However, now, Chevy has gone one step farther, filling in the windows and morphing the HHR into a 50’s-style sedan delivery — your basic car-based panel truck. This was a move I hoped General Motors (GM) would make, because it opens a lot of doors for this utilitarian, but very fun, vehicle.

GM considers the Mexico-built HHR a distinctive vehicle — like the Chevy SSR, Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice. All are aimed at luring buyers back into GM showrooms after losing them because of the boring, blandly-styled, parts bin mix-and-match vehicles it began building in the 80s, and continued to until after the millennium.

I’ve driven both the SUV version of the HHR as well as the Panel. Although this review focuses primarily on the Panel, except for the filled in windows and cargo area in the Panel, they are the same basic vehicle.

Walkaround: “HHR” stands for Heritage High Roof, referring to the HHR’s tall rooflline, which gives it the retro look and its impressive, interior cargo room. The front-wheel-drive HHR’s styling mirrors the 1949 Chevrolet Suburban, with its bulging fenders and bulldog chrome grill — sharing those styling cues with Chevy’s retro SSR roadster-pickup.

The panel version simply has the windows filled in, but one useful feature, unlike the old sedan deliverys, the doors are still there and they open with a push of a dashboard-mounted button.

Large outside door handles opening wide doors onto a low floor make it easy to slide in or out of the quiet interior’s chair-high seats, making the optional color-keyed running boards just a cosmetic addition.

Interior: The interior is standard GM issue, but nicely designed with lots of glass area in the cockpit. The high roof provides that “command-of-the-road” feel familiar to SUV owners, and the broad front bucket seats are comfortable, providing nice support. However, the large inside rearview mirror partly blocks vision of overhead traffic lights despite the big windshield.

There are three trim levels: base LS, the 1LT and 2LT. The 2LT is really just a 1LT with the $1,800 2LT Preferred Equipment package. However, the base LS offers a lot of standard equipment for the money, including A/C, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, split-folding rear seat, AM/FM/CD player along with power mirrors, windows and door locks with remote keyless entry. The 1LT adds a power driver seat, an AM/FM/CD/MP3 player and alloy wheels.

Extras include a power sunroof, heated seats with leather upholstery, XM satellite radio, GM’s OnStar assistance system, and polished alloy wheels. Safety options include side head curtain airbags.

The HHR Panel’s fairly large cargo space has a low, wide opening accessed from a top-hinged door, and sits on a platform appearing to be the same height as if the seats in the SUV version were folded flat. It also has a two-piece rubber mat and a shallow storage compartment, which has hooks for grocery bags, located below the mat.

The front passenger seatback also flips forward to increase cargo room for long items like ladders, lumber, or whatever.

Under The Hood: There are two, high-revving, DOHC, 16-valve powerplants offered — a 2.2-liter, 143-horsepower 4-cylinder that’s standard on the LS and 1LT, and a 172–horse, 2.4-liter version that’s optional on the 1LT and standard on the 2LT.

A 5-speed manual gearbox is standard, while a responsive 4-speed automatic, which has a remote-start feature, is optional. Chevy expects most HHR buyers to opt for the automatic.

Our 2LT test truck was equipped with the 2.4-liter and the automatic, as was the SUV version driven previously.

Mileage for both engines is estimated 22/city and 30/highway with the stick and 23 and 30 with the automatic.

Behind The Wheel: Those who expect the HHR Panel to be a sporty little truck will be disappointed. The ride is a little soft, even with the sport suspension. It’s pretty stable on smooth pavement, although there’s some slight body lean around corners. But maneuverability is good and handling is decent. The brakes are front disc and rear drum, delivering respectable stopping distances from a pedal with nice linear action.

Like the SUV version, the HHR Panel is very car-like with smooth, responsive, speed-sensitive power steering. The wheel is retro-large, harking back to the days when big steering wheels were necessary to maneuver old utility vehicles — like the early Suburbans — before power steering was invented.

Highway passing and local hills had the 2.4-liter, 4-banger working hard, although an abundance of sound insulation keeps the interior noise level acceptable. While he engine provides just mediocre acceleration, a supercharger like the one in the 205-horse Cobalt would be a welcome addition — especially when the 3,155-pound HHR is filled with cargo.

Whines: The power window controls are hard to find because they’re positioned down low in the center console instead of on the doors, as in most vehicles. The inset tachometer is small, as is the gauge numbering.

Bottom Line: The Chevy HHR Panel is a terrific blend of style and utility at a very affordable price ($18,005 base, $24,049 as tested). Some buyers will want more power, but this vehicle has a myriad of practical uses. It can double as a retro version of that cool van you had in the 70s, or an efficient delivery or service vehicle for all kinds of small businesses. Either way, it’s just a very cool ride that’s not only great looking, but just flat out fun to drive.