Overview & Reviews

The Chevrolet HHR was something of a late arrival to the compact wagon scene. Its name stood for "Heritage High Roof," referring to its tall retro-wagon styling, which Chevrolet claims was inspired by the '49 Suburban. Everything else about the vehicle, however, was decidedly modern.

Though compact in size, the Chevy HHR featured clever interior packaging solutions, including a split-folding rear seat, a fold-flat front passenger seat and a cargo area floor (with built-in grocery bag hooks) that allowed it to accommodate bulky and/or long cargo items. For shoppers searching for a used versatile compact wagon that's also stylish, the HHR certainly merits consideration.

Most Recent Chevrolet HHR
The Chevrolet HHR was a compact four-door wagon produced from 2006-'11. It shared its front-wheel-drive architecture -- and thus many of its driving characteristics -- with Chevrolet's Cobalt compact sedan.

In testing, our editors commented favorably about the HHR's smooth and quiet ride, ample cargo space, attractive interior, excellent visibility and versatile sound system. The cabin boasted nicely detailed gauges, tight construction and substantial-feeling controls. There was, however, no shortage of hard plastics on hand that sullied the overall ambience. The HHR's tall ceiling provided headroom aplenty, but the narrow body limited comfort for adults riding in the backseat. Other downsides included weak brakes, underwhelming handling dynamics and a lack of refinement from the 2.4-liter engine.

Four trim levels were offered: LS, 1LT, 2LT and a high-performance SS version produced from 2008-'10. A two-seat panel van version that came in LS, LT and SS trims was available every year but 2006.

The base engine was a 2.2-liter four-cylinder that initially produced 143 horsepower, but was bumped to 149 for 2007 and to 155 for 2010. Available on the LT was a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that produced either 172 hp or 175 depending on the year (it actually went back and forth). The SS featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder good for 260 hp, along with stronger brakes and an enhanced suspension that together made it quite fun to drive. Front-wheel drive and a five-speed manual were standard with all, but a four-speed automatic was optional.

Besides the minor horsepower bumps, changes to the HHR were limited to standard features. Most notably, this included stability control for 2008 as well as antilock brakes and side curtain airbags the following year.

User Reviews:

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  The best little red wagon yet - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By jimbo - July 7 - 10:33 am

  This is the best vehicle I have ever owned and I have had all kinds. It beats the Honda and Toyota. I feel great about buying an American car. People need to look and drive the HHR and they will see how great they are. After having it a month I like even better now. What a great all round vehicle. Price, gas mileage, room, smooth ride, power, handling. You have it all here. Thanks Chevy.

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  College bound or around town - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By College Shuttle - July 7 - 8:43 am

  Bought one for my daughter to take to college and travel back and forth home, liked it so much and found it so useful I bought another for myself.

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  Most fun to drive - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By nightcreacher - July 6 - 8:11 am

  Next to my Trams Am, this is the coolest car that I have ever purchased. Its by no means a race car, but its exciting to drive. It handles well, looks good, and is just a fun automobile

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  Fun Car! - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By Roger Sinden - July 4 - 9:03 pm

  We bought this for my wifes birthday. We looked at a Saturn Sky, but the HHR is more her style. This thing can run fast, corners like a sports car, rides well, has lots of nice amenities. Will do another review after 10,000 miles. We are getting an average 28.8 mpg with mixed driving. She loves it. So do I. Comfortable for four adults. Only downer so far is the cup holders are inconvenient. We have put about 580 miles on the car, it is so fun to drive it is hard to leave this car home.

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  Price Performance Unexcelled - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By Coveman - July 2 - 5:02 pm

  Had three objectives in the purchase. 1) better gas mileage than my Escalade 2) Towable behind my motor home 3) Comfortable when hauling my grandchildren and cargo The HHR had it all and for a price I could not beat. The warranty will ensure good service on major items. Interior is adequate for me. Fun to drive and since I am not a NASCAR driver wannabe the negatives the professionals give it do not matter. It drives great! I feel safe and secure and the OnStar is a huge plus for my family.

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  Tons of Utility with Great Fuel Economy - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By NeoMoses - July 2 - 8:18 am

  I needed a vehicle that was mainly a commuter car, but also had to have good utility for hauling my bikes on the weekends. Also, it had to be comfortable & roomy enough to take 2 adults and 2 large dogs on a cross-country roadtrip when needed. The HHR fit the bill perfectly. Tons of cargo room, especially with the seats folded flat. I love this car, & my wife does too.

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  Nostalgic HHR - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By Rick T - June 28 - 5:15 pm

  My Shadow Edition black-granite HHR reminds me so much of my dads early 1950s Chevy truck. The HHR is a real nostalgia machine! Chevrolet has captured the 1950s feel with modern day convenience included. I love this vehicle more and more, and every time I get into it the great old memories come flooding back.

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  2008 Chevy HHR LS - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By Scott - June 28 - 7:59 am

  Great car for the money. I took a 500 mile trip through the mountains and averaged 32 MPG on the interstate. I get about 25 MPG locally. It has a lot more interior room than appears from the outside and will actually seat four adults comfortably, although if you are going to carry four people on a regular basis the 2.4 engine or turbo would be a better choice. If I had to make the choice over again I would buy the same car.

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  SS all the way! - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By James - June 27 - 4:02 pm

  If youre looking for a powerful, economical, and roomy vehicle, the Chevrolet HHR SS is for you! This vehicle has it all! 260 hp, Onstar, airbags everywhere, tinted windows, 18" alloy wheels, lots of cargo room, and head-turning good looks. Its faster than most SUVs and CUVs out there, has more cargo room than most, and gets between 23 and 26 mpg combined. OnStar, XM satellite radio, and hands-free calling are all standard. For a few extra bucks, you can add the OnStar navigation package. The only two gripes I have about the vehicle are no grab handles and the engine is a little on the noisy side. Overall, a total winner!

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  Love it ! - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By randalljay - June 26 - 8:26 am

  We bought an 08 Scion xB,but didnt care for only one arm rest, single back up light, poor color selection, cheap fabric and no floor mats. We were lucky enough to find an Orange HHR that had a quarter panel (not a full panel). Since we needed at least five seats, the full panel wagon was out of the question. something about the missing side rear windows that make this car very appealing. The quarter panel is a great place for self-expression. The placement of the window controls is a little weird and takes a while to get use to. For some reason I keep hitting my shins on the door when I get out. On the plus side, the OnStar is great, its American, has lots of room, and it comes with mats.