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Christopher Jackson | 9/6/2007 | Chevrolet
Chrysler's PT Cruiser made a big splash when it hit the market in 2000. Its retro style, SUV-versatility and commuter-car manners were an unheard-of combination that helped to launch the current crop of compact, do-all tall cars. In fact, the PT Cruiser's impact was so great that six years later, the Chevrolet HHR has hit the same mark and vanished under the PT Cruiser's ripples.
That's not to say that the HHR isn't a success; it's finding plenty of buyers. It even offers enough additional space and ability that Chevy can say with a straight face that it's not an "answer" to the PT Cruiser, though it clearly wouldn't have existed had Chrysler not broken the trail. From a distance, it looks like a retro SUV, but the HHR gets smaller and smaller as you get closer to it. Chevrolet says the styling was influenced by the SSR retro-pickup and the 1949 Suburban; the HHR would also just about fit inside of the old Sub. Far from being a cheap knockoff, the HHR is a do-anything vehicle with style in its own right.
The hot-rod styling is the first thing that stands out, of course. The bulbous fenders and upright, narrow windshield suggest 1940s cars and the original Suburban that inspired the HHR. Round taillights carry this theme to the rear. The HHR is boxier than the PT Cruiser, in addition to being longer. The blockier look actually makes the HHR look less like a hot rod, which in turn lowers the performance expectations--a good thing, since the HHR isn't a performance vehicle.
The chop-top look doesn't hurt visibility, and the HHR offers a spacious and comfortable interior. A high H-point means that the seats are comfortable for drivers tall or short, and rear seat legroom is decent as well. The dash contains a higher quantity of cheap plastic than is fashionable, but with a covered cubby riding up top and a nice centrally-located stereo, it succeeds on an ergonomic level. We weren't sure about the instrument panel, which has an off-sized inset gauge that can be a bit hard to read. It's a comfortable interior, thanks in part to the use of vibration-absorbing "Quiet Steel" in its construction. Equipment is much like the typical compact car; standard stuff includes air conditioning, power windows and mirrors and keyless entry. An MP3 player/iPod jack is also standard equipment. Of course, it's fun to dress a little rig like this up too. To that end, XM satellite radio, leather and a subwoofer-equipped stereo are available. On the safety front, side-curtain airbags are also an option.
The HHR excels at going out and Getting Things, of course. The carpetless cargo area is easy to clean, but also means that there's going to be some noise when hard objects are carried back there. Underneath the floor, there's space to carry small objects out of sight. The seats fold to accommodate more cargo, and our HHR was good for a whole day of thrift shopping followed by a grocery trip. To expand the available space, the front passenger seat folds flat. All in all, the HHR will swallow 63.1 cubic feet of cargo without trouble. Chevrolet calls the HHR a truck, but the platform is the same as that of the new Cobalt subcompact.
There's a choice of four-cylinder engines under the hood. The base engine is a 2.2 liter four-cylinder, the same as in the Cobalt and several other General Motors products. This new family of four-cylinders lacks the irritating thrashiness of the family of powerplants it replaces. Dual overhead-cam, sixteen-valve construction and electronic throttle control give the HHR great manners on the road, and this little truck's powertrain doesn't feel cheap or overworked even with just 143 horsepower on tap. Move up to the larger 2.4 liter four cylinder and power jumps to 172. Our tester had the more powerful engine, and the seat-of-the-pants meter puts the HHR at "average" when it comes to acceleration. A choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions is offered. The stick is a sturdy Getrag unit whose feel splits the difference between economy-car light and truck-tough nicely. With the automatic transmission, a remote-start feature is standard. Looking for a vehicle to pull behind an RV? Chevrolet has already anticipated this versatile vehicle's appeal to such customers, and the HHR is designed to be flat-towed.
On the freeway, crosswinds can cause directional issues. MacPherson struts are used up front, and a sturdy and simple semi-independent torsion beam in the rear. Chevy offers a choice of suspensions; the FE1 setup is softer and tuned for comfort, while the FE3 gives a bit more road feel for more aggressive drivers. In either form, the HHR handles nicely, with a solid, confident feel in turns and none of the top-heavy sensation that's always been the PT's bugaboo. Electric power steering contributes to this, as well as reducing complexity and weight under the hood. Anti-lock brakes are optional, as is traction control.
With all that, you might not be convinced that the HHR is really an economy car at heart. The sticker price should disabuse that notion however; HHR pricing starts at $16,425. Our test truck was well-equipped, with ABS, a high-output 2.4 liter engine, roof rails and side-curtain airbags, and it stickered for just $19,030.
Specifications:
All specs are for the 2006 Chevrolet HHR.
Length: 176.2 in.
Width: 69.2 in.
Height: 65.2 in.
Wheelbase: 103.5 in.
Curb weight: 3208 lb.
Cargo space: 55.6 cu.ft. (rear seat folded); 63.1 cu.ft. (rear seat removed)
Base price: $16.425
Price as tested: $19,030
Engine: 2.4 liter DOHC inline four-cylinder
Drivetrain: five-speed manual transmission, front-wheel drive
Horsepower: 172 @ 6200
Torque: 162 @ 5000
Fuel capacity: 16.2 gal.
Est. mileage: 22/30
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