<img src="http://www.chevyhhr.net/news/insidehhr.jpg" align="left" border="0" hspace="5" vspace="2">At a time when pinning labels on motor vehicles has become increasingly difficult, the 2006 Chevrolet HHR takes the cake.
Many auto reviewers have branded it a wagon. The window sticker on the tested HHR LT calls it a "sedan," yet Chevrolet's own Web site lists it under "trucks." Numerous automotive publications call it a squat sport-utility vehicle.

The most cynical observers have labeled the HHR a knockoff of the Chrysler PT Cruiser. Ooh, nasty!


As for Chevy, it already has cast its votes for both truck and sedan: The HHR "fuses elements of the 1949 Chevy Suburban - the original utility vehicle - and the SSR roadster."
OK. Sure. I'll buy it.

But would you? That's going to depend on your tastes.

If retro styling in a comparatively small wagon/SUV crossover package gets your heart fluttering, the HHR is a test drive waiting to happen.

Other considerations: The HHR is small in price and horsepower.

The HHR LS starts at less than $15,500; the tested LT goes for a mere $16,000 and change. The tester had a nothing-fancy, 2.2-liter in-line 4 rated at 143 horsepower. That means you need a pretty heavy foot to deposit tire rubber on the streets.

So there you have it - an affordable retro wagon with the DNA of a SUV and a four-banger engine.

Well, actually, there's a little more to the HHR than that.

Take that 143 horsepower, for example. In my week with the HHR, the dual-overhead-cam engine felt much stronger than that. If someone had asked me to guess the horsepower rating on feel alone, I would have pegged it at around 165.

Handling also was a surprise. The HHR is constructed on the same small-car base as the Chevrolet Cobalt. Structural rigidity is solid, which explains the HHR's comparatively smooth glide through high-speed corners. You wait for the vehicle's weight to lean over to one side in a sharp turn; it happens, but at about 20 mph more than you might initially guess.

The HHR's late-1940s-with-modern-touches exterior skin is cool, and yes, it does bring Chrysler's PT Cruiser to mind.

However, the HHR - enough suspense, HHR stands for "heritage high roof," a shout out to that original 1949 Chevrolet Suburban - has a little more size. It's 7 inches longer than Chrysler's popular PT and higher and wider than the Cruiser by 2 inches. With the rear seat out of harm's way, the HHR's cargo-carrying capacity is an admirable 63.1 cubic feet.

Does the HHR shape up as a likely machine to be dressed up in aftermarket goodies, a la the PT Cruiser? Yes, absolutely. I saw a gleaming, two-tone HHR at this month's Los Angeles Auto Show that was absolutely stunning.

So young motorists who don't want to plunk down three years of pay on a car should be attracted to the HHR; that includes youngsters who wouldn't know a '49 Suburban from a foot-driven sewing machine.

What might buyers not like?

An absence of standard anti-lock brakes, for one. What an odd omission from a vehicle that is otherwise liberally equipped with standard interior amenities (including iPod hookups).

And while the HHR's exterior snaps heads around, the interior is comparatively uninspiring. That's not necessarily surprising; Chevy had to save money somewhere if it was going to keep the HHR in the $16,000 ballpark.

Be advised that Chevy left plenty of room to dress it up. The tester was obscenely gussied up in nearly $6,000 worth of options. That included a remote-start feature for the automatic transmission - a tap on the key fob triggers the engine on the locked vehicle.

Remote-start is great for warming up the HHR on cold days and startling neighbors walking their dogs in front of your house, but if you have no trouble operating a stick shift, it's a $1,000 extra you can probably live without.

Thankfully, the HHR's discount-looking interior does not apply to the seats, which are comfortable. And the area surrounding the seats is remarkably roomy for a vehicle two feet short of 200 inches in length.

Overall, the HHR shapes up as a nice entry for General Motors Corp., a company in need of alluring new products. And it gives GM an attractive alternative to some of the sizable SUVs the automaker is pushing despite increasing public pessimism over the big brutes.

With its enticing looks, affordable price and pleasing cargo-carrying options, the HHR is likely to appeal to buyers both young and old.


CHEVROLET HHR AT A GLANCE
Make/model: 2006 Chevrolet HHR LT.
Vehicle type: Five-passenger, four-door, front-drive, wagon/sport-utility vehicle crossover.

Base price: $16,425 (as tested, $22,280).

Engine: 2.2-liter in-line 4 with 143 horsepower at 5,600 revolutions per minute and 150 foot-pounds of torque at 4,000 rpm.

EPA fuel economy: 23 miles per gallon city; 30 mpg highway.

Transmission: Four-speed automatic with overdrive.

Steering: Power-assisted rack and pinion with speed-sensitive feature.

Brakes: Power discs on front; drum-type on rear.6 Suspension: Independent, strut-type on front; semi-independent, torsion beam on rear (stabilizer bars front and rear).

Fuel tank: 16.2 gallons. Passenger volume: 97.4 cubic feet.

Cargo volume: 63.1 cubic feet (with rear seat removed).

Curb weight: 3,155 pounds.

Track: 58.7 inches on front and rear.

Ground clearance: 6.3 inches.

Height: 65.2 inches.

Length: 176.2 inches.

Wheelbase: 103.5 inches.

Width: 69.2 inches.

Tires: P215/55R16 all-season radials.

Assembly point: Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.

source: http://www.sacbee.com/content/business/story/14094511p-14924459c.html

Sorry...............but Chevrolet.com lists the HHR under "cars". The SSR is under trucks. http://www.chevrolet.com

It is listed under cars *and* under SUVs.

Dealerships have the promo material displayed with the trucks (at least at the dealers I've been to).

FWIW.

Well is better then wagon's and vans

Definitely!

Wisconsin classifys the HHR as a van body truck

Sorry...............but Chevrolet.com lists the HHR under "cars". The SSR is under trucks. http://www.chevrolet.com

In Michigan, my insurance co. designates it as a truck. :confused:

In NY it is light truck, like an S-10 or Ranger.

I guess every ins. is different

In Indiana it is also classified as a light truck. :thumb:

I guess every ins. is different
yep, I live in Indiana and my ins classifies it as a 4 dr sedan. :confused:

In FLA it is considered a truck as well, on the insurance card (allstate) it says TRK. That is the only reason I can come up with why FULL coverage is only $632.00 for the ENTIRE year!

wow thats cheap.i'm paying like $1200 for the year.Thats progressive..

My insurance was going to be 1100 every six months (cheapest I found, I'm only 20) but I went ahead and kept my old car and they put that as my primary and i just pay 500 ontop of what I was paying. Comes out to like 750 every six months for 2 cars.

Anybody know what it is classified in New Jersey? It came up in a converstion yesterday.

Hmmm... My insurance card (AllState) says "TRK" too. (in Ohio) Also, my insurance went down due to the side curtain air bags.
Didn't think much of that extra option (good or bad) at the time I purchased my HHR but now I'm glad I have them. :)

AllState in TX classifies it as a light truck as well.

I have a few problems with the article, especially in the section about what buyer might not like.

Anti-lock brakes: Like a lot of vehicles, they are not standard. Even in vehicles like the Impala, Monte Carlo, and Cobalt, the HHR is no different. Some people do not want them. Honestly anti-lock brakes are great, but some people just dont want them and want to save money. I have even been told by customers they are afraid of anti-lock brakes, because they dont feel secure when the brakes pulse. That's how they work, but alot of people are set in their ways.

Ipod Jack: Its not like only the HHR has an Ipod Jack. The Monte Carlo and Impala have the same radio. Its the new "Black Tie" radio. And the same radio just came out in the new 2007 Tahoe. It will now be the standard radio in all upcomming Chevys as well as a lot of GM vehicles. so to say Chevy is saving money by not including anti-lock brakes, but include an Ipod Jack is ridiculous. Its just that the radio comes with that feature. But here's something to look outside of the box. That jack can be used for a lot of things. Hook up a walkman for those who have a ton of cassettes. Hook up a portable DVD player for those long trips, Hook up XM or Sirius Hand-held portable units. As long as it has a headphone jack you cna hook it up.

$1000 remote start: That is simply wrong. You are not paying $1000 for a remote start. Its the combination of Automatic transmission with remote start. To add Automatic to a Cobalt is $800. So if is the same thing in the HHR. Then you are only paying $200 for a remote start. And for those people who have installed a good remote start in another vehicle, $200 is a good price. And with the HHR using the Passlock+ anti-theft, you do not need to buy a bypass. Having it from the factory, allows for the HHR to use its anti-theft in conjunction with the remote start and opposed to bypassing it. This same feature is also available for the Impala, MonteCarlo, Malibu, Malibu Maxx and the new Tahoe. I used to be an installer at Circuit City before I became a car salesman. Remote starts in GM vehicles suck to install, thus we would charge for extra labor accordingly. Especially in TrailBlazers and Envoys. We wouldnt even touch those vehicles because of the liability. So to have a factory remote start that totally works with the vehicle is a bonus!!

Am I wrong here?

Oh and the guy must not have driven the 2.4L engine. Sounds like he was driving the 2.2L. At least he admitted it had more pick up that what he expected. Its the same thing I say when someone is only looking at a book about the HHR's Horsepower. With the 2.4L I always say that If i didnt tell them it was a 4cyl, they would think its a V6. I also own an Equinox, and my HHR is just as quick

Oh and the guy must not have driven the 2.4L engine. Sounds like he was driving the 2.2L. At least he admitted it had more pick up that what he expected. Its the same thing I say when someone is only looking at a book about the HHR's Horsepower. With the 2.4L I always say that If i didnt tell them it was a 4cyl, they would think its a V6. I also own an Equinox, and my HHR is just as quick
Interesting that you would say that after what I was reading last night. I was online researching an Equinox for my wife(later this summer). The reviewers were talking about the spirited performance of the v-6 so I looked up the performance data. Much to my surprise the 0-60 times were actually a couple of tenths slower the the times Car & Driver posted for the 2.4 HHR. I still don't understand why so many reviewers have blasted the HHR in the performance area. I drove several HHR's before I ordered mine and thought both engines were very quick for 4 cylinder engines. I opted for the 2.4 with the 2lt package. It's been ordered for over three weeks so I am hoping to hear some new information soon. One other thing for Craig, what is your honest opinion of the equinox? My wife really likes the looks. :thumb:

Interesting that you would say that after what I was reading last night. I was online researching an Equinox for my wife(later this summer). The reviewers were talking about the spirited performance of the v-6 so I looked up the performance data. Much to my surprise the 0-60 times were actually a couple of tenths slower the the times Car & Driver posted for the 2.4 HHR. I still don't understand why so many reviewers have blasted the HHR in the performance area. I drove several HHR's before I ordered mine and thought both engines were very quick for 4 cylinder engines. I opted for the 2.4 with the 2lt package. It's been ordered for over three weeks so I am hoping to hear some new information soon. One other thing for Craig, what is your honest opinion of the equinox? My wife really likes the looks. :thumb:


I ordered mine a month ago and still no word. I contacted GM directly and all they would say is that it is a new model that is poplular which is causing delays. I can't get an answer to when mine will be built.

Craig, what is your honest opinion of the equinox? My wife really likes the looks.

Well both Vehicles have their own merit. When I'm always asked which one i like better, it like saying which one of my daughter i love more. LOL

The Equinox is larger. Taller, longer, and more room in the back seat for passengers (largest in its class) and since dec 05, they stopped making the towers in the back for the shelf system. that too allows for more cargo. I have tow little girls, one is two years old. the other is three months. so i have to haul a stoller, diaper bag and all the other carp they need, lol. both work well. But the advantage goe to the Equinox. The rear seat will move forward to make the back larger. And since my girls are in car seats, they dont loose and leg room.

The Equinox can come in AWD or FWD with traction control. The HHR is only FWD with traction control, but you have to get Anti-lock brakes to get the traction control. I live in NE ohio. I work in Ohio's Snow Belt ( east side of Cleveland). I have no touble with either vehicle in the snow. If was super terribly horrible out, my family does take the Equinox. Just for peace of mind with the AWD. But thats not to discredit the HHR. The malibu, Impala, and Monte Carlo all have similar traction control systems. And they are all really great. The HHR would be great in AWD, but it doesnt need it. Bigger trucks and Suv's need either 4WD or AWD for their weight. And if you know Physics, more weight has more kinetic energy and inertia. And if you live where there is alot of snow, what do you see on the side of the road all the time? pick up trucks and SUV's. People forget how to drive in snow.

sound system, the Equinox's stock radio is a liitle quiet in my opinion. The upgraded Pioneer system is available like in the HHR. But if you want to swap out the radio in the Equinox, its really easy. I have a 7" motorized Pioneer widescreen monitor in my Equinox. I also have a Siruis tuner, DVD player, and 12 disc-changer. And the aftermarket radio looks really good in the dash. I do like the radio in the HHR better. Its the new "Black Tie" radio that will be the new radios for most new GM vehicles.

The Equinox doesnt not have a Remote Start. The HHR does. But both have keyless entry, power locks, and windows. and both use the GM Passlock+ anti theft system. You cannot hot wire the vehicles, it shuts off the fuel injectors. the only way to steal these vehicles is to tow them or steal the keys. Both also have car alarms. they dont go off when you hit the car, but they go off if armed and someone opens a door, the hood, or back hatches.

Since my Equinox is a V6, it does get less MPG. But not much. Compared to my traded in vehicle (2004 Hyundai Sante FE) i only lost two MPG. Both have engine oil life monitors, The Equinox just doesn't have a Driver's Information Center like the HHR. so you dont get the cool readout on how much oil life you have left.


now we get to price. at my dealership i have switch quite a few customers from the Equinox to the HHR. the reality in when you compare sticker prices, you can get a nicely loaded 2LT HHR for around the same price as a LS AWD Equinox. (@ $22000)
so its the options you have to look at, if you want heated leather, sunroof, pioneer system, stuff like that, then HHR. But if you want bigger with AWD, then Equinox.

But if you want to lease, then the Equinox is the way to go. Currently the HHR does not have a good lease program, as where the Equinox does. I have the GM employee discount. I put $1000 down on both vehicles. I pay $329 for a 5 year loan on my 2LT HHR, I pay $307 on a 3 year lease with 12k miles a year on my LS AWD Equinox. And the equinox has $1000 bonus cash for those who have a NON-GM vehicle in their household. You dont even have to trade it in to get the bonus money. You just have to show proof with a registration with your address on it for a spouse, parent, or child. so if you are looking to lease, now is the time to lease an Equinox.

I do love both of my vehicles. right now the HHR edges out the Equinox, because I love seeing people's heads turn when i drive past them. But if you have both an equinox and a HHR in your driveway, you cant go wrong

I actually drove one today, at the dealership where I ordered my HHR. I think my wife will really like the Nox. By the way, you don't have to tell me about how much junk you have to carry around because I have 3 daughters. 11, 8, & 5. My wife is a school teacher and has to carry a bunch of stuff, too. That is why we have been driving Astro vans the past 10 years. I have been somewhat disappointed with our 2003. That is the main reason in checking out the Nox for her. The main reason for the HHR for me is, I'll just look so Dang cool in it!

So When You Insure What Do You Tell Your Broker
Car Or Suv Or Truck
And What Do They Classify It As
When Mine Comes In I Am Going To Tell Them Station Wagon

So When You Insure What Do You Tell Your Broker
Car Or Suv Or Truck
And What Do They Classify It As
When Mine Comes In I Am Going To Tell Them Station Wagon

You don't get to choose. You don't tell them anything other than it's a Chevy HHR and they have their own classifications for it. It seems like every state and insurance agency is different. :roll:

PA has it under SEDAN,

State Farm Insurence is $620 a year

Clarkke - I like the Equinox but I like the Pontiac Torrent a lot more - just my .02

Clarkke - I like the Equinox but I like the Pontiac Torrent a lot more - just my .02
I've seen them but I haven't driven one yet. I read somewhere that anyone thinking about buying an Equinox should wait until the '07 model comes out because Chevy is supposed to using a more updated engine.

:mad: I'm concerned about the lack on anti-lock brakes. That seems a rather stupid omission on GMs part.

:( I've read several reviews of the HHR and a few mentioned the "heavy body roll" in the corners. I was wondering if anyone has had this problem.

i have never noticed body roll that bad,,, our equinox is way worse



:mad: I'm concerned about the lack on anti-lock brakes. That seems a rather stupid omission on GMs part.
my HHR has ABS brakes
it was optional and only comes standard on LT2's

I noticed a pretty bad case of it right around thanksgiving, but it seems to be getting better now...

:mad: I'm concerned about the lack on anti-lock brakes. That seems a rather stupid omission on GMs part.

Anti-lock brakes are an option...

Here in Delaware the HHR is classified as " My Ride"

Ok, so abs breaks are an option. I still think it should have been standard, but I am not a GM exec. Anyway, I still love the HHR. Keep on trucking, carring, or whatever your spot in the world classifies it as! :nuts:

Ins company in NJ calls it a lt truck, MV calls it a 7 passanger wagon! I am so confused! :confused:

Ok, so abs breaks are an option. I still think it should have been standard... :nuts:

I am SO glad they are not! I can't stand ABS or Traction Control - they both get in the way of high-performance driving.

Very glad I was able to buy with neither. :cool:

I can't stand ABS or Traction Control - they both get in the way of high-performance driving.

How does ABS get in the way of high performance driving? :confused: I agree about traction controll getting in the way sometimes but even high end cars like Ferraris come with ABS. ;) They have TC also but you can adjust it or turn it off unlike the HHR. :(

Ins company in NJ calls it a lt truck, MV calls it a 7 passanger wagon! I am so confused! :confused: 7 passanger ? do you strap 2 to the roof rack !

7 passanger ? do you strap 2 to the roof rack !

One can go in the back area and one mounted on the hood--ask Tom for directions on this last one. :D

I'm in pa with the same ins co and they have mine as a truck.

Well I got my HHR LT with 4 wheel ABS, 2.4 engine and I love it! I don't plan on driving it you know...sport...ha ha...so I'm good with the ABS and traction control. My 04 Cavalier Sedan LS had all that and it came in handy a couple times. :cool: Laterz! :thumb:

:thumb:
Check your drivers side door panel to see how it is classified as far as the US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety and theft prevention standards . Mine was registered as a car through the dealer but on the door it is classified as M.P.V., therefore it can be registered as that. Had a hard time with MD. state trooper regarding my level of window tinting.