2006 Chevrolet HHR

Sport tourer with retro styling

By Nina Russin

2006 Chevrolet HHR

The Chevrolet HHR is a compact cross-utility vehicle that combines retro styling on the exterior with a spacious, cargo-friendly interior.

The HHR is Chevrolet’s answer to the Chrysler PT Cruiser: a compact cross-utility vehicle with retro-styling on the outside, and a stylish, cargo-friendly interior within. The HHR is built on the same platform as the Chevy Cobalt: the sportier of the automaker’s two compact sedans.

Pricing, including the $550 destination charge, starts at just under $17,000. A well-equipped model with cloth upholstery costs about $20,000.

The test car came with the optional high-output 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, five-speed manual transmission, and 17-inch wheels in place of the standard 16-inch rims. Other options included XM-satellite radio ($325), power sunroof  ($725), side curtain airbags ($395), roof rails $150), and an upgraded AM/FM/6-CD audio system with MP3 compatibility.

Cargo-friendly interior

The HHR’s cargo friendly interior is its biggest asset. Release latches on the second-row seatbacks are a snap to work. The seats fold flat in one easy movement, creating a load floor that will easily hold a road bike with the front wheel removed.

The front passenger seat also folds flat to extend the floor up to 8 feet in length. A tray on the seatback functions as a desk top with the seat folded flat. There is a net map pocket on the back of the driver’s seat for extra storage.

A unique feature is an auxiliary glove box located on top of the instrument panel. The lid pops up to hold an MP3 player, compact disks, cell phones or other small items.

All four doors have map pockets. The center console incorporates two large cupholders for the front passengers that will easily accommodate water bottles, and a single large cupholder to the rear.

Because of the vehicle’s high roof line, the second-row passengers have plenty of head room. The HHR is relatively narrow, so two adults will fit in back more comfortably than three. Leg and hip room are also excellent. The optional sunroof brings much-needed ambient light into the back of the car, since the side windows are relatively narrow.

The seats are well-designed from an ergonomic stance and easy to adjust. Controls for the audio, heat and air conditioning are easy to reach from both front positions. The roof pillars on the HHR are thicker than normal, restricting the visibility to the sides and rear, but the side view mirrors do an adequate job of compensating.

The base model comes well-equipped with comfort and convenience features, including air conditioning with filtration, a tilt steering wheel, power windows and door locks, remote keyless entry and cruise control.

The preferred equipment group on the test car ($1,800) added the more powerful engine and sport-tuned suspension, a seven-speaker sound system,  redundant steering wheel controls, an-auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass, leather steering wheel and shift knob, fog lamps and anti-lock brakes.

Above-average fuel economy

With fuel prices being what they are, the HHR’s 22/30 m.p.g. city/highway fuel economy is very appealing. Unfortunately, that fuel economy comes at the cost of lackluster performance.

While the car has adequate power to merge into high-speed traffic, its lack of low-end torque makes sharp grades and long hills a struggle. In running terms, the HHR lacks VO2 max.

Steering feedback is also a problem, despite its speed-sensitive feature. There is far too much play in the steering wheel, enough for the driver to feel a disconnect between himself and the car.

The brakes do a good job of stopping the car, but the suspension is soft, which doesn’t help in the corners. This is one case where different wheels and tires can make a big difference. It’s worth the money to get the 17-inch rims, to give the wheels a bigger footprint and better traction.

Below-average maintenance costs

To their credit, the engineers at GM made a conscious effort to minimize long term maintenance costs, with features such as an oil-life monitoring system and chain drive. The oil filter housing is cast into the engine assembly, eliminating the need to crawl under the car to change the oil, and the need for a separate oil filter can.

The chain drive should appeal to buyers who plan to pack on the mileage, since a typical timing belt needs to be replaced at about 60,000 miles. A chain drive lasts the life of the vehicle. Balance shafts keep the four-cylinder engine vibration free, making for a more pleasant driving experience.

Standard safety features on the HHT include dual-stage front airbags, three point safety belt harnesses in five seating positions, daytime running lamps and the LATCH child seat attachments.

A good choice for city driving

Its compact dimensions and good fuel economy make the HHR a good choice for drivers who plan to use the vehicle around town to commute and haul cargo. The HHR is relatively inexpensive to fuel and maintain, and its flexible interior makes it exceptionally adept at hauling odd-sized cargo. It has adequate power for the highway, and will work fine for the occasional road trip.

But it’s not the best choice for those who plan to do a lot of driving on rural two-lane roads or unimproved roads. In those cases, a more powerful sport wagon or traditional sport-utility vehicle would be better options.

Likes: A good value, the HHR offers a lot of standard comfort and convenience features. The interior can be configured to haul cargo up to eight feet in length. Retro exterior styling will appeal to buyers looking for something that stands out from the crowd, and the higher-than average fuel economy will appeal to anyone who would rather spend their money on gear than gasoline.

Dislikes: A slightly underpowered engine makes the HHR a chore to drive on hilly roads. The steering is too loose, and there is not adequate feedback for the driver. The suspension is soft, which is especially noticeable at high speeds or when driving on a challenging course.

Quick facts:

Base price: $16,425
Price as tested: $22,375
Horsepower: 172 @ 6200 r.p.m.
Torque: 162 @ 5000 r.p.m.
0 to 60: 8.4 seconds
Antilock brakes: Option
Side curtain airbags: Option
First aid kit: No 
Towing: No
Off-road: No
Bicycle friendly: Yes
Fuel economy: 22/30 m.p.g. city/highway 
Comments: The Chevrolet HHR comes in two models, LS and LT. The upscale LT comes in two trim levels: 1LT and 2LT. A 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine rated at 143-horsepower with a five-speed manual transmission is standard. All models are available with an optional four-speed automatic transmission. The Chevrolet HHR is built at GM’s plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.

2007 Toyota Yaris

Toyota’s subcompact liftback delivers true value

By Nina Russin

2007 Toyota Yaris

In our $3-per gallon world, the pint-sized Toyota Yaris is a real value, with a sub-$15,000 price tag and fuel economy that rivals most hybrids.
Small cars with small engines may not be sexy, but they are thrifty.

The Toyota Yaris, which replaces the Echo as the automaker’s subcompact sedan and liftback, is a reliable, affordable car that runs on 87 octane fuel and averages between 34 and 40 miles-per-gallon, depending on the driving conditions. While its 106-horsepower engine won’t win any races, it’s adequate for buzzing around town, or to take on the occasional road trip.

The 3-door liftback (tested), features a fold-flat second-row seat that opens up a decent-sized cargo bay, that’s large enough to stash a week’s worth of groceries, a few suitcases, or even a road bike with the front wheel removed.

Simple, functional interior

Like the Echo, the Yaris is engineered to be produced in both left- and right-hand drive versions. For this reason, all of the gauges, temperature and audio controls are located in the center of the instrument panel, and on a center stack beneath it. There is no tachometer on the 3-door model: a conspicuous absence on the manual-transmission test car.

On the positive side, both of the front doors have bottle holders integrated into the map pockets, and there’s a nice-sized enclosed bin above the glove box. The center stack has functional shelves for stashing small electronic items to the right and left of the control knobs. A large cupholder to the rear of the center console can easily hold a large bottle of water as well.

The front seats are comfortable and easy to adjust, with good lower lumbar support. The rear seats are very short of legroom, but they’re adequate for a child seat or to carry two extra passengers for a short distance.

The 60/40 split second-row seats fold forward by releasing two latches on the seatbacks of the outboard seats. The operation takes far less than the 30 seconds we specify for out bicycle-friendly vehicles.

With the second-row seats in place, there’s enough room in back for a few bags of groceries, and a standard tonneau cover keeps the items away from prying eyes.

Comfort and convenience features are generous of a car in this price range, including air conditioning, independent front suspension, tilt steering wheel and power steering. Options on the test car included antilock brakes ($300), side and side-curtain airbags ($650), remote keyless entry ($150), and a power package that adds 15-inch wheels, power windows, locks and mirrors, a MP3-compatible audio system with in-dash CD changer, rear windshield wiper, and the 60/40 split rear seats ($1,680).

Slow and steady wins the race

The Yaris’ four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual transmission provide adequate power for daily commutes, though 20- 50 mile-per-hour acceleration leaves something to be desired. Don’t expect to pass any cars merging into traffic. As is typical in small engines, the best power is at the top of the band, so the Yaris functions pretty well at highway speeds.

Visibility is good all the way around the car, which is a good thing, since pint-sized cars don’t get much respect from full-sized trucks and sport-utility vehicles. The 15-inch wheels make for a more stable chassis on the highway, or when it’s necessary to make an emergency evasive manuever.

 Because the Yaris is such a light car (under 2,300 pounds tested), it tends to bounce around in a good headwind. While steering response is generally good, the Yaris doesn’t always feel as solid on the highway as heavier cars with more powerful engines.

Simple but stylish exterior

The pint-sized liftback is simple but stylish on the outside: especially for fans of similar European cars. Short front and rear overhangs and a relatively low center of gravity give the Yaris a sporty appearance. On the other hand, it’s 5.5 inches of ground clearance means that drivers need to be careful of rocks and tree roots on graded roads.

A rear window wiper is a handy feature, improving the rear visibility in rain and snow. The liftgate is wide enough to make for easy access to the cargo area: an especially handy feature when loading in bikes or luggage.
Pricing a starving college student could love.

The Yaris is Toyota’s smallest and least expensive model. Base prices begin at $10,950 and $11,850 for the liftback and sedan respectfully: expect to pay a little more for automatic transmission models, and the upscale S sedan. The fuel-thrifty Yaris is currently on display at Toyota dealerships nationwide.

Likes:  The Yaris is a simple, inexpensive car that has a functional, stylish interior, and gets exceptional fuel economy: up to 40 miles-per-gallon on the highway. It’s a great first car for people on a budget, and it comes with Toyota’s flawless reputation for safety and reliability.

Dislikes:  The manual transmission model (tested) should come equipped with a standard tachometer. Antilock brakes, while available, are a fairly expensive option. Because of its size and relatively light curb weight, the Yaris tends to drift at highway speeds in windy weather. It’s best use is as a city commuter.

Quick facts:

Base price: $10,950
Price as tested: $14,540
Horsepower: 106 @ 6,000 r.p.m.
Torque: 103 lbs.-ft. @ 4,200 r.p.m.  
Antilock brakes: Option
Side curtain airbags: Option
First aid kit: No 
Towing: No
Off-road: No
Bicycle friendly: Yes
Fuel economy: 34/40 m.p.g. city/highway 
Comments: Base price does not include a $580 delivery charge.