Dodge Nitro Review

2008 Dodge Nitro SLT SUV Shown

In general, small-to-midsize SUVs are pretty conservative in terms of their styling and design. One exception, however, is the Dodge Nitro. Mechanically, the Nitro is related to the rather pedestrian Jeep Liberty. It's a unibody design, but the non-independent rear suspension, standard rear-drive configuration (with four-wheel drive optional) and large-displacement 3.7-liter and 4.0-liter V6 engines all point to the platform's truckish roots. Yet the Nitro has a retro look that's all its own, with a high waistline, big wheels and aggressively flared fenders. Unfortunately, this Dodge's beauty is only skin deep. Its handling is subpar and its interior disappoints due to a lack of quality.

Current Dodge Nitro

The Dodge Nitro five-passenger midsize SUV comes in two trim levels: base SE and snazzier SLT. There's a performance-oriented package that adds options to the SLT and earns the vehicle an "R/T" designation. All trims can be had with either two- or four-wheel-drive. There are two engine choices: a 3.7-liter V6 (210 horsepower) and a 4.0-liter V6 (260 hp). The 4.0-liter is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission, while the 3.7-liter is stuck with a four-speed automatic. The larger engine is standard on the R/T, while the SE and the SLT get the smaller power plant. All versions of the Nitro are available with either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive (4WD). Nitro 4x4s have a part-time system with high- and low-range gearing.

The base Nitro SE comes standard with features like 16-inch steel wheels, air-conditioning, full power accessories, stability control and a full complement of airbags. Step up to the Nitro SLT and you'll get 17-inch alloy wheels, body-color exterior trim, privacy glass, a power driver seat, cruise control and a slide-out cargo floor with tie-down points. The available R/T Package for the SLT provides the larger engine, 20-inch chrome wheels, firmer suspension tuning and upgraded exterior trim. Major options include a premium audio system, a sunroof and a hard-drive-based navigation system.

In Dodge Nitro reviews, we found acceleration to be disappointing with the 3.7-liter engine, but adequate with the 4.0-liter V6. There isn't much of a fuel economy penalty with the bigger V6, either -- city and highway estimates for the two engines are almost identical. Customers interested in extracting maximum performance from their Nitros should gravitate toward this power plant. However, handling and ride quality are below average. Inside, the Nitro has a somewhat industrial feel, though faux aluminum accents brighten the place up a bit. Materials quality is unimpressive for this class, and a few plastics stand out as unacceptably low-grade.

Used Dodge Nitro Models

The Dodge Nitro was introduced for the 2007 model year. Only minor changes have occurred since. Originally, the base trim was called SXT, and it came standard with a six-speed manual transmission. In 2008, the Nitro received an optional rear parking sensor and trailer-sway control function for the stability control system. For 2009, Dodge tightened up the handling a bit in response to criticism of earlier models.

SELECT A SPECIFIC DODGE NITRO MODEL YEAR*

* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.