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Dodge Caliber MPG-Real World Numbers

245

Comments

  • fmfpjfmfpj Member Posts: 12
    my 1st tank of gas average was 26.7 but, that was city driving no highway yet. I did install a after market muffler and i will keep you posted. i take a 2,000 mile trip this month so i hope i :) get good results.
  • flyusmcflyusmc Member Posts: 10
    I got 29.3 MPG mixed. Pretty accurate. This was my first tank. SXT W/2.0 CVT
  • fmfpjfmfpj Member Posts: 12
    well, i am here 960 mile on the trip. the first tank through the mountains of west va. i got 33mpg and some change. after the mountains i filled up again and i got a amazing 37.8 miles per gallon. Again all I did was change the muffler out because there is no K&N filter yet. But, I am pretty happy with it. I have the 1.8L 5 Speed SXT. :shades:
  • bobbyd2bobbyd2 Member Posts: 2
    We just purchased the 2.0 SXL last week. Seems to be getting good milage. I drive with slow starts, and keep my rpm's at 2000 or less. I'm sure this will get me max mpg. Love this car!!
  • xkmailxkmail Member Posts: 36
    I drive alot of highway, is the 1.8/5spd better than the 2.0/cvt?
  • waorganywaorgany Member Posts: 10
    Yeah most of the time you will have better fuel economy with a manuel vs auto transmission. I am not sure but I would think this will be the same w/ CVT, but it will give you better mileage over a normal auto transmission. We haven't got ours yet so can't tell you maybe next week been waiting for almost 15 weeks now for our SXT w/ 2.0 CVT....Orange and leather seats!!!
  • nonnemachernonnemacher Member Posts: 98
    If you drive 15,000 miles per year and gas is $3 per gallon

    A Caliber that gets 28 mpg on average will use $1610 worth of fuel each year. (This is my average on the FWD CVT)

    A Matrix that gets 33 mpg on average will use $1360 worth of fuel each year. (Reasonable guess for an automatic.)

    This is a difference of $250 per year. If you drive less, the difference is less.

    If the Matrix costs $1000 more, it takes 4 years, or 60,000 miles to recoup this extra cost in fuel savings. If the Matrix is $2,000 more, it takes 120,000 miles to recoup the extra cost.
  • nonnemachernonnemacher Member Posts: 98
    2.0 CVT SXT - I filled up this morning after driving 55 miles with the low fuel light on. 361 miles total on 13.4 gallons, or 26.94 mpg. The mileage was split between 2-3 mile trips and 15-20 mile trips. Some with AC, some not. None of the mileage was "pure highway" driving. My cars usually have not done well on MPG due to my frequent short-trip driving. Most of them have gotten less than their ratings. The Caliber is the first "automatic" I've had that actually gets its rating in this kind of driving - I think that's respectable.

    Some questions---

    1. How much does the fuel tank really hold, maybe I was on the fumes, maybe not...
    2. My experience is that manual trannies often do better than rated overall MPG, can someone post actual MPG for the Caliber SXT with a 5 speed manual?
    3. Two local Dodge dealer have a total of 25 Caliber SXT's in stock - mostly CVT's - I bought mine at the end of March and waited 10 days (it was en route when I picked it out) - any clue how availability can vary so much?
    4. I'm thinking of having my wheel covers painted a flat black to match the trim on the car - I have the darker Steel Blue and have already put a black Mopar antenna on it - much nicer than silver. Maybe take off the fuel door and have that done in black too. Any thoughts?
    5. Does any anyone have, or know where you can get, a scuff pad for the top of the rear bumper... It would be good in black, too, especially when you blow a tire and need to load it in the back.
    :)
  • fmfpjfmfpj Member Posts: 12
    Yes, I keep hearing of people waiting for thier car the dealer right outside the gate(i am military) have more than 8 instock from se to rt. I have the Steel Blue as well if you do go black send some pics or links i would like to check it out. I test drove one in vegas during a smal;l deployment and came back to North Carolina and bought one the same day. It has 5speed, sunroof, bostin accoustic with fold out speakers. I love it and all the people i work with like and are thinking of going to buy one.
  • caliberchiccaliberchic Member Posts: 402
    Yes, I have a 1.8 and I average 30.5mpg right now. Most 2.0's are gettin 22-25mpg.
  • lexan1965lexan1965 Member Posts: 118
    I've got almost 11K on my sxt 2.0 w a cvt and I'm getting 26.7mpg with the a/c running and close to 30mpg without the a/c running. I'm going to get an aftermarket muffler installed also, looking forward to seeing what I can get out of that plus a cloth air filter.
  • micwebmicweb Member Posts: 1,617
    30.5 mpg is pretty good, about what I usually get for this size of car (VW Golf, Neon, Cavalier, Focus) with a stick shift on a 35 mile almost all freeway commute. Since the Caliber is a solid, chunky vehicle (which adds up to extra safety) I'd say that's pretty good. It wouldn't suprise me if most 2.0's are getting 22-25 mpg given the "automatic transmission" penalty and the fact that most drivers spend more time (if not more miles) on city streets than they realize (the average SPEED on my 35 mile commute is between 35-43 mph, based on the trip computer, even though I seem to be mostly driving at 70 mph - the small portion of distance I spend on the street actually adds up to a high proportion of time). And drive with a lead foot (they don't realize that, either - I am usually the LAST away from lights, ha ha, which is why I usually get better mileage).

    Just for comparison, with a dinky Scion xA I only increased my mileage to 35 mpg, while of course enduring a punishing ride and sense of imminent danger (commuting as a thrill sport!).
  • xkmailxkmail Member Posts: 36
    So I was looking at the caliber with 1.8 and 5 speed and I mentioned to the sales rep how they should put this engine in the jeep liberty. I looked at the new Jeep COmpass (probably replace the liberty) and it has the 2.4L with CVT right out of the caliber.
    A note on the test drive, it was my young son, me, and the sales rep and with AC on we hit a small hill and wouldn't go over 55mph. Its not a racecar, just making a note here of what 120hp gets you.
    PS> Victorville Dodge is a bunch of greedy jerks, they offered me $9000 trade in on my 2005 liberty with V6, heck I just paid $24K 16 months ago.
  • grendel_cavegrendel_cave Member Posts: 27
    I don't know what was wrong with the model that you tested, but all three caliber engines and the 2.4 jeep compass put out at least 148hp. 1.8L = 148hp, 2.0 = 158, 2.4 = 172hp. Edmunds recently reviewed the Jeep Compass and found it to be a little low on power when off road, but still found it to be very rough terrain capable. Maybe there was something wrong with the one that you road tested. If you are interested in purchasing a Jeep Compass it may be worth while to test drive another.
  • xkmailxkmail Member Posts: 36
    See #11 above.
    The caliber seemed weak on the hill, also turning about 3000 RPM doing 65 which seems high.
  • faroutfarout Member Posts: 1,609
    xkmail: The Compass is not even close to a Liberty, and NEVER would or could replace the Liberty. My CRD Liberty is Trail rated, and has 295 lbs tork. The Liberty is a real 4x4 and is made for and very capabil of heavy duty off road travel. The compas is just a non-trail rated entry level into the Jeep brand.

    Farout
  • jhknightjhknight Member Posts: 46
    1300 miles on my SXT 2.0 w/cvt. I'm getting between 26 and 27 mpg with the a/c on. it doesn't seem to make much difference if I'm lead footin, light footin, in the city, or cruising the freeway at 70mph. I must say I was hoping for at least 30 with a light foot, haven't seen it yet. And the fuel tank is smaller than I'm used to. I'm considering trading for a Civic or is the diesel caliber coming anytime soon?
  • xkmailxkmail Member Posts: 36
    Yeah, my LIberty hauls but too. But honestly, what the heck can I haul with a 5000 lbs rating. A 19 foot trailer is about 4000 lbs empty, add water and goodies and that's it.
    Yours is obviously a diesel, I live in california and they can sell a lamborghini diablo that gets 6mpg, but a diesel car is an unacceptable polluter, even a VW TDI that gets 50mpg is a dirty behicle.
  • jhknightjhknight Member Posts: 46
    "world engine" my a**! check out this website;
    http://www.wanttoknow.info/carmileage
  • lexan1965lexan1965 Member Posts: 118
    I just took my caliber from Evansville, IN. to Quincy, IL. on a road trip. It did'nt matter if it was windy, raining, etc. the gas mileage remained the same at 27.3 mpg average.
    You would think that by wathcing your speed and good weather conditions you might see a slight variation on mileage but this is'nt the case with the cvt/2.0 engine.
    I averaged 70 to 75 mph over 600 miles and 27.3 mpg was the best I could get. I did have my a/c running also but don't think it makes a difference.
  • jhknightjhknight Member Posts: 46
    Yes, you would think that a tiny 2.0 would do at least 30-35. the a/c on most cars makes a 1-2 mpg difference usually. On my most recent tankful though I finally saw a "spike" of 29.9mpg including a 100 mile trip at 70mph with the a/c off. my average has been 26-27 since day one. could a cvt be less efficient than an overdrive automatic? do the extra valves and mechanicals of the 2.0 use more energy? Or is the 2.0 too choked with emissions devices? On the plus side it is nice to drive "enthusiastically" and be assured of at least 26mpg. It's strange that a smaller engine seams to do worse mpg, I also own a 2000 2.4 dohc dodge stratus with automatic which is solidly getting 26-27mpg.
    Anyway, when I signed up for a 27 month lease my strategy was to enjoy the roominess of this car while waiting for consumer demand to finally bring us the 100mpg car we should have had 30 years ago. (it looks like Toyota will do this in 2009) Had I gone with the new Civic the small increase up to 40 mpg would have made not all that much difference in my pocketbook so I might as well have something "different."
  • faroutfarout Member Posts: 1,609
    Not too long ago we were being told that blunt front ends were restricting air flow, thus the Neon, the Intrepid, and Stratus. That's just not so any longer, thus the Caliber, Charger, Magnum, and the Chrysler 300. The best part now is gas mileage does not matter any more! Heck we can easily pay $4.00 a gallon...... can you say HEMI

    Farout
  • jhknightjhknight Member Posts: 46
    Aerodynamics do not figure significantly into my Caliber's poor performance, big oil's greed does. Where I live I commute at no more than 55 mph. Still cannot get better than 27mpg.

    I'm glad someone can afford to pay $4.oo a gallon to feed a HEMI and I'm sure you'll get the chance to do so soon. The sooner those 100 mpg cars come the better.
  • grendel_cavegrendel_cave Member Posts: 27
    I read up on those 100 mpg toyotas that are/were supposed to be coming out. The things were made almost entirely of plastic. When they can put an engine in an SUV that makes it get 100 mpg and doesn't substantially decrease the towing or off road ability, I will sign up for one. The technology is there, when they decide to blow the dust off of it and mass produce it.
  • jhknightjhknight Member Posts: 46
    I just can't wait till the electric batteries- lithium ion- allow a practical NON OIL car to be practical. I sick of being taken advantage of by greedy megolomaniacs who think it's funny to have the world on a leash. The tech for 100 mpg cars has been around almost as long as cars have, sob big wigs had to get all self important and sabotage anything that got in their way. :mad:
  • lexan1965lexan1965 Member Posts: 118
    In my opinion the "chill zone" is a marketing scheme, it does not work! It won't even cool my bottles of water off and the so-called sliding door won't stay open. I can't believe DCX marketed this idea if it doesn't operate as advertised. :(
  • bigtsrbigtsr Member Posts: 149
    If you read DCX literature carefully re CHILL ZONE
    they don't call it a refrigerator,some owners are
    finding that pulling the slider right off (larger
    holes-it pops off) and putting A/C on recirculate
    it will keep prechilled bottles cool longer.
    Good luck!
  • jmechjmech Member Posts: 15
    Before buying the Dodge Caliber, I looked at the Hundayi Sonata. For starters, this car had a much higher MRSP price.
    And yes it had few more bells and whistles than the Dodge. I test drove the car and found insufficent room for my right leg because the seat would go back any further. I had to twist my leg to hit the brake. I am 5'9" .
    Today I Took a Dodge Calber dor a 2nd test drive and discovered the leg room was excellent. In fact, when I put the seat all the way back, I could not reach the gas pedal.
    I plucked down a deposit on a new Caliber which I should have in 4-6 weeks. The Sonata and the Dodge weigh about the same-3200 pounds. The MPG for the the Sonata was 24 city and 33 Hiway vs 22/30 for the Dodge. I have been reading a another forum that the Sonata is not even coming close with mpg-anotherwords..over rated mpg. Since the Stratus that I own now and Caliber are rated about the same, I will expect about the same MPG.
    The Bottom line-Not all cars are equal-even on the inside. :)
  • flyusmcflyusmc Member Posts: 10
    I have a 2.0 CVT SXT.

    I was originally getting 28-32 MPG (brand new). Slowly my MPG started going down to 26....24.....and now I'm at 20 MPG mostly Highway!!!! Around 1000 Miles I started getting the "pinging" that everone has heard. @ 2000 Miles I had my car in to the dealer because I hated the pining and low Gas milage. Even though my car was not listed in the temp recall, they preformed it and reflashed my computer. No Change.

    So... I brought my car in to the dealer for its first oil change at 3000 Miles. I had them take a look at the pinging and low gas milage again. They varified that it had both problems. At first they said it was normal. I told them it was not normal, they eventually relented and said yes it is not normal, but there has not been a fix yet put out (software fix). I have the latest software reprogram and have had the recal done to my car already.

    So My question is: Is there anything else I can do? I'm sick of getting the pinging and low 20 MPG on the freeway.

    -Thanks,
    Andy
  • scottstepscottstep Member Posts: 1
    I to have noticed the same, usually as an engine breaks in you would expect to get better gas milage but I find myself not getting no where near I should be. On a full tank I average 450km or 275 miles, at 13.6 gallons thats only 20mpg on mixed highway/city driving and this was on PREMIUM gas as the dealer told me to try to run permium to solve the faint knocking sound I hear when accelerating at times.

    I havent had the car in for the recall, will do that sooner then later and bring up the milage issue again.

    Dont get me wrong, I love the car... but come on DCX dont advertise great fuel milage without backing it up! One of my main reasons for buying this car was to save money on fuel, Im getting the same if not better milage with my 220 hp 98 intrepid and often times making use of all 220hp:)
  • pacermanpacerman Member Posts: 62
    That sux for mileage, there is guy in another forum that is getting 32 US MPG,(SXT 2.0) he has I think 6000km on it ...... :blush:
  • jhknightjhknight Member Posts: 46
    What pinging? my caliber sings as well as it did day one. software fix? recall? I haven't heard of any such things. I hope there is a software upgrade or whatever because that tiny engine ought to sure as heck do better than 25 mpg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • jhknightjhknight Member Posts: 46
    Dear Chrysler and their competion,

    I am writing to tell you that the american consumer DOES yes indeed WANT more efficient vehicles and would buy them if available. This is why Honda sold so well in the early 80's, the public wanted cheap transportation.So of course our dear, wise Uncle Sam slapped an import tariff to protect our gas thirsty auto makers from bankruptcy. Yes, maybe larger vehicles such as pickups are handy but come on! this is the 21st century! Why are you holding back? By now, 100 years after the first cars we still use basically the same engine yet look how fast and how far computers have come. You can't tell me that there isn't something better out there! In the 21st century we shouldn't be burning gas anymore at all. I can't speak for eveyone, Chrysler, maybe some people enjoy being taken for a ride at the gas pump,maybe they love being slaves to big oil. I for one would rather be burning water or volts.
  • flyusmcflyusmc Member Posts: 10
    So, here is what the dealer wrote when I brought my car in for the 2nd time.

    "Cust reports engine pings when revving from an idle, poor mileage. Vehicle has the most current software, known concern. No fix avail at this time"

    Cant I just have Chrysler by my car back and give me a Hemi Charger instead? In all honesty is there anything I can do about the horrible mileage (20 mpg freeway, and pinging). I even use 91 Octane and still get pinging!!! Very frustrating!

    Thanks,
    Andy
  • al2derfal2derf Member Posts: 5
    Response to #80

    Does the "pinging" noise come from the engine or rear of the vehicle. If it is coming from the rear you may want to have them check the exhaust. You may want to call the 1800 customer CAIR number in the manual and report the issue. If other people are having the same issues and no one reports it to DaimlerChrysler then the engineers won't know it is a problem to try and fix and send to the dealerships. I was told at my dealershipt that they really didn't know how to work on these yet.
  • txfeinbergstxfeinbergs Member Posts: 1
    Hey, you should consider yourself lucky. I have the R/T also and am only getting 18 MPG. I am seriously wondering where the hell the energy is going, as my Jeep Grand Cherokee with a 8 cylinder massive engine was getting 16.7. Something seems definitely weird here. Perhaps the MPG digital gauge is wrong? I will have to check by calculating it manually I guess.
  • lexan1965lexan1965 Member Posts: 118
    The wife and I just took our caliber on a trip for the last 4 days. It did'nt matter how fast, how loaded down the car was it got the same mileage. 27.3mpg is what I got and that was going up hills, flat roads, etc. Seems the cvt2 takes care of the guess work on my mpg. I know what i'm getting no matter how or where I drive my car.
  • jhknightjhknight Member Posts: 46
    I had the same thought. The CVT does not allow the engine to "lug" or operate in a "sweet spot" like most engines. Of course these are "World Engines" which are supposed to have a more useable torque curve thereby flattening that peak "sweet spot". For example, I once owned a 1991 Ford Escort with 5 speed. this car would hit its highway "spot" just shy of 75 mph and delivered no less than 40 mpg at 75 mph A/C on or off, regardless of load or terrain. I have also wondered if it isn't possible for an engineer to reprogram the computer that controls the engine and CVT to a given artificial sweet spot??
  • faroutfarout Member Posts: 1,609
    The only Caliver that gets cruse stock is the RT. That's just pure dumb. The styling has limited appeal, it's not anything my wife and I like, it's to boxy.

    Farout
  • faroutfarout Member Posts: 1,609
    flyusmc: Here is an Idea Andy. We have a 2005 Liberty CRD (diesel) gets 26.1 mpg and weight is all most 4,400 lbs. I think the CVT transmission is a cheap way to go for a small engine, and this "World Engine" made in Mexico is a big will it last engine. Hope things improve for you, Andy.

    Farout
  • pacermanpacerman Member Posts: 62
    World Engine.......Total World Engine production, from two plants in Dundee, two in South Korea, and one in Japan, is expected to be 1.8 million engines per year. From the ALLpar site......
  • bigtsrbigtsr Member Posts: 149
    SXT 2.0/cvt
    second tank of gas all city driving stop and go
    10.276 km/liter;29 mpg imp gallon;9.73 l/100km
    or 24.2 mpg/US.
    650 kilometers on car,driving like I stole it!!!!
  • faroutfarout Member Posts: 1,609
    paceman: Is ther a way one can tell if the engine was made in Dundee? Is it listed on the sticker that the engine was made in....? I personally think we will soon see engines and transmissions made in China! These world engines bring a real concern to me. I am especially doubtful about this CVT transmission built in Mexico. Only time will prove if they are long lasting, and durable.

    Farout
  • uglystickuglystick Member Posts: 1
    I love the dodge caliber that I picked out for my wife and I sunburst orange sxt. I've noticed that after a few washings on the rear hatch door the clear coat is stating to bubble and I will be taking it in next week as for the pinging sounds it is coming from the rear exaust. My other complaint is that the "chill-zone" sliding lever doesn't stay put. But after breaking it in I noticed my gas mileage going down but for the price it beats putting $60.00 a week in my 94 Quest. Any-other problems I will be in contact with fellow owners. Fisherman.
  • lexan1965lexan1965 Member Posts: 118
    I've been tracking my mpg manually at the pump and tripometer. I stopped doing this because I always got around 27.3 mpg when figuring it out. Last night I stopped at the gas station with 358 miles on the tripometer and still had an eigth of a tank left. I knew it was good as I usually only pull 350 miles after I drive with the low tank light on. To my amazement I figured out I made 28.9 mpg on this tank of gas! Best I've had since I first bought the car. I've got 16K miles on it with a 2.0 cvt. I also use synthetic oil in it.
  • jhknightjhknight Member Posts: 46
    It just seems to be a marketing ploy- "world engine" and "CVT". Big deal. There seems to be no advantage if we only average 27 mpg. The GM product Pontiac Vibe - almost identical to the Caliber - seems to do better with the "old" technology. "technology" is a joke word anyway. Cars really haven't advanced much in a hundred years compared to computers, etc.
  • bigtsrbigtsr Member Posts: 149
    I drove 365 kilometers yesterday to and back from a car
    swap meet north of Barrie Ont and back to Burlington
    sxt had 1100 kilometers on it,despite speeds of up to
    140 km/h and being being stuck at idle for 15 minutes
    at a bad accident on the 400 southbound when I filled up
    and figured it out manually the milage was 7.7l/100km or
    about 37 mpg(imperial gallon).
    Happy with that,hopefully can only get better.
  • lexan1965lexan1965 Member Posts: 118
    Just manually checked my mpg on a refill and got 30.1 mpg/cvt w 2.0 liter. Just went over 17K on it also.
  • jhknightjhknight Member Posts: 46
    you bring a message of hope. with 3000 miles on my sxt 2.0cvt I'm STILL getting a mere 27mpg. Somethings seriously wrong when I'm surrounded by 6 cylinder cars that are getting over 30mpg! :sick:
  • habalanchehabalanche Member Posts: 57
    I've only got 500 miles on my RT and am averaging just over 19mpg.It gets it's first real HWY test tomorrow though.We'll see what happens.Still better than the 12mpg I got around town with my Dakota
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