In retro race, new Chevy HHR must try harder
08-21-2005, 01:32 AM
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In retro race, new Chevy HHR must try harder
<img src="https://www.chevyhhr.net/news/pt.jpg" align="left" border="0" hspace="5" vspace="2">PT Cruiser remains the king of the hill in comparison test
AUBURN HILLS -- We like to have fun destinations in mind when we get behind the wheel of a test car, from the Yale Bologna Festival to a weekend on Mackinac Island. But when we recently got our hands on a new 2006 Chevrolet HHR, one of the first things we did was drive up to Chrysler headquarters.
The little Chevy hatchback wagon has many merits, including a playful retro design inside and out, a clever rear-cargo storage area and, in some instances, better safety features than some of the competition. And it is the only GM product that can be ordered in "majestic amethyst metallic," a gorgeous shade of lavender.
Because the HHR -- Chevy says the acronym stands for Heritage High Roof -- looks like such a blatant copy of the well-received, 5-year-old Chrysler PT Cruiser, we felt compelled to get it in the same parking lot as the redesigned 2006 Chrysler retro wagon and see how they stack up.
It's a natural comparison that consumers have been jawing about since the HHR made its official debut earlier this year at the Los Angeles auto show.
The conclusion: Although Chevrolet is fielding a strong new entry in a very narrow market segment, the PT Cruiser, with more horsepower, a sparkling new cabin and a lower base price, gives the HHR the aura of an also-ran.
Our test Chevy was a nicely equipped, uplevel HHR 2LT model with a base price of $18,790, including destination and five options, ranging from $395 side air bags to a $15 ashtray. The bottom line on our HHR was $20,675. Our test 2006 PT Cruiser was a GT edition with a $24,085 price tag, including destination.
A base 2006 PT Cruiser undercuts the HHR by $1,140. The PT Cruiser starts at $14,850, including destination, while the HHR starts at $15,990. The 2006 HHR is on sale now while the 2006 PT Cruiser goes on sale in September.
It is a poorly kept secret in Detroit that the HHR and the PT Cruiser sprang from the same designer, 36-year-old Bryan Nesbitt, who left Chrysler in 2001 and now is executive director of GM Design Europe.
Where the PT Cruiser is simply retro-flavored, Chevrolet says the exterior design of the HHR was inspired specifically by the 1949 Suburban panel delivery truck, with some styling cues derived from the Chevy SSR pickup.
When you put the HHR and the PT Cruiser side by side, however, the similarities are striking, especially in side profile, although the vehicles depart from each other in specific details.
And, of course, the vehicles dynamically have much less in common, although both are based on compact, front-wheel-drive cars -- the HHR on the Chevrolet Cobalt, the PT Cruiser on the Dodge Neon.
For 2006, the PT Cruiser gets a few significant exterior tweaks. New scalloped headlights set it even further apart from the HHR, along with an integrated bumper and deeper fascia that make the front end appear to have "ground effects Where the two vehicles really part ways is in the cabin, even though the HHR designers tried mightily to imitate the best retro features of the PT Cruiser, right down to the old-fashioned chrome stem-type door locks.
The 2006 PT Cruiser benefits from a huge interior makeover that gives it a more finished look. Our GT model was decked out with a center stack swathed in carbon-fiber-like black-and-gray trim, larger gauges and a striking new analog clock that looks very Art Deco. The cupholders on the GT edition are deeper and trimmed generously with chrome, and a new sliding armrest between the front passengers provides generous storage space. The materials and trim in the cabin are new, and they look expensive.
The cabin of the HHR makes an effort to draw on the past, too, with such touches as overlapping gauges accented with chrome.
But the interior seems too plasticky, and looks cheaper and less distinctive than its chief competitor.
One of the best things about the new Chevy is its cargo hold, which is thoughtfully and sensibly laid out. The cargo mat in the rear has a carpeted side and a rubber side that can be used for hauling dirty items.
A bi-level cargo floor can be angled upward and includes five grocery-bag hooks. There are two smaller covered compartments in the rear, which we found helpful for holding items like wallets and cell phones when we took our pooch for a long walk in the park.
On the road, the HHR is a bit of a dog, even though our test car came equipped with the more powerful of two available engines, a 2.4-liter DOHC inline four-cylinder that makes 172 horsepower and 162 pounds-feet of torque. It was mated to an optional four-speed automatic transmission.
The Chevy's powertrain was unable to inspire much confidence, especially during merging and passing. We often found ourselves unable to shoot quickly past other vehicles or even keep up with some of the faster-moving traffic, more often than not lagging back to wait for a wide-open opportunity to pass.
The HHR was a little bit difficult to park, too, with a surprisingly large turning circle for such a compact vehicle.
The base HHR comes equipped with a twin-cam 2.2-liter inline four-cylinder engine that makes 143 horsepower and 150 pounds-feet of torque. It is mated to a standard five-speed manual transmission.
Our test HHR, equipped with the four-speed automatic, had EPA fuel economy ratings of 20 miles per gallon in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.
The standard engine in the PT Cruiser is a DOHC 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder that makes 150 horsepower and 165 pounds-feet of torque. A four-speed automatic transmission is optional on the Chrysler PT Cruiser GT and it includes the AutoStick feature, which allows for more sporty, clutchless shifting. That feature is not available on the HHR.
Fuel economy on the PT Cruiser with the base engine and automatic transmission is identical to that on a comparably equipped HHR.
Where the two vehicles diverge once again is in engine options and performance.
The uplevel engine in the PT Cruiser is a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder that makes 180 horsepower, more muscle than on our test HHR.
But Chrysler offers an even more potent choice: A high-output turbo 2.4, rated at a blistering 230 horsepower for 2006. Standard on the PT Cruiser GT, it comes with a choice of a Getrag five-speed manual gearbox or the AutoStick four-speed automatic.
If you're an enthusiast, your only real choice here is the PT Cruiser.
Where the two competitors also tend to veer in different directions is in the area of safety. We were surprised to discover that the 2006 PT Cruiser still cannot be ordered with side curtain air bags, which provide protection for rear-seat passengers in the event of a crash. Side curtains are a $395 option on the HHR, however.
The PT Cruiser does have one unusual air bag, a standard inflatable knee blocker for the driver, and for 2006 you can order $390 side air bags that protect front seat passengers only.
The HHR does not have stability control, while antilock brakes are a $400 option on the HHR LS and LT models.
Antilock brakes and traction control are standard on the uplevel PT Cruiser GT; on the base model, antilock brakes cost $595 and when they are bundled with traction control, the package costs $825.
As we pored over our checklists of safety features, horsepower and fuel economy, we couldn't help but think of a more intangible test: getting noticed at the Dairy Queen.
We parked our HHR there one night, ran in and got the dog her usual vanilla cone and watched as people passed, none of them turning a head or asking to see the car. (One mother and child did stop and laugh at the miniature schnauzer chowing down on her DQ, however.) We also watched several PT Cruisers cruising the lot.
When you step into the novelty vehicle market, we concluded, you'd better be prepared to break a new path -- one that stops traffic. As nice as the Chevrolet HHR is, it's apparently not unique enough to draw a crowd.
Source: http://www.detnews.com/2005/autoscon...F01-275803.htm
AUBURN HILLS -- We like to have fun destinations in mind when we get behind the wheel of a test car, from the Yale Bologna Festival to a weekend on Mackinac Island. But when we recently got our hands on a new 2006 Chevrolet HHR, one of the first things we did was drive up to Chrysler headquarters.
The little Chevy hatchback wagon has many merits, including a playful retro design inside and out, a clever rear-cargo storage area and, in some instances, better safety features than some of the competition. And it is the only GM product that can be ordered in "majestic amethyst metallic," a gorgeous shade of lavender.
Because the HHR -- Chevy says the acronym stands for Heritage High Roof -- looks like such a blatant copy of the well-received, 5-year-old Chrysler PT Cruiser, we felt compelled to get it in the same parking lot as the redesigned 2006 Chrysler retro wagon and see how they stack up.
It's a natural comparison that consumers have been jawing about since the HHR made its official debut earlier this year at the Los Angeles auto show.
The conclusion: Although Chevrolet is fielding a strong new entry in a very narrow market segment, the PT Cruiser, with more horsepower, a sparkling new cabin and a lower base price, gives the HHR the aura of an also-ran.
Our test Chevy was a nicely equipped, uplevel HHR 2LT model with a base price of $18,790, including destination and five options, ranging from $395 side air bags to a $15 ashtray. The bottom line on our HHR was $20,675. Our test 2006 PT Cruiser was a GT edition with a $24,085 price tag, including destination.
A base 2006 PT Cruiser undercuts the HHR by $1,140. The PT Cruiser starts at $14,850, including destination, while the HHR starts at $15,990. The 2006 HHR is on sale now while the 2006 PT Cruiser goes on sale in September.
It is a poorly kept secret in Detroit that the HHR and the PT Cruiser sprang from the same designer, 36-year-old Bryan Nesbitt, who left Chrysler in 2001 and now is executive director of GM Design Europe.
Where the PT Cruiser is simply retro-flavored, Chevrolet says the exterior design of the HHR was inspired specifically by the 1949 Suburban panel delivery truck, with some styling cues derived from the Chevy SSR pickup.
When you put the HHR and the PT Cruiser side by side, however, the similarities are striking, especially in side profile, although the vehicles depart from each other in specific details.
And, of course, the vehicles dynamically have much less in common, although both are based on compact, front-wheel-drive cars -- the HHR on the Chevrolet Cobalt, the PT Cruiser on the Dodge Neon.
For 2006, the PT Cruiser gets a few significant exterior tweaks. New scalloped headlights set it even further apart from the HHR, along with an integrated bumper and deeper fascia that make the front end appear to have "ground effects Where the two vehicles really part ways is in the cabin, even though the HHR designers tried mightily to imitate the best retro features of the PT Cruiser, right down to the old-fashioned chrome stem-type door locks.
The 2006 PT Cruiser benefits from a huge interior makeover that gives it a more finished look. Our GT model was decked out with a center stack swathed in carbon-fiber-like black-and-gray trim, larger gauges and a striking new analog clock that looks very Art Deco. The cupholders on the GT edition are deeper and trimmed generously with chrome, and a new sliding armrest between the front passengers provides generous storage space. The materials and trim in the cabin are new, and they look expensive.
The cabin of the HHR makes an effort to draw on the past, too, with such touches as overlapping gauges accented with chrome.
But the interior seems too plasticky, and looks cheaper and less distinctive than its chief competitor.
One of the best things about the new Chevy is its cargo hold, which is thoughtfully and sensibly laid out. The cargo mat in the rear has a carpeted side and a rubber side that can be used for hauling dirty items.
A bi-level cargo floor can be angled upward and includes five grocery-bag hooks. There are two smaller covered compartments in the rear, which we found helpful for holding items like wallets and cell phones when we took our pooch for a long walk in the park.
On the road, the HHR is a bit of a dog, even though our test car came equipped with the more powerful of two available engines, a 2.4-liter DOHC inline four-cylinder that makes 172 horsepower and 162 pounds-feet of torque. It was mated to an optional four-speed automatic transmission.
The Chevy's powertrain was unable to inspire much confidence, especially during merging and passing. We often found ourselves unable to shoot quickly past other vehicles or even keep up with some of the faster-moving traffic, more often than not lagging back to wait for a wide-open opportunity to pass.
The HHR was a little bit difficult to park, too, with a surprisingly large turning circle for such a compact vehicle.
The base HHR comes equipped with a twin-cam 2.2-liter inline four-cylinder engine that makes 143 horsepower and 150 pounds-feet of torque. It is mated to a standard five-speed manual transmission.
Our test HHR, equipped with the four-speed automatic, had EPA fuel economy ratings of 20 miles per gallon in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.
The standard engine in the PT Cruiser is a DOHC 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder that makes 150 horsepower and 165 pounds-feet of torque. A four-speed automatic transmission is optional on the Chrysler PT Cruiser GT and it includes the AutoStick feature, which allows for more sporty, clutchless shifting. That feature is not available on the HHR.
Fuel economy on the PT Cruiser with the base engine and automatic transmission is identical to that on a comparably equipped HHR.
Where the two vehicles diverge once again is in engine options and performance.
The uplevel engine in the PT Cruiser is a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder that makes 180 horsepower, more muscle than on our test HHR.
But Chrysler offers an even more potent choice: A high-output turbo 2.4, rated at a blistering 230 horsepower for 2006. Standard on the PT Cruiser GT, it comes with a choice of a Getrag five-speed manual gearbox or the AutoStick four-speed automatic.
If you're an enthusiast, your only real choice here is the PT Cruiser.
Where the two competitors also tend to veer in different directions is in the area of safety. We were surprised to discover that the 2006 PT Cruiser still cannot be ordered with side curtain air bags, which provide protection for rear-seat passengers in the event of a crash. Side curtains are a $395 option on the HHR, however.
The PT Cruiser does have one unusual air bag, a standard inflatable knee blocker for the driver, and for 2006 you can order $390 side air bags that protect front seat passengers only.
The HHR does not have stability control, while antilock brakes are a $400 option on the HHR LS and LT models.
Antilock brakes and traction control are standard on the uplevel PT Cruiser GT; on the base model, antilock brakes cost $595 and when they are bundled with traction control, the package costs $825.
As we pored over our checklists of safety features, horsepower and fuel economy, we couldn't help but think of a more intangible test: getting noticed at the Dairy Queen.
We parked our HHR there one night, ran in and got the dog her usual vanilla cone and watched as people passed, none of them turning a head or asking to see the car. (One mother and child did stop and laugh at the miniature schnauzer chowing down on her DQ, however.) We also watched several PT Cruisers cruising the lot.
When you step into the novelty vehicle market, we concluded, you'd better be prepared to break a new path -- one that stops traffic. As nice as the Chevrolet HHR is, it's apparently not unique enough to draw a crowd.
Source: http://www.detnews.com/2005/autoscon...F01-275803.htm
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