2007 Chevy HHR Features

2007 HHR | Change Year

2007 Chevrolet HHR - Sport Red Metallic

Haul, store, pack more
Like the rest of the vehicle, the HHR's interior combines the reassuring high visibility and cargo flexibility of an SUV with the comfort, appointments, driving ease and ergonomics of an upscale sedan. The high roof provides excellent headroom and creates a more open, airy environment, while the instrument cluster carries the heritage theme of the vehicle.

The HHR's interior evokes a feeling of roominess and an upscale aura is created by detailed, jewel-like instrument displays and chrome accents. Interior color combinations feature darker colors on upper sections of the interior and lighter colors for lower sections. Quality also is conveyed in the tailored seats, which provide firmer support, sculpture and plenty of comfort for long drives. HHR also has standard air conditioning, providing comfortable levels of airflow, cooling capability and reduced cool-down time. The system is designed to provide efficient side-window defogging and enhanced rear-window defogging.

Complementing the HHR's comfortable and expressive interior is a highly adaptable cargo system, which maximizes storage capability with a host of clever and useful configuration options, including:

Auxiliary glove box with flip-up cover is located at the top center of the instrument panel for convenient storage of MP3s, cell phones, sunglasses and other smaller items
The front passenger seat folds fully flat, extending the total load length from the liftgate to the instrument panel - allowing 8-foot items, such as a ladder, to be carried with the liftgate closed.
The center armrest of the front seats is integrated into the seat back frame, so it is out of the way when pivoted into a stowed position; a characteristic of trucks and SUVs.
The rear seats have a 60/40-split, which fold to form a continuous flat load surface in conjunction with the folded front passenger seat. The 60-percent folding side was thoughtfully positioned on the passenger side, enabling wider objects to be positioned diagonally and carried more securely in the vehicle.

The cargo area in the rear also is thoughtfully designed:

It provides a continuous flat load floor when the rear seats are folded down.
The primary load floor can become a shelf when raised and mounted approximately 1 foot higher - the shelf can be mounted level or at a 45-degree angle to provide quick access to the cargo beneath it when the liftgate is opened.
A 5-inch-deep recessed bin below the load floor can conceal 2.8 cubic feet (79.6 L); the spare tire is located beneath the bin.
Two storage bins (0.5 cubic foot / 12.9 L total) are found forward of the load floor, nestled behind the rear seat, and plastic bag holders are conveniently located under the cargo shelf.
It comes with a carpeted cargo mat.
The rear liftgate is activated via touchpad, for ease of opening.

Powertrain details
HHR relies on the renowned Ecotec family of technologically sophisticated inline four-cylinder engines, which balances usable power with fuel and emissions efficiency. The standard engine for LS and 1LT models is the 2.2L Ecotec engine, which is rated at 143 horsepower (107 kw) and 150 lb.-ft. of torque (203 Nm).*

The 2.4L Ecotec four-cylinder is available on the 1LT and standard on the 2LT. It is rated at 172 horsepower (128 kw) and 162 lb.-ft. of torque (220 Nm).* Both the 2.2L and the 2.4L engine have distinct performance and hardware differences, but share a basic structure and construction that includes:

Dual overhead camshafts (DOHC) and four valves per cylinder
Twin counter-rotating balance shafts for operational smoothness
Electronic throttle control
Low-friction, roller-finger follower valvetrain with hydraulic lash adjusters
Low-maintenance chain-driven camshafts
Direct-mount accessories, which reduce or eliminate traditional sources of noise and vibration
Full-circle transmission mount to reduce noise and vibration
GM Oil Life System, which can reduce the frequency for oil changes
Innovative cast-in oil filter housing, which eliminates the need to crawl under the vehicle to perform oil changes and eliminates throwaway oil filter cans that retain used oil
Catalytic converter located close to exhaust manifold to speed catalyst "light off," reducing hydrocarbon emissions

HHR's Ecotec engines also benefit from features designed to reduce noise and vibration. The pistons, for example, have a polymer coating and skirt design that reduces noise during cold starts, while a new, two-layer acoustic engine cover is tuned to reduce noise. NVH is reduced with a new automatic tensioner that maintains optimal tension on the timing chain.

Transmissions include a standard Getrag F23 five-speed manual transmission or an available Hydra-Matic 4T45-E electronically controlled four-speed automatic, which are available with both engines. The F23 five-speed manual transmission delivers smoothness and durability, with all gears - including reverse - featuring synchronization. Final gearing of the transmission varies between 2.2L and 2.4L applications to optimize the performance of both. The available 4T45-E is a smooth-shifting, highly durable automatic transmission. Like the F23 manual transmission, there are calibration differences to optimize the performance of 2.2L-equipped models and 2.4L-equippped models. All models, regardless of engine or transmission, are designed for flat towing.

Strong body structure provides a quiet ride
HHR is built on the same robust GM Small Car structure as the recently introduced Chevy Cobalt. This lower-dominant structure is designed with strength in the lower portions of the chassis, contributing to an overall feeling of rigidity and superior noise and vibration characteristics. In fact, with the use of materials such as Quiet Steel laminated panels in the plenum, the HHR is expected to offer the quiet, high-quality NVH traits of a more expensive car. Extensive use of high-strength steel and ultra-high-strength steel in key structural components, including ultra-high-strength steel rocker panels and cross-car reinforcing beam, bolsters the vehicle's rigid feel while providing additional side-impact support. The cockpit "safety cage" provides load-carrying protection and, along with laser-welded blanks used in the door frames, front doors and rear doors, contributes to the HHR's excellent NVH characteristics and precision build quality.

Responsive suspensions
HHR's uses a MacPherson strut front suspension design, along with a semi-independent, torsion beam rear suspension and five-lug wheels. Two suspension systems are available: FE1 suspension standard on LS and 1LT, with an FE3 suspension standard on LT models. The FE1 suspension is tuned for a softer ride and includes 16-inch wheels, while the FE3 provides sportier handling traits and offers standard 17-inch wheels and monotube shocks, which provide better ride and handling. All models are equipped with rack-and-pinion steering with electric power steering (EPS) - a speed-sensitive, variable-effort system that is tuned to match the performance characteristics of two separate suspension settings. EPS eliminates the use of an engine-driven power steering pump, as well as the corresponding fluid reservoir and plumbing, reducing both fuel consumption and the potential source of an environmental contaminant. Brakes consist of large front discs and rear drums, with ABS and traction control standard on 2LT models (traction control only available with automatic transmission) and available on LS and 1LT models.

Safety and security
HHR is designed to protect occupants in the event of a crash. Standard safety features include dual-stage frontal air bags with GM's Passenger Sensing System. This system works with the front passenger seat and differentiates between adults - 5 th percentile females and larger - and small children or child seats to adjust air bag deployment.

Additionally, HHR has front safety belt pretensioners, rear seat center lap-shoulder safety belts and the LATCH child seat retention system. Head curtain side-impact air bags for front- and rear-seat occupants are available.

OnStar-equipped HHR models feature OnStar dual-mode (analog-digital) equipment. OnStar's digital equipment also includes enhanced hands-free voice recognition capabilities including more intuitive continuous digit dialing and improved voice recognition accuracy. OnStar is the leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security and information services in the United States and Canada . Using the GPS satellite network and wireless technology, OnStar features core safety services and OnStar Hands-Free Calling that allows drivers to make and receive voice-activated phone calls using an externally mounted antenna for greater reception.

The OnStar service standard on the 2006 HHR includes the General Motors Advanced Automatic Crash Notification (AACN) system, making crash data available to the participating 911 centers to help them dispatch the appropriate live-saving personnel and equipment to crash scenes faster.

Occupant safety bolstered by the following:

Driver and front passenger frontal air bags
Front safety belt pretensioners
Rear seat center lap-shoulder belts and the LATCH child seat retention system
Available head curtain side air bags for front- and rear-seat outboard passengers
Available OnStar with Advanced Automatic Crash Notification (AACN)

*Preliminary, pending certification. A new voluntary power and torque certification procedure developed by the SAE Engine Test Code committee was approved March 31, 2005 . This procedure (J2723) ensures fair, accurate ratings for horsepower and torque by allowing manufacturers to certify their engines through third-party witness testing. GM was the first auto manufacturer to begin using the procedure and expects to use it for all newly rated engines in the future.

Note: Information shown is current at time of publication.