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Car Review: If
Al Capone was a Sesame Street character, he would drive something that
looked like this. It's the retro-styled Chevy HHR. Yes, in some ways
this is nothing but a PT Cruiser copycat with its retro
Little-Debbie-van styling, but it offers a lot more than the cool sheet
metal.
Let's say you need a
practical car but don't want it to be boring. What are your options?
Assuming you want something affordable that gets decent gas mileage your
choices quickly start to narrow. When you ask for four doors, a stylish
body and a big, SUV-like cargo area, well, that's just about impossible.
But here is a car that try’s to make it happen. The Chevy HHR.
The HHR is the size of
a compact car but feels bigger because of its high roofline and smart
interior packaging. Big Bird would fit in comfortably. It has a higher,
more upright seating position than many cars, it really feels more like
a micro-SUV than a car, and comes with enough storage space to haul the
things you see in SUV commercials, like an eight-foot ladder, surfboard,
skis and a kayak.
Chances are nobody will
actually carry any of that stuff in an HHR, but at least it has plenty
of room for groceries.
While the base version
starts around $16,500, I drove the high-performance HHR SS Turbo that
cost more than $24,000. It comes with a 2.0-liter engine that makes 260
horsepower, and that’s a crazy-high amount of power for an otherwise
dull, front-wheel-drive family car.
The SS also comes with
a sportier suspension, more aerodynamic styling and an amazing traction
control system with launch control. Basically the SS model is a car
designed for drag races.
Whether you opt for the
Vanilla HHR or the Tabasco SS Turbo flavor, you'll be driving a car
that's a fun and unconventional take on ordinary family transportation.
What Was Tested:
The 2008 Chevrolet HHR SS Turbo with a base price of $22,375. Options on
the test car included: Limited slip differential $495, side airbags
$395, audio upgrade $295, XM Satellite Radio $200.
Total MSRP Price as
tested including the $620 destination charge: $24,380
Why Avoid It:
It's a blatant PT Cruiser knock-off.
Why Buy It: The
HHR is actually a compact car built to look like an SUV. As such, it has
the light, maneuverable driving feel of a car with the versatile
interior of a small SUV, including a nice size cargo area behind the
back seat. It's an efficient, affordable family car with a versatile
interior and retro styling.
By Derek Price ©
AutoWire.Net - San Francisco
Byline: Car Review
provided by Tony Leopardo © AutoWire.Net
Chevy Home Page
Column Name: Chevy HHR
shows direction for efficient transportation
Topic: The 2008
Chevrolet HHR SS Turbo
Word Count: 504
Photo Caption: The 2008
Chevrolet HHR SS Turbo
Photo Credits:
Chevrolet HHR Internet Media
Series #: 2008 - 51
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the Microsoft Word version here:
2008 Chevrolet HHR SS
Turbo
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2008 Chevrolet HHR SS
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