Fuel consumption is pretty good; with a soft right foot, you can achieve an average of about 10.5 L/100 km. But being gentle with a 260-hp compact is missing the purpose, so if you dig deeper into the engine's power band for some driving pleasure, you'll probably observe an average of 12.2 L/100 km like me.

GM recommends you put super unleaded in the 49-litre reservoir, though, which is bad news in these troubled times at the pump. After all, the 304-hp Cadillac CTS runs on regular unleaded. You can always choose 87-octane fuel for the HHR SS anyway, but the engine will adjust itself with a power decrease. Since we're not cheapskates [sic], we used premium fuel only during the test.

The SS version's upgraded suspension provides some extra moves over the lesser HHRs.

The SS version's upgraded suspension provides some extra moves over the lesser HHRs. The car hangs on more swiftly in curves, but it's still a tall wagon, which means a higher center of gravity and more body roll than, say, a Cobalt SS which shares the same mechanicals. The brakes could be better, though, as they produce longish stopping distances.

Space for everyone
Front and rear occupants will find a sufficient amount of room, and the driver benefits from a well laid-out dashboard, especially since the power window switches have been relocated on the door panels in the SS instead of at the bottom of the center console.

Material quality is still questionable, but it looks a little better than in the HHR LS we tested back in 2006. We really like the seat patchwork, which mixes cloth, suede and red leather together to create a sporty-looking cockpit.

Of course, the small side windows and upright windshield mean that outward visibility isn't that great; even the rear view mirror is in the way.

The driver benefits from a well laid-out dashboard.