2006 Chrysler HHR Review

Specifications

Cutting Edge or Yesteryears News?

When Ford brought out its black-on-black high-performance Crown Vic and dubbed it Marauder, touting it as a fresh new idea, the first thing I thought was “been there done that”. After all, Chevy had already been and gone from the market with its black-on-black, full-size, rear-drive, performance-oriented Caprice, renamed Impala SS.

I get the same feeling with the new HHR, that will be introduced Wednesday, January 5th at the 2005 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, although this time it is Chevy mimicking Chryslers now legendary PT Cruiser. The first line in the press release is “unique styling with functional interior”, and no doubt it offers all the flexibility weve come to appreciate in crossover vehicles; but unique styling?

“The HHR is what you want it to be, whether youre hauling band equipment around the country or hauling your friends across town,” said Lori Queen, GM vehicle line executive for small car. “With its unmistakable styling and innovative features, the HHR is further proof that there is a new spirit at Chevrolet.”

To Chevrolets credit, the HHR, which stands for “heritage high roof”, actually pays tribute to the 1949 Chevy Suburban and other late 1940s high-roof Chevy trucks, unlike the PT Cruiser that looks more like a classic Ford panel van than anything Chrysler, or the now defunct Plymouth brand ever offered.

And after all, why should Chrysler have all the fun? Detroits number three automaker may have started the retrospective crossover revolution, with the launch of its ubiquitous PT Cruiser in 2000, but Chevy isnt about to let its domestic rival walk away with all of North Americas hotrod fans.

GM combines styling cues from its current throwback SSR pickup cum roadster in the new design too, making the automaker the only company to offer a field of retro models - VWs New Beetle and New Beetle convertible excluded.

Like the SSR, the HHR features what GM refers to as “deep-draw, flared fenders”, sloping inward at the rockers. Its one-piece, stamped metal hood is similar to that on the 49 Suburban, while the single-cavity headlamp design features jeweled lighting effects. The HHR also gets flared, twin-taillamps, which Chevrolet hopes will conjure up memories of vintage Corvettes.

The mirrors, door handles and roof rack look custom, adding to the HHRs appeal, while its front end is finished off with a unique horizontal slat treatment in chrome brightwork, carrying the brands bowtie at center.

Chevy was sure to mention that a “variety of expressive exterior colors will be available”, important for the compact crossover segment.

From the photos that were released today, theres no sign of expressive interior colors, such as done in the PT Cruiser. Nevertheless, GM has been making dramatic improvements in interior quality evident in its new Buick Allure and Pontiac G6 midsize sedans, Buick, Chevy, Pontiac and Saturn mid-vans, and Chevy Cobalt compact sedan, the model that underpins the HHR. Considering where the new model sources its general architecture, the new higher-grade materials and enhancements in fit and finish experienced in the Cobalt should get passed on.

GM describes the HHR as having “detailed, jewel-like instrument displays” and “chrome accents”, both hinting at an upscale environment. The new crossover gets a two-tone interior color scheme, with darker colors above and lighter hues below the beltline. Chevy also talks of “tailored seats,” designed to provide firm support for comfort even during long drives.

Ergonomics and styling aside, the HHR should be quite functional. It measures 174.5 inches in length, which is fairly compact, yet engulfs up to 63.1 cubic feet of cargo. A total of five occupants can enjoy what GM calls “easy-to-maneuver dimensions” while the interior is reconfigurable for accommodating tall, long or otherwise awkward items.

Making the HHRs cargo area adaptable is a flat folding front passenger seat, a rear center armrest that can pivot flat along with the rear seats when folded forward, 60/40-split rear seatbacks, with the larger 60-percent portion positioned on the passenger side so that larger, longer items can be fed into the cargo area and right up to the dash when the front passenger seat is folded forward, making the most of the available space.

The load floor is completely flat when the rear seats are folded as well, while a 5-inch deep storage area is concealed beneath the cargo floor. Also convenient, two storage bins are situated just behind the rear seats under the load floor, optimizing space. Similar to the PT Cruiser, the load floor can be raised to become a shelf, multiplying the HHRs load carrying capacity.

While functional the HHR is not sparsely equipped, including air conditioning, power windows and door locks, a 6-speaker CD audio system, and remote keyless entry in standard LS trim.

The second model, the LT, is actually split up into two distinct trim levels, the 1LT and 2LT. The 1LT features a standard MP3 player, a 6-way power drivers seat with power lumbar support, plus a satin exterior finish. Optional equipment includes bright chrome exterior trim, while a chrome exhaust tip is also available. ABS and traction control are available too, with the latter only part of the automatic transmission package.

The 2LT package gets standard ABS, fog lamps, a chrome exhaust tip, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, a Pioneer audio system with a subwoofer, 17-inch alloy wheels, an FE3 sport suspension upgrade, plus bright chrome exterior trim. Heated leather seats can be had with either LT package.

Other HHR equipment includes a driver information center, a large power sunroof, OnStar, XM satellite radio, a 61.3-liter (16.2-gallon) fuel tank for more than 400 miles cruising range, 16- and 17-inch wheel options, and remote start (standard with the automatic transmission).

Power will come via one of two engine choices, depending on which trim level is purchased. The LS and 1LT get GMs well proven 2.2L Ecotec 4-cylinder, putting out 140-horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque, which is down 5-horsepower and 5 lb-ft of torque compared to Chevys Cobalt. For those comparing that to Chryslers PT, it comes with 150-horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque in base trim.

HHR buyers wanting a little more oomph under the right foot will need to opt for an upgrade in 1LT trim, or the 2LT package that offers GMs 2.4L 4-cylinder as standard equipment. The larger displacement engine produces 170-horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque, which should be ample to give the lightweight crossover spirited performance. Still, Chevy has made no mention of an SS version, which would probably feature GMs 205-horsepower turbocharged 2.2L four, as currently offered in the Saturn ION Red Line and will soon arrive in the upcoming Cobalt SS coupe. This would allow the HHR to compete more directly with the 220-horsepower “GT Cruiser”.

While not quite as powerful as Chryslers 2.4-liter four, the GM engines have been upgraded to reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). The pistons, for instance, feature a polymer coating and skirt design to reduce noise during cold startup, while a new, two-layer acoustic engine cover has been added, which reduces noise. Ive experienced the Generals enhanced 2.2L engine in the Cobalt, and can attest to it being a serious improvement over that used in the previous Cavalier. The engine also includes a new automatic timing chain tensioner designed to maintain optimal tension and a resultant NVH reduction.

The engines general architecture includes dual overhead camshafts (DOHC), four valves per cylinder, twin counter-rotating balance shafts, electronic
throttle control, a low-friction roller-finger follower valvetrain with hydraulic lash adjusters, low-maintenance chain-driven camshafts, direct-mount accessories, that latter to reduce or eliminate traditional sources of noise and vibration, a full-circle transmission mount to reduce NVH, GMs Oil Life System, to reduce the frequency of oil changes, a cast-in oil filter housing, which makes it unnecessary to crawl under the HHR to perform oil changes while eliminating throwaway oil filter cans that retain used oil, which is better for the environment, plus a catalytic converter positioned next to the exhaust manifold to accelerate catalyst “light off,” reducing hydrocarbon emissions.

For shifting duties, a Getrag F23 5-speed manual transmission, featuring synchros on all five forward gears as well as reverse, will be standard, and a Hydra-Matic 4T45-E electronically controlled 4-speed automatic will be made available across the line. Depending on engine choice, final gearing will differ with each transmission.

Along with the smooth operating engines the HHR should offer a fairly quiet ride, at least if it manages to carry forward some of the attributes of its Cobalt donor car. GMs small car architecture includes a rigid lower-dominant structure, improving ride and handling, plus NVH levels and crash worthiness. Like the Cobalt, the HHR will incorporate Quiet Steel laminated panels in the plenum, a sophisticated technology that makes its sedan siblings feel more premium than their economy price tags initially let on.

Along with the extensive use of high-strength steel and ultra-high-strength steel, in key structural components such as the rocker panels and cross-car reinforcing beam, a “safety cage” surrounding the passenger cell provides load-carrying protection and, together with laser-welded blanks integrated into the door frames, plus front and rear doors, aids in the new crossovers low NVH levels and crash protection.

Before delving into safety features, its important to mention that the HHR will also feature an adaptation of the agile Cobalt suspension setup. Up front, MacPherson struts take care of impact absorption, while a semi-independent, torsion beam suspension setup smoothes out the rear.

Two tuning levels are available, with the LS and 1LT getting the standard FE1 setup and the LT featuring an FE3 suspension. As expected the FE1 undercarriage optimizes ride over handling, with standard 16-inch wheels, while the FE3 is more suited to performance-oriented drivers. Its standard 17-inch wheels and monotube shocks should make for a slightly stiffer ride, but ride and handling should also increase measurably.

Rack-and-pinion steering is standard across the HHR line, complete with a speed-sensitive, variable-effort system dubbed Electric Power Steering (EPS). While tuned separately for each suspension setting, which aids steering feel, EPS rids the car of an engine-driven power steering pump, plus its fluid reservoir and associated plumbing, benefiting fuel consumption and potential environmental contaminants.

What about stopping power? The HHR features large front discs and rear drums, with ABS standard on 2LT models, as previously mentioned, and available on LS and 1LT models.

I mentioned before that I would touch on the HHRs crash protection systems, and other than its rigid safety cage it includes the requisite driver and front passenger frontal airbags, as well as front safety belt pretensioners and rear seat center lap-shoulder belts and the LATCH child seat retention system as standard equipment. Also available are head curtain side airbags for front- and rear-seat outboard passengers, plus OnStar with Advanced Automatic Crash Notification (AACN).

HHR will start production in the summer of 2005 and become available the following fall as a 2006 model. At this time it will be the third vehicle to be based on the Generals Delta global small-car architecture, following the Saturn ION that came out last year, Chevrolet Cobalt due to replace the Cavalier, and Canadian-only Pontiac Pursuit/Mexican-only Pontiac G4, that replaces the Sunfire.

That makes the HHR a compact, and directly targeting the PT Cruisers market. Some question this strategy, as the PT hasnt exactly been growing in sales despite its overwhelming initial success. Will the HHR be too late to capitalize on the retro trend?

Only time can tell, but GM obviously feels there are Chevy loyalists that love the idea of a retro people hauler but want to stay true to their brand. This could very well be the case.

By the way, while the only retro in the group other than the PT Cruiser, the HHR is joined by other competitors vying for business in the compact crossover market. Radical in a modernistic way is Hondas Element, similar in its cubic shape to Scions xB. Nissan has announced it will bring its appropriately named Cube to North America too.

It only makes sense that this segment will continue to grow, whether pulling styling cues from fifty year old vehicles or attempting to look futuristic.