, with some sources suggesting around 5,500 units were built in total. Considering the youngest examples of this model are now coming up to 17 years old, it’s likely the number of units that have survived to the present day will be pretty low. If you’re looking to buy a Caliber SRT4, you may have to travel far to pick up your new set of wheels.
The Dodge Caliber SRT4 On The Used Market Today
Because production numbers for the Caliber SRT4 are quite low, and the number of surviving examples floating around the used market today is even lower, pricing data is quite scarce. The price range sits around the $8,000 mark. You may be able to find an example in poorer condition or with a higher mileage for as little as $5,000, while better-looked-after cars could sit closer to the $10,000 mark.
Dodge
In terms of reliability, the SRT4 shares most of its common issues and complaints with the wider Caliber family. The first model year, 2007, is by far the one with the most issues attached to it. Looking at the data from CarComplaints, a website that collects information on complaints for each of a vehicle’s model years, we can see over 1,000 complaints attached to this model year, most about suspension, electrical, and engine issues.
For the following model years, the number of recorded issues drops gradually: there are 678 complaints on file for 2008, and 403 for 2009. Suspension problems continue to top the list, followed closely by powertrain issues and electrical complaints.
Sources: Dodge, CarComplaints
Read the full article on CarBuzz
This article originally appeared on CarBuzz and is republished here with permission.
