Chevy HHR 2007: Peachy Keen!

HHR = "Heritage High Roof"
The folks at Chevy designed the HHR as a cross between the 1949 Suburban and the SSR Roadster. It is one of the coolest looking crossover vehicles out there for those of us who like that "retro" appeal. When I was looking for my newest vehicle, I discovered a vocal online HHR fan base with forums and an HHR Car Club.  These folks are serious about their HHR's with oodles of customizations that rival the real "vintage" vehicles.

I was really excited to test drive this car and was hoping that it might accommodate at least two of my three dogs on a regular basis.  It is reasonably priced around $16-18,000 and although it rated as below average for driving in the Editor's review, it has some pretty good consumer reviews on the Edmund's site.



For dogs, what I wanted to see was a large, flat cargo space for crates, windows that open for ventilation, easy-care interior surfaces and good visibility.  For the most part, the HHR satisfies these things, although in my research, one person warned against the possibility of too many hard surfaces and the likelihood of cracking after time. The hard surfaces are good for clean-up with dogs, but I guess only time will tell. The HHR also satisfies those wanting a little more finesse in their vehicles with a sunroof, heated leather seats and upscale technology options including a head restraint dvd system with flat-screen monitors, a satellite radio and an iPod/mp3 auxiliary input jack.

The vehicle I looked at was a basic model with fabric seats.  I have to say, the fabric was a light tan color (which I like) but looked like it would stain very easily and not hold up to dog messes. I personally prefer leather for ease of cleaning, but those with a fabric preference might want to consider a darker color (there are 3 options) or make sure to purchase seat covers.

Where the HHR excels is in the cargo area which feels cavernous for the size of the vehicle.



















Without wheel well arches, there is a lot of usable space.


















There are nifty little storage niches all over and a removable cargo shelf that can double as a table for tailgate parties.










The front passenger seat folds forward to allow more cargo space, but it's not at the same level as  rest of the cargo space.  It would allow you to carry longer items like EZ-UP's and umbrellas, though. The only down side for the cargo area is that the back window in the hatch does not open independently and the side windows don't open either, so the only way to get ventilation when crating in the car is to have the hatch open.  I think of this as a security issue, but I guess that's where Ventlocks come in handy.











When I test drove the HHR, I have to say, I was a little disappointed. The Edmunds reviews were correct in their assessment of the vehicle's performance. I thought the HHR lacked power upon initial acceleration and was sluggish in its handling. Mileage is admirable at 30 mpg highway and safety ratings are good.  If Chevy had given the vehicle just a little more oomph and better performance, it really would have rated a lot better for me.  I wanted to love this car.  I really like the cosmetics of the HHR and many of the features would work well for a dog vehicle, but I like to feel a high degree of control in a vehicle and the HHR just felt too mushy for me.