What car replaced the Caliber?
The Dodge Dart.
The Dodge Caliber, a compact hatchback, was produced from 2006 through 2012. In the wake of Chrysler’s restructuring and a push to modernize Dodge’s lineup, the brand replaced the Caliber with the Dodge Dart for the 2013 model year. The Dart remained in production until 2016, after which Dodge shifted its focus more toward crossovers and SUVs. This article explains the replacement and its place in Dodge’s product strategy.
Context: The Caliber’s place in Dodge's lineup
The Caliber was designed to offer practical interior space and affordable pricing in a hatchback package. While it found buyers in family and value-focused segments, critics cited uneven interior quality and aging design compared with newer compact rivals. By the early 2010s, Dodge sought a more modern, competitive compact model to drive the brand forward.
Replacement details
Before listing the key facts about how the replacement unfolded, here is a concise outline of the main points.
- The Dodge Dart was introduced for the 2013 model year to fill the void left by the Caliber in Dodge’s compact-car lineup.
- Engine options for the Dart included a 2.0L Tigershark, a 2.4L Tigershark, and a 1.4L MultiAir Turbo in various trims, offering improved performance and efficiency over the Caliber.
- The Dart rode on a Fiat-developed compact platform and emphasized updated styling, technology, and safety features; production continued through the 2016 model year.
In short, the replacement signified a shift from a practical hatchback to a contemporary compact sedan as Dodge refreshed its core lineup during the 2010s.
Key contrasts with the Caliber
Compared with the Caliber, the Dart offered newer design language, modernized powertrains, improved interior technology, and a more conventional sedan silhouette, reflecting Dodge’s broader push toward more up-to-date, mainstream models in that era.
Aftermath and current status
Since the Dart’s discontinuation in 2016, Dodge has not offered a direct, one-for-one replacement for the Caliber in the compact car segment. The brand has prioritized crossovers and SUVs, aligning with broader industry trends toward taller, more versatile vehicles. In the 2020s, Dodge introduced small crossovers like the Hornet, but these are not direct successors to the Caliber in terms of body style or market positioning.
Summary
The Caliber’s direct replacement was the Dodge Dart, a compact sedan launched for the 2013 model year and produced through 2016. After the Dart, Dodge did not introduce a direct compact-hatchback successor, instead focusing on crossovers and SUVs as its core component of the lineup. The Dart stands as the brand’s most explicit attempt to modernize Dodge’s compact segment in the 2010s.
What replaced the Dodge Caliber?
The 2013 Dodge Dart replaced the Dodge Caliber as the compact vehicle in Dodge's lineup. Discontinued after the 2012 model year, the Caliber's successor was the new compact sedan, the Dart. The Caliber was discontinued due to a lack of market success, and the Dart was introduced to fill its place.
You can watch this video to learn about the history and flaws of the Dodge Caliber: 55sMarspeedYouTube · Aug 7, 2019
- The Dodge Dart: The Dart was an all-new compact sedan introduced for the 2013 model year.
- Platform: The Dart was based on a platform shared with the European-market Alfa Romeo Giulietta.
- Reason for replacement: The Caliber was discontinued after a 2012 model year because of poor sales and performance in the compact market compared to competitors like the Chevy Cruze and Ford Focus.
When did they discontinue the Dodge Caliber?
2012
| Dodge Caliber | |
|---|---|
| Model years | 2007–2012 |
| Assembly | United States: Belvidere, Illinois Venezuela: Valencia, Carabobo |
| Designer | Mike Nicholas (2005) |
| Body and chassis |
What car replaced the Chevy Cavalier?
The Chevy Cavalier was replaced by the Chevrolet Cobalt in North America for the 2005 model year. In other regions, like Mexico, the Cavalier was later revived and then discontinued again, with the Cruze serving as a successor at one point before it too was discontinued.
- North America: The Chevrolet Cobalt, introduced for the 2005 model year, replaced the Cavalier as Chevy's compact car. The Cobalt was available as both a coupe and a sedan.
- Other Markets: While the Cavalier was discontinued in North America in 2005, it continued to be sold in other parts of the world. After the US discontinuation, the Cavalier was replaced by the Chevrolet Cruze in the Mexican market around 2017.
What was the last year of the Dodge Caliber?
2012
The final year for the Caliber was 2012.
