2011 Chevrolet HHR Overview Change Vehicle

This 2011 Chevrolet HHR overview explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2011 HHR, and includes Chevy HHR safety, reliability, and fuel economy information for the HHR.

In keeping with a tradition that’s been in place since its debut in 2006, the 2011 Chevrolet HHR hits the market with a choice of new colors: Mocha Steel Metallic and Black Granite Metallic. Also added for 2011 is the MY LINK package, which now includes one year of complimentary XM satellite radio service. The fun but low volume HHR SS has been discontinued.

Oh, SS, we hardly knew ya. Rest in peace, buddy.

Yes, it’s true – the Chevrolet HHR SS is no longer among the motorized living. But the unique Panel variant continues, offered in LS or LT trim. Buyers choosing the HHR LS get standard air conditioning, cruise control, a tilt steering wheel, and an input jack for your iPod or other external music player. The usual array of convenience features, such as power windows and door locks, and remote keyless entry, are also part of the deal.

With the demise of the SS, the LT is once again the king of the HHR hill. In addition to what you get with the LS, the LT offers carpeted floor mats for the cabin and cargo area, color-keyed mirror housings, a power adjustable seat for the driver, and options like leather interior trim and a power sunroof. The 2LT keeps the ball rolling with standard Bluetooth connectivity, leather interior accents, a seven-speaker Pioneer sound system, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, alloy wheels, and a more powerful engine, among other upgrades.

Starting in 2008, Chevy dialed things up a bit with the HHR SS and its 260-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter. As of 2011, that option is no more. So, if that boosted wagon is a must-have for you, it’s time to hit the used car lots.

As a result of the SS’s demise, the front-wheel-drive 2011 HHR is available with the less impressive 2.2-liter four-cylinder and the slightly more robust 2.4-liter four-banger. Opt for the 2.2 and you’ll be working with 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque, output that’s managed by a standard five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. According to the EPA, drivers can expect to travel up to 22 mpg in the city either either transmission, and up to 32 miles per gallon on the highway with the automatic. Or, they could fill the tank with E85, a mix of ethanol and gasoline, and top out at 23 mpg.

If, instead, you decide to purchase a 2011 Chevy HHR with the 2.4-liter four-cylinder, there will be 172 horsepower and 167 pound-feet of torque at your disposal. Again, transmission choices include the five-speed stick and four-speed automatic; regardless of which you choose, fuel economy is expected to average 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. This flex-fuel engine is also capable of running on E85, though drivers will suffer a loss of about seven miles per gallon overall.

With no structural changes since first being offered to the buying public in 2006, the HHR’s crash test scores have remained consistent. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has and continues to award this Chevy its top Good rating for front-impact protection, but it earns a less impressive Acceptable label for its ability to shield occupants from side impacts, and even more unimpressive Marginal rating for preventing injury in a rear-impact crash. For 2011, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) adjusted its testing and scoring methods, and updated results for the HHR are not yet available.

Our sources for reliability data, Consumer Reports and J.D. Power and Associates, both predict that the 2011 Chevrolet HHR will provide average reliability over time.

Despite the improvements that have come over the years, the Chevrolet HHR has never been better than average. We’ve been disappointed by the car’s inferior interior materials, its unrefined feel, and reliability ratings that have never ventured beyond middling. There are immensely better options out there from manufacturers like Volkswagen, Mazda, Subaru, Hyundai, and many others. Leave the HHR for rental duty during your Florida vacation.

By Thom Blackett