2013 Dodge Dart 04

The 2012 model year is the last one for the Dodge Caliber, a compact wagon-like vehicle that has failed to attract a strong and loyal following. The Caliber was one of the last models conceived as part of the DaimlerChrysler marriage, a vehicle that reflected much of what was wrong with that partnership then what was right.

The Dodge Caliber followed the popular Neon compact, a sedan that was sold for 11 models years beginning in 1995. A coupe was part of the original line, but only the sedan was built for the second generation model that was introduced for the 2001 model year. The Neon preceded the DaimlerChrysler marriage, but plans to replace it began shortly after Daimler assumed control in 1998, but those changes had to wait until the second generation model, already in the planning stages, came to an end.

That delay hurt the company and resulted in a vehicle that was one year late and less than spectacular. Indeed, no 2006 model was built, although the Caliber did arrive in January 2006 and was promptly christened a 2007 model.

Initially, the Caliber was sold in front- and all-wheel-drive variations, but soon the AWD was discontinued due to lack of sales and a tendency to consume more gas than any other small car on the market. Three engine choices -- 1.8- 2.0- and 2.4-liter four cylinder motors were initially offered, but eventually only the 2.0-liter remained. That motor produces 158 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 141 foot-pounds of torque at 5,000 rpm. When paired with a 5-speed manual transmission fuel economy is a respectable 24 mpg city, 32 mpg highway. However, when paired with a continuously variable transmission, those numbers slip to 23 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, well below what any car in its class served up.

What Caliber offers best is interior room, serving up 96.2 cubic feet of passenger volume. Its standard 18.4 cubic feet of cargo volume rivals many full-size sedans and with the rear seat folded down there is 47.4 cubic feet of cargo volume available. That's more than enough room back there to tote home those yard sale finds.

Where the Caliber failed to excite, the 2013 Dodge Dart promises to reinvigorate Dodge's small car offering. The Neon was certainly cute and affordable, offering a sport R/T model too. But, the Dodge Dart brings back a historic name and with it three engine choices including MultiAir and Tigershark engines supplied by Fiat. Indeed, the Dart is based on a Fiat corporate platform, modified to give riders what they want in a small Dodge model. It will also make available a transmission not found in a single luxury car today -- a 9-speed automatic that is supplied by ZF and scheduled to arrive for the 2014 model year. In the meantime, 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions will have to do, capable gearboxes just the same.