2006 Chevy HHR 2LT
What's That Car You're Driving?
Test drove: 11/4/2005 to 11/14/2005
During my first outing in the 2006 Chevy HHR, a car pulls up next to me and signals me to roll down my window. "What's that car you're driving?" shouts the mom over her thoroughly embarrassed teenage daughter. "It's really cute!"
What a great way to start a test drive. I like driving cute cars. This car looks a bit retro, a bit futuristic, a bit ... different. I use the term "car" loosely, because I can't quite seem to categorize this vehicle. The price sheet that comes with my test car calls it a sedan. In my opinion it's anything but: a roomy interior with upright seating and easy access to cargo space large enough for my kids' wagon. That sounds more like an SUV. It's definitely not an SUV, however, with fuel mileage as high as 30 mpg, a car-like ride and a step-in height with a running board that's manageable even for my 3-year-old. No matter what it's called, it's a fun vehicle to tool around in.
Although manual transmission is standard (what do you want for $16K?), this manual is smooth enough to let sleeping babies lie. There will be no sleeping, however, in my test vehicle, as we're busy rocking out to the XM Satellite Radio. I'm a bit concerned for my sanity as I find myself just as thrilled as the kids when Radio Disney plays "The Crazy Frog," "Hamster Dance" and "Hillary Dillary Duff." I figure it's OK for my kindergartener to be requesting teeny bopper pop songs so long as she's still confusing them with nursery rhymes ("Hillary Dillary Duff" must have come from "Hickory Dickory Dock").
The perfectly sized cargo area expands quickly with seats that fold flat, making room for "groceries to surfboards," as stated by General Motors. I'll take the surfing over the grocery shopping, please. Does it come with a sitter, too? An auxiliary glove box located on the top, center of the dashboard is a great place to stash random stuff that always migrates to the car. This is completely necessary as the HHR lacks a center console.
In spite of the flexibility this car offers, there are a few downers: The first being that the cup holders in the front are way down low next to the parking brake. It's not easy to reach my precious tall, two-pump, extra hot chai, and the parking brake dangerously skims my cup's lid. I'm warning you, don't mess with my chai!
Although the HHR is fun to drive, it's not going to win the rat race in the near future. The four-cylinder engine takes its sweet time accelerating to highway speeds. This may not be a bad thing, however, as it keeps me from exceeding the speed limit (which I never ever do, anyhow).
Although my children and I feel quite at home in the HHR and like the general bone structure of the vehicle, my husband feels "caved in" and thinks it's "ergonomically weird." It fits me perfectly, and I'm gently reminded that if it fits me, it probably doesn't fit the other 90% of the population, being that I'm a bit short on height.
If you're interested in something to break the mom-mobile monotony of minivans and station wagons, judge for yourself. Load up the kids and go test drive the HHR. Go on. It'll be fun. You can use it as an excuse to skip story time at the Library.
*For more information on the Chevy HHR and its safety features visit Cars.com. For questions or comments regarding this review write to MotherProof@msn.com.
LET'S TALK NUMBERS
LATCH Connectors: 2
Seating Capacity (includes driver): 5
IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT
Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair
Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample
SENSE AND STYLE
Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Great
Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): Good Times
| Specs | |
|---|---|
| Base price: | 16,425 |
| Price as tested: | 20,900 |
| Engine: | 2.4 liter, 4 cylinder |
| Fuel: | 22/30 MPG |
| Length: | 176.2" |
| Width: | 69.2" |
| Step-in height: | 6.3" ground clearance |
| Cargo space: | 55.6 cu ft |
| NHTSA Crash-Test Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Frontal Impact | |
| Driver's side: | Not Tested |
| Passenger's side: | Not Tested |
| Side Impact | |
| Front occupant: | Not Tested |
| Rear occupant: | Not Tested |
| Rollover resistance: | Not Rated |
Comments
Posted by: harley Wilcox | Jul 1, 2007 2:09:54 PM
A Member of theCars.com Family
Subscribe
Information tells that cargo space of the HHR wagon is 55.6.
Please tell me what size this space is in inches. I other words what length & size iten can be carred with the seats folded.
Thank you. harley
Posted by: harley Wilcox | Jul 1, 2007 2:08:50 PM