2006 Chevrolet HHR Road Test

Given the rudimentary powertrain, basic five-passenger layout, and intentionally old-school styling, one may expect the 2006 Chevrolet HHR to be an example of simple ergonomics at is finest. Yet, all is not well in this land of oddly-placed switches and buttons.

Shedding light on the situation is a single, bright bulb directed from where most people would expect to find a front dome lamp or map lights. In a sure sign of ingenuity, GM designers placed a light in the headliner that dimly illuminates the instrument panel at night. Neat, huh? Or maybe just a clever way to avoid using illuminated switches for the power windows, switches that are curiously placed at the bottom of the center console instead of on the door panel where, oh, maybe 99 percent of all drivers would expect to find them. Moving along with the complaint train, the HHR suggests a focus on audio entertainment with an auxiliary iPod jack and options like a six-disc CD changer and XM satellite radio, yet steering wheel stereo controls are only available as part of a $925 leather seat package. Such a popular and increasingly common feature should be easier, and cheaper to get. And finally there’s the fog light switch located on the right side of the instrument panel – drivers intuitively look to the left dash for this, and goodness knows there’s plenty of room on the 2006 Chevrolet HHR’s sea of gray dash plastic.

On a more positive note, the radio controls are a study in minimalism, with clear indicators for seek and CD control and one knob for power and volume while another addresses tuning. Climate controls are equally pleasing, with three basic dials: Temperature, fan speed, and air flow direction.