I think the point was that the vehicles mentioned will all be about the
same as far as actually towing ability regardless of manufacturers
claimed capacity. All should handle the light, brakeless trailer
reasonably well if it's loaded with a couple sheets of sheetrock or
similar. All will handle like sh.t if you load the trailer to that
2,000# gross max, though you'll probably survive if it's only a 10 mile
trip. Do not consider any of those vehicles as viable for frequent
towing as that will in all probability cause premature wear on the
lightweight suspension components.

Pete C.

I think the *real* point is that rated towing capacity is limited by
the weakest link, which isn't always obvious and could be any of
several things, such as transaxle, unibody (either generally or in the
area where one would attach a hitch receiver), brakes, handling
dynamics, cooling system...

How often are you going to approach the gross weight of that trailer?
Are we talking a few sheets of drywall and some 2x4's, or 20 sacks of
ready-mix? Is making two trips as the better part of valor feasible for
you?  Are "real" pickups rentable in your area for those special
occasions?

Frankly, I wouldn't shortlist any front-wheel-drive, unibody vehicle of
essentially carlike nature for frequent or demanding towing with 2000
pounds on even if the manufacturer said it was marginally okay,  but if
you use your trailer more for bulk than for weight, it should be fine.
(Speaking of bulk, remember that in highway trailering, aerodynamic
load becomes important, so choose speed and gear prudently when you
bring home that side-by-side refrigerator.)

The only one of your candidates that I've driven (not towing) is the
Chevy HHR.  It drives bigger than it is, and felt stable and well
planted.  Another point in its favor for the do-it-yourselfer:  its
cargo area is very ergonomically usable.  A homeowner who wanted more
capability than an ordinary sedan has to offer, but didn't want a
pickup or pickup-based SUV could in my opinion do a lot worse, given
consciousness of its limits.

Best of luck,
--Joe

   I've towed 1000's of miles, sometimes with as much as 9000lbs. of cargo
weight on a stretched-chassis 1-ton Chevy truck.  My daughter has a Matrix.
I would not feel safe pulling over 400# at tops.  ( first put five hundred,
but after re-thinking, it is NOT made for pulling!)Hope this helps.  s

You are correct, sir. I was thinking Liberty/Nitro instead of
Caliber/Compass.

Once a week seems more than occasional to me. Many people who need to tow
buy "too much" tow vehicle in my opinion. But in this case, you need a
beefier vehicle than the Vibe or the HHR. The Compass would be barely
adequate. I'd still think you will have marginal braking and acceleration. A
vehicle in the Trailblazer size range is going to be a lot more suitable.

Richard

I tow a 10,000# trailer with my Chev K3500 dually (GCW 20,340# on the
last trip and it handled very well), I wouldn't even consider trying to
do that with an S10 under any circumstances no matter what GM or the
dealer claimed.

Pete C.