The 2008 Dodge Caliber SXT is a good choice when looking for a dependable, low-cost car. I have put about 55,000 miles on my Dodge Caliber since I bought it in January of 2008, and the brakes and engine still work, as far as I can tell, like new. I haven't had to put any money into maintenance besides taking it in for a standard oil change every 3,000 miles. It also holds up well in a crash when compared to other compact cars; when I was hit from the back at about 15 mph there was minimal, superficial damage to the back bumper. This is impressive considering how often small cars' trunks end up in their back seats when hit at even low speeds from the back.

While you wouldn't necessarily assume the Caliber is a fast car with its modest 1.8 liter, 148 horsepower engine, everyone who drives my car comments on how fast it accelerates. If I were in the market to purchase another car right now, I would probably look for a flex fuel model, but the Caliber's gas mileage of about 32 mpg highway and 28 mpg in the city is good enough for now; even though I am on the road quite a bit, I am only fueling up around one time each week.

In terms of aesthetics, the Caliber looks sleek, in my opinion, from the outside. However, the interior set up that comes standard is quite bland so it may be worth it to upgrade if you have the budget to do so. Also, as previously mentioned, I am impressed at how well the exterior of the Caliber holds up even after a crash, but the interior is not as high quality. For example, the driver's side lever that moves the seat up and down completely broke off. As I don't need to move the seat around often, this isn't that big of a deal for me, but it definitely speaks to the corners cut on the interior because the lever wasn't used often or inappropriately.

The bottom line is that the Dodge Caliber SXT is an above average car in the low-cost, compact car market. It looks good from the outside, holds up well after 50,000 miles, and has decent gas mileage. However, if you are someone who is looking for an excellent interior, either upgrade your Dodge Caliber or look for a different small car.