I'm actually writing this while on a business trip. My company rented me a car and, since the rental agency didn't have any Honda's, I wound up with a Dodge "Caliber". This is small wagon that's roughly a foot longer than my '09 Fit, and about 4 inches wider. It's actually a nice car, so nothing here should be taken as running it down,


But I was really struck by how different the two hatchbacks are. The Caliber has Dodge's signature retro 30's styling. The seating position is upright and fairly comfortable. But the roof-line extends forward and down, encroaching on your vision. Where the Fit is like sitting in the open air, the Caliber feels like sitting in a tank and peering out through the vision slot. In both cars, you don't see the hood at all while driving. But the Caliber has huge pillars front and rear. Probably great protection in a roll-over accident, but the rear pillars create blind spots that are big enough to hide an 18 wheeler. The side visibility is blocked by the front pillars and the wide doors. Not really a problem driving, although in parking lots it's tough to see the parking spot you're trying to center the car in. In spite of being wider and longer, it has less legroom up front than my Fit, and the interior is more crowded. The rear cargo area is longer, but not nearly as deep or low.


In driving, the Caliber definitely seems to have a more powerful engine (although I'm comparing an automatic Caliber to a 5 speed Fit, so it's not an apples to apples comparison). The Caliber feels heavier and more stable. The Fit is more fun to fling around corners, but you have to be able to use the engine and tranny together to get the most out of it, not just stomp on the gas pedal.


In summary, the Dodge is styled to be looked at from the outside. The Fit is engineered for maximum space efficiency and ergonomics.