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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  I was afraid at first, now I love it! - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Minarets - April 18 - 6:46 am

  My wife’s Trailblazer wasnt cutting it with her new found 90mi/day commute. We needed more then 18mpg. Her father works for GM so the discount came to mind. She loved the looks of the HHR and I have to say, I was a little leary at first. After a few months of ownership I must say I am more then pleased. Sure there are things that could be better, but for a car in this price range, its tough to beat. Offers plenty of features...everything but NAV and HIDs are available...plenty of room for my wife, my 2month old and me! Right now we are seeing 31mpg hwy and 27 city. Easy to monitor when our commutes are all highway miles.

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  Beats The PT Crusier - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Bryan - April 12 - 8:26 am

  This is a very fun car to drive. We went on a trip this past weekend and it was really cool to see all of these people gawk out the windows of their cars to see what it is. The power is great and it is a very comfortable car.

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  Hot Hot Roadster - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Paul - April 9 - 9:03 pm

  HHR is the hot, hot roadster that Chevy just came out with and the vehicle I have been waiting for!! Awesome drive and awesome looks combined with great gas economy and I think I made a great purchase. Oh, I almost forgot, the vehicle only cost me $16,900....scary! Only negative was there were only 2 to choose from!! Luckily, black was one of the colors I was OK with. Awesome truck!

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  Forget the other models.....get the SS! - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By drstein1977 - April 3 - 10:50 am

  I just bought this car last week, SS models are hard to come by. I have to say I am glad I didnt get the 2lt, this thing blows away the other HHRs I test drove. I have the automatic so theres less HP but the design and features on this thing are second to none. No turbo lag and this thing hugs corners as well as my 2000 Trans AM WS6! Definitely a good family car with a very sporty edge! Two tone interior is nice. Extra options I bought: 7speaker pioneer system, sunroof, XM radio, and other cool stuff. Definitely get the SS!

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  Wow - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By don - April 3 - 2:36 am

  Ive had my HHR for only a week now but have logged about 300 miles. The 2.2 motor has enough power to get around and gets outstanding fuel econ. Im avgering 25 mpg in western PA! The price was right, I would recomend it to any family member, (this is coming from a Dodge man). Chevy has restored my confidence in GM vehicles.

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  My Gangsta Car - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Gary J. King - March 19 - 5:36 pm

  I love my HHR. It is fun to drive and the gas mileage is good. There are times that I get 28 to 30 mpg around town. It has cut my cost by 25 percent. The car is tight and very quiet even with the sun roof. The comfort is great. I am a big man, not tall but big and I feel very comfortable in the drivers seat. Every thing is in arms reach and easy accessible.

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  Cruzin HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By mark & Michelle - March 12 - 10:56 pm

  We love this car! The looks is what attracted us to it in the beginning, but the gas mileage is great considering I drive 80 miles a day. We have only had it for a week, so Im still trying to get use to it (I traded in my 2002 loaded windstar) the kids (2 girls) really like the looks but miss the entertainment system that was in the van. We will add dual monitor DVD players later. I think Chevy has out done them selves this time!

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  Good Car - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By jack keller - March 11 - 11:46 am

  Most of my driving is around very heavy traffic and the HHR is perfect for this. I have had it on the freeway and it is not smooth as a large car, it performed very well. I am surprised at the fast aceleration at all speeds. I have had no new car problems. The motor noise is a little loud, but that is a minor thing. I am very satisfied with the car.

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  Way to Go Chevrolet - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Nancy - March 3 - 6:30 am

  The vehicle is a lot of fun. Love the looks and the questions as to what vehicle it is. It does get confused with the PT Cruiser however, the room inside is spacious, the engine very peppy and the number of accessories is super. Really enjoy the performance of the vehicle. It handles the road very well. Extremely happy with the quality. Everything fits nice and there are no rattles or wind noises. It has an excellent fit to finish feel.

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  HHR Turns Heads, Makes Me Smile - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Happy Chevy Girl - January 13 - 5:43 am

  Amazingly comfortable and quiet ride. These are flying off the showroom floor in Houston, they are hard to get. The biggest challenge is finding a dealer who doesnt play games for hours about price and financing. I purchased the LT w/ the 2.4 liter engine and it has some kickin energy for a 4 cylinder. Supply and variety seem to be the biggest issues. Its hard to find a dealership with more than a couple in stock so there is not much choice in features.