Smoke Wagon

excluding the SS folks, how many here have had or still have both the 2.2 AND the 2.4 to give me an honest opinion about performance differences?

I have read where the 2.2 "feels" peppy....

I have owned a 2.4 equipped 2LT and although I have had some pretty stout muscle cars and drag cars in my life, I know the 2.4 is nothing to brag about.

I am looking for another HHR now and all I can find are 1LT's most of the used ones on the market are 2.2-equipped so I dont even bother looking closer at them thinking it's SLOWER than the 2.4 was.

can you folks with real-world experience enlighten me or correct me?

2.2 vs 2.4

on-ramp acceleration?
driving pleasure?
gutless frustration?
loss of MPG due to constantly having to mash the GO pedal just to get going?

thank you!
I will go drive one soon(2.2) but thought I'd get some comparison data since I cant find any 2.4's around that are appealing to me.

Nightwalkerhemi

Thought the 2.2 had best mpg,of all models,
Giving my 2 cents I had a small v6 and went to a v8(not hhr)
And over all for everyday driving little more fun if your a idiot like me,But getting from A to B most cars now days are well rounded and can do the job no major issues,computers/gearing/trans do wonders,only thing I really liked about the v8 fully loaded best bonus I did enjoy,v6 was bone stock but easy to maintain.

BQS4

My wife's '06 2LT has the DOHC Ecotec 2.4. I have driven 1.9 CIH Opels most of my life and this DOHC Ecotec 2.4 is a peppy motor. Opel has a 2.4 CIH but, I have not driven one.

badassbowtie

I had a 2.2l cobalt and traded for the 2.4l hhr back in the day.. both auto

The 2.4l has noticeably more power. As stated its nothing compared to the SS, but if you always have stuff or people in the car like me (tools, hockey equipment, appliance parts etc) the extra passing/on ramp acceleration is huge. If its only you, and an empty car, then the 2.2 might be fine...otherwise I would recommend the 2.4.

The cobalt was crazy good on gas. Always has high 20's for mileage. The 2.4 will loose a little bit

Oh and on another note. Typically the more tricked out HHRs are the ones with the 2.4...mine had premium sound and chrome trim/rims

Nightwalkerhemi

Forgot wife has mailbu 2012 with 2.4 avg mpg is around 22/23 might be heavier car but going anywhere is it goes fine,not performance but getting on freeway no problems,think 2.2 get 27mpg.
Hope someone with experience with both on hhr chime in for ya.

Silverfox

I have owned both engines in 2011 models with the VVT.

Just my opinion but if you want a little more pep and/or haul some weight most of the time too .. I would opt for the 2.4L.
Realistically your limited to 87 octane on the 2.2L

Get a 2.4 and have it Trifecta tuned for 90+ octane if you want more performance yet.

I might be selling a 1LT 2.4L Auto soon. If you might be interested private message me for details.

SF

Lucky

I have an 07 2.2 auto and a 2.4 manual. The 2.2 gets slightly better fuel mileage but to me feels little more peppy then my 2.4.

Maybe because of the manual trans? The 2.2's don't have variable valve timing so no actuator sol. To worry about.

I like them both

843de

Not quite a controversial issue, but the merits of both engines have been discussed here for years. Check out this thread from the archives....

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/general-hhr-4/2-4-l-vs-2-2-l-hhr-11059/

As an owner of both displacements, I will say that the 2.4 has more "grunt", but the 2.2's are more "fun" to drive and livelier being that they build revs quicker.

cj krause

if you get the 07 or later 2.2s the engines are gen 2 and allot stronger and have the coil on plugs and there is a way to really pep up the 2.2
pm sent as well

843de

Ah yes, the Trifecta Tune, it takes the fun to drive factor on a 2.2 and turns the amps up to "11".

Add that to a GMPP intake and a Borla/GMPP or Magnaflow exhaust, and you have a nice daily driver which can turn into a Snorting/Barking "Rice Killer" at a moment's notice.