2007 Chevrolet HHR Exterior Review [ 2008 ]
Chevrolet HHR Exterior Review
Exterior - 7.6 (Good)
Reviewers generally praise the 2007 Chevrolet HHR's retro styling and its unique look. The HHR's name refers to its 62.5-inch "Heritage High Roof," which is inspired by the 1949 Chevy Suburban. U.S. News reviewer Rick Newman concludes, "The modern take looks sorta cute, sorta homely, with a bit of gangster chic thrown in."
MarketWatch sees the HHR's styling as its best feature, commenting, "Sometimes cars and trucks can be fun to drive not for their spine-changing acceleration, crisp handling or brakes that test the strength of the seat belts. In the case of the HHR, it's the styling." In fact, every reviewer seems to have a different way to cleverly describe the HHR's exterior. New Car Test Drive comments, "If there's ever been a case of a picture of a so-called SUV being worth a thousand words, the HHR should be it. It looks like a 1949 panel delivery truck, with the edges smoothed over." And the Boston Herald quips that "exaggerated, vintage features like flared fenders, hefty doors, oversized mirrors and side running boards give the model the look of a pre-World War II delivery van on acid."
Despite its distinctive exterior, reviewers consistently compare the HHR to its similar-looking Chrysler competitor, the PT Cruiser. USA TODAY notes: "Some folks think it looks too much like the Chrysler PT Cruiser and marks Chevy as a late-comer to that market segment. But there's enough difference, especially if you see them together, to mute that argument and show that HHR has its own aesthetic credibility." Car and Driver says: "Chevy's Me-Too Cruiser isn't quite as cute as Chrysler's original. The molded Jell-O shape is too soft to make a compelling statement. Still, we're charmed."
BusinessWeek differentiates the two by noting, "The HHR is more truck-like (inspired by Chevy's SSR and '49 Suburban), the PT Cruiser more car-like in appearance." In addition, the HHR is about 7 inches longer, 2 inches wider and 2 inches taller than the PT Cruiser.
Exterior Trims
Special Edition
The Special Edition trim adds on several sporty exterior features, including 17-inch black-chrome wheels, a black chrome exterior package, fog lamps and headlamps with smoked lenses, an exterior accent stripe and an aero-wing rear spoiler.
