Buying Tips
Chevy HHR Subject of a Recall
GM is recalling about 300,000 copies of its Chevrolet HHR to fix a center-mounted dash storage door bin that popped open in NHTSA testing. Chevrolet will be sending those involved in the recall latch reinforcements to be self-installed or installed by a dealer.
The recall refers to the HHR (Heritage High Roof) as a sport-utility vehicle, but to most buyers, it's more familiar as a low-to-the-ground wagon based on Chevrolet's economy sedan, the Cobalt.
Despite its plebeian underpinnings, the editors over at TheCarConnection.com found the HHR to be a pretty pleasant piece of work. Despite criticism that it's just riding on the stylish coattails of the Chrysler PT Cruiser, we find it to have merits of its own. Stylewise, the biggest highlight is the availability of a 5-passenger HHR Panel edition that keeps the custom look of van-like painted metal rear quarters, but still includes rear seats. Of note, the HHR's folding seats reveal huge cargo capacity when stowed. Mechanically, the SS version sports GM's excellent 2.0-liter turbocharged, direct-injected four that provides stellar performance and refinement in equal measure. As well, the HHR scored well in NHTSA's crash testing.
Downsides to this vehicle are a rather old-tech four-speed automatic that exacerbates the modest power and lack of refinement in the base four cylinder engines. Also, the base suspension (sport suspension is optional on LT models and standard on the SS) is a little unresponsive to driver inputs, and some reviewers find the electronically boosted power steering to be numb and offer little feedback.
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