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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  Great Family SUV - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By llh - August 21 - 3:56 pm

  My LS is Black with XM-radio and Pioneer stereo. Had to get it ordered cause we couldnt find any LS models at dealership. Great family SUV, enough room for our kids and cargo room as well. Great handling as well. Traded our Neon for this HHR and love it.

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  So far, the best car Ive owned. - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Jim M - August 20 - 12:16 am

  Although Ive only had this car for about three months, I have really grown to like it very much. It is a fun car to drive. It handles very well, is comfortable to ride in, has a great sound system, and rides very well, with no rattles or squeaks. I bought this car to tow behind a motorhome, and it is equally well suited for that task as well. I was always a Ford man for years, but when I saw photos of this vehicle when it came out, I just had to have one, and when I took it for a test drive, I was convinced, for sure.

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  A Great Car from Chevrolet - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Sandman - August 18 - 10:00 pm

  I had a Trailblazer and was concerned about downsizing, especially in the power area. But to my surprise the HHR has all the power I need to move in and out of freeway traffic, climb steep grades and just cruise. This is a fun vehicle to drive, not to mention the looks and questions I get. Excellent gas mileage over 25 in the city and over 30 on the highway. No regrets. If the HHR is upgraded to AWD and turbo, I will be trading again!!

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  My HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Gary C - August 14 - 4:13 am

  Im well pleased with this vehicle. Fuel economy is great & the ability to use nearly the entire length of the vehicle to haul cargo beats the PT Crusier hands down. Vehicle controls are within easy reach and its a real pleasure to drive. Fit & finish on my vehicle were great. Ample storage throughout.

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  Oh yeah!! - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Doug Hedges - August 10 - 3:26 pm

  I have had my HHR for about a week now and have put over 500 miles on it. It is great. The ride is smooth and it handles like a charm. The interior is comfortable even for a big guy like me. It has side air bags front and back, which is a great feature.

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  From Large to small - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By gold7 - July 30 - 8:00 pm

  I went from a 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor AWD to the smaller HHR and was unsure that I could adjust to the smaller size and style, but I was wrong. This is a fantastic little vehicle. Snappy, quick response, with a great array of electronic features. Im getting about 28 miles per gallon in city and 33 hwy. Its made well, with solid construction and plenty of room for a smaller wagon style. Plus the styling blows away the PT Cruiser! Recommend to all that are looking for a really neat roomy concept style vehicle!

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  Wind / Road Noise - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Tom Swanson - July 4 - 5:30 am

  My car gets 20 mpg in town driving and 30 mpg highway. I have had it 6 months. It accelerates quickly enough to get on freeways safely. The heated seats need to be re-designed so more of the seating surface gets warm. The only complaint I have is about wind & road noise, especially at highway speeds, the noise sounds like a window is not completely shut, especially on passenger side, between the front & rear door. This appears to be the result of a design flaw. There is only one rubber seal around the front doors, & if there were two, like on the rear doors, I think the problem would not exist.

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  Fun car for the money - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Sharon - June 19 - 6:30 pm

  I bought this car because I wanted something with a hatchback for carrying around the dog and our sons sports equipment, plus I wanted something that would get decent gas mileage. This car works great for both. I got the upgraded engine - 177 hp, which is zippy enough to get you around in traffic. It is quiet at high speeds (70 mph) and is responsive with its steering. Good car for the money! Ive had it for three months. No problems with anything. Good headroom - even with the sunroof. a/c works great. Backseat passengers have plenty of legroom. Ive been getting 26 mpg - combo of city and highway driving, mostly city.

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  Retro is in - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Harry - June 17 - 7:40 am

  It took a month of looking to find the car. In late 2005 they were hard to get. Great styling, its boxy shape and fenders remind one of the old gangster cars. Very roomy inside considering the external dimensions of the vehicle. It fits in narrow parking spaces and has a lot of cargo room with the rear seat folded down.

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  Just Got My HHR as a Compnay Car! - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Hughesjay - June 15 - 6:10 am

  So far so good I have had the HHR for just over a week, I also own a TB and an Envoy. I love it -surprised at the power from a 4 cyl. Also like the ride and its not noisy like most small vehicles you get so much for the price I would recommend to all at any age.