Cars Service

2006 Chevrolet HHR review

Introduction

The 2006 Chevrolet HHR is a new type of vehicle which Chevrolet describes as combining the styling of the SSR roadster truck with a 1949 Suburban for a unique style all its own. Built on the same platform as the Chevrolet Cobalt, the HHR offers 5-passenger seating with reconfigurable cargo capacity, including a fold-flat passenger seat to accommodate up to 8-foot-long items and convenient storage compartments such as an auxiliary glove-box with flip-up cover in the upper center of the dash.

We found the HHR to be fun to drive. It isnt a sports car, but its nimble and we were pleased with its acceleration. The HHR feels more responsive than its horsepower, torque, and transmission ratio numbers suggest. Plus it gets decent fuel economy. The interior wasnt as functional as wed have liked, however, and the base cloth fabric left us wishing wed ordered the optional leather.



New for 2006

The all-new 2006 Chevrolet HHR is offered in two trim levels, LS and LT, and is powered by either a 143-horsepower 2.2-liter Ecotec engine or a 172-horsepower 2.4-liter Ecotec engine with either a standard 5-speed manual transmission or an optional 4-speed automatic transmission. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, AM/FM/CD audio system with audio accessory input jack, three-spoke steering wheel, chrome interior accents, touch-pad liftgate, and power mirrors.

Bringing Back Distinctiveness

GM considers the built-in-Mexico HHR one of its unique new vehicles, such as the Pontiac Solstice sports car, that will draw more customers—and help bring back the GM vehicle distinctiveness mostly lost in the 1970s.

There are three trim levels: base $15,425 LS, $16,425 1LT and $18,225 2LT. The 2LT is really just a 1LT with the $1,800 2LT Preferred Equipment package.

That package is the hot HHR setup, such as it is. It includes a 2.4-liter 172-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, sport suspension with wider 17-inch (vs. 16-inch) wheels, anti-lock brakes (with traction control if ordered with automatic transmission), upgraded Pioneer sound system with iPod compatibility, leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, fog lights and extra chrome exterior trim.

Larger Than PT Cruiser

The HHR is wider, taller and considerably longer than the PT Cruiser, which resembles a 1940s hot rod. But both have about the same amount of space for people and cargo.

The HHRs fairly large cargo area has a low, wide opening. That area can be enlarged by folding the 60/40 split rear seatbacks forward to create a flat cargo floor, although front seats must be moved far enough forward to allow rear headrests to clear them.

The front passenger seatback also can be flipped forward to further lengthen cargo room for ladders, Christmas trees—or whatever. There even are shallow underfloor storage bins in the rear cargo area, which has hooks for grocery bags and a cover that can be used to hide cargo or to form a two-tier loading shelf.

Nicely Equipped

Even the LS has a fair amount of standard equipment for the money. It includes air conditioning, a tilt steering wheel, cruise control, a split-folding rear seat, an AM/FM/CD player and power mirrors, windows and door locks with remote keyless entry. The 1LT adds a power driver seat, an AM/FM/CD/MP3 player and alloy wheels.

Extras include a $725 power sunroof, $750-$925 (depending on trim level) heated seats with leather upholstery, $325 XM satellite radio, $395 rear spoiler and $395 polished alloy wheels. Safety options include $395 side head curtain airbags and $695 GM OnStar assistance system.
The car-like HHR has smooth, responsive steering and the wheel has an unusually large retro shape; big steering wheels were needed to more easily maneuver old utility vehicles such as the 1949 Suburban, which lacked power steering—let alone the speed-sensitive power steering of the HHR.

Awkward Power Window Controls

Worst of all, the power window controls are hard to find and use because theyre put way low ahead of the center console instead of high on doors, where they are usually found in most vehicles. Climate controls are large, but sound system controls are small.

There isnt much interior storage room for small items, with such things as slim door pockets and a small glove box mostly taken up by the owners manual.

Airy Interior

The interior is generally nicely designed and airy, with lots of glass area, although a large inside rearview mirror partly blocks vision of overhead traffic lights despite the big windshield. Large outside mirrors are integrated into the overall design theme for a custom look and rear door windows roll down all the way.

The hood raises smoothly on twin gas struts, and fluid filler areas can be easily reached.
Chevrolet is vague about HHR sales numbers in the vehicles first full year, only saying it might sell "50,000 to 100,000" units. There doubtlessly will be other versions offered, as has been the case with the PT Cruiser, to keep up buyer interest.

Driving Impressions

The 2.4-liter Ecotec is a wonderful little engine. Its an aluminum four-cylinder, with 16 valves, electronic fuel injection and variable valve timing. It makes 172 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque at 5000 rpm, numbers which dont indicate anything special. In fact, that torque peak suggests that the low-rpm pulling power might be weak. But its not. We drive up a steep, slow hill every day, and the HHR plugged up the hill like a tractor, with no shifting-down of the automatic transmission. Which is more than can be said of the powerful Pontiac GTO we tested recently.

Transmission ratios have a lot to do with this efficient delivery of power. Curiously, theres nothing in the ratios of the HHR four-speed automatic that indicate it should make this hill so easily, either. All we can say is that the pulling power of the HHR 2LT is excellent.
We suspect the five-speed Getrag manual transmission (same as in the PT Cruiser) would be a better bet for the HHR than the automatic, but we have no complaints with the four-speed automatic, which costs another $1000, and includes remote starting (think of climbing into a toasty car in your garage or driveway, on icy mornings). In fact, we liked the way the automatic, without a separate manual mode, could be easily manually downshifted anyhow, and how it held second gear going down that same steep, slow hill. Our only problem was with the sticky linkage, in getting out of Park.

Acceleration was equally impressive. Onto the freeway, foot on the floor, and the HHR 2LT really scoots, which makes it a lot of fun. The engine is also efficient; it gets the same EPA-rated 23 city and 30 highway miles per gallon (manual transmission) as the 2.2-liter with only 143 horsepower, although premium fuel is recommended (but not required). During one week in the 2LT, we averaged 23.4 miles per gallon, as indicated by the digital data on the dash. That included mostly around-town driving, plus about 120 freeway miles with a full load of passengers and the cruise control set at 70. The HHR got slightly better mileage at that freeway pace, than it did light-footed around town.

The engine is also quiet, thanks partly to special laminated steel in the firewall.

The 2LT has a sport-tuned suspension with 17-inch aluminum wheels, as well as anti-lock brakes. There is no harshness to the ride around town, or over freeway bumps for that matter. The suspension shows its limitations when driven like a sports car, but, after all, its technically an SUV, with front-wheel drive. Mostly, its especially nimble. Chevrolet boasts that some 2000 hours went into the calibration of the rack-and-pinion steering with power assist, to give it a "just right" feel, and we would say it feels just right, around town.

The brakes are 11.65-inch discs in front, 10-inch drums in rear, and have an easy feel. Brake force distribution, which electronically adjusts the braking so that the rear wheels dont lock up, is not available. It might be useful, given the 57/43 weight distribution of the HHR.

"Driving American again and loving it!"

Pros: Im a car nut! I love cars! I was looking for a car that was affordable and different. The overused "bubble shape" styling of most cars is uninteresting so when I saw the HHR it was love at first sight. I rented a PT cruiser for a long trip and it just didnt do it for me. The HHR, however, had everything I was looking for and more. The MP3 player jack ROCKS! The Pioneer sound system ROCKS! The seats are comfortable and easy for me to adjust for my height (61"). The cargo space when the seats are folded is great. The storage space over the spare tire is great too.

Cons: I didnt know that the battery was located in the BACK of the car until I read one of the reviews on here. Im going to do research on this. With the cost of XM radio coming out of your pocket, they should give it to you for a FULL YR, not only 3 months. Did you know that if you wanted to order the PERFECT HHR, the dealership will tell you that CHEVROLET will take 3 months to deliver it to you. Whats with that? And the price on this vehicle is going up more and more, not because of the additions, but because dealerships are catching on that this is a SWEET car. Buy it now, or pay $$$thousands$$$ more later. Oh, and the controls for the windows, who came up with THAT idea?

Overall Review: I have just under 3000 miles on my car and I tell everyone that asks that I love it. It is an eye catching machine and many ask about it. So far the interior inconveniences are minor. It isnt something that I notice every time Im in the car. I find the 2.4L engine to be just perfect and very fun to drive. While I dont have a lead foot, I do like a car with some "get-up-and-go!" The fuel economy is great and lives up to what was promised. Ive been on one 8 hour trip and found the car to be most enjoyable. Ive only been in the back seat once and belive it could be uncomfortable on long drives for adults my size. I dont think Ill ever be able to live without a MP3 player jack again. Im glad to be driving an American car again. I just retired my beloved 1995 Mazda Millenia and this car is a wonderful replacement.