As we approached the 2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 4x4 in the Chrysler parking lot, my wife blurted, "Looks like a Hummer wannabe." Wannabe or not, the five-passenger Nitro, especially in R/T guise with its chromed 20-inch rims and body-coloured cladding, cuts a pretty striking profile. Hats off to DaimlerChrysler, er, Chrysler, for once again bringing a bold styling statement to the streets. The almost cartoonish tough-guy proportions of this Sunburst Orange Pearl specimen never failed to get a reaction wherever we went. The 2007 Nitro is built on a Jeep Liberty platform that has been stretched 10 cm and has gained 2.5 cm in track width. The base engine is a 210 hp 3.7 L V6, while the R/T and SLT versions get a 4.0 L SOHC 24-valve V6 that generates 255 hp at 6000 rpm and 265 lb.-ft. at 4200 rpm. The R/T motor is coupled to a five-speed automatic transmission. The V6 provides plenty of urge, and makes a suitably gruff (but not particularly refined) noise that seems in keeping with the hunky crossover's personality. On the highway, its voice diminishes to a distant thrum. As in many other Dodge products, the interior features acres of grey plastic, but proves functional with lots of storage bins and cubby holes. I like the large rotary controls for the HVAC and audio; the trio of main gauges is legible and well illuminated. While in park, shorter drivers may find reaching the console shifter a chore, as even this lanky reviewer found it a bit of a stretch. Two more strikes: the steering wheel doesn't telescope and there's no left-foot dead pedal. With the mid-size crossover segment burgeoning with ever more refined, car-based offerings, the live-rear-axle Nitro R/T with its stiffened performance suspension is a bit of a throwback. Sophisticated it ain't. The big 20-inch wheels clomp over road imperfections, and any uneven road surface (of which there are plenty in the GTA) has the ute pitching and swaying in a most truckish fashion. Adding to the malaise is numb steering and a torpedoed-freighter cornering attitude. At least there is 4x4 traction, right? Yes and no. The part-time four-wheel drive of this tester (selectable via a rotary knob on the console) is only usable on loose or slippery surfaces such as gravel, mud or snow. Consequently, most of the time you'll be running in rear wheel drive only. For 2008, full-time four-wheel drive replaces this part-time system on the Nitro SLT and R/T. Not a moment too soon. The four-wheel-disc brakes with ABS are probably the Nitro's most impressive dynamic feature, offering excellent pedal feel and strong retardation. Standard on the Nitro is Electronic Stability Program (ESP), all-speed traction control, Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) and tire pressure monitoring. Ride issues aside, the Nitro treats its occupants quite nicely. I found the optional heated leather seats ($865) very comfy, and that the AM/FM six-disc DVD MP3 radio ($455) with eight amplified speakers plus subwoofer ($420) produced clear and accurate sound. Included in the R/T package is one year of Sirius Satellite Radio. For most of the test week, I was tuned to 118 Radio Classics, checking out old radio dramas from the 1930s and '40s. Interestingly, the Nitro's occasional bucking fits lent a certain authenticity to the adventures of horsey heroes like the Lone Ranger and Marshal Matt Dillon, but there were a few times when, like many of the Gunsmoke villains, I just wanted to get out of (the) Dodge. The R/T can be loaded up with UConnect hands-free phone system, rear-seat DVD and the 30 gigabyte MyGIG Multi Media Infotainment System with navigation – a clever feature that lets you store your own music, pictures and data. Thanks to the lengthened platform, rear-seat legroom is generous, and the reclining 60/40 rear seat folds flat with a tug on a couple of straps, creating a large flat load space. With the front passenger seat folded flat, you can load eight-foot lumber. As is the case with most SUVs, you pay for the macho-ness with a high load floor, and the Nitro's is way up there. An interesting item is the R/T's standard Load 'n Go cargo floor, which slides out 46 cm and can support up to 181 kg. Nitro R/T will tow up to 2268 kg with the optional trailer tow group and weight-distributing hitch. While a base Nitro SE 4x2 with six-speed manual runs $23,595, the top-line R/T starts at $32,150, putting it right into the thick of the Toyota RAV4 V6, Honda CR-V, Ford Edge and Mazda CX-7 crowd. Comparisons are somewhat pointless. The truckly Nitro is a completely different animal, offering striking Tonka Toy styling and a driving experience that makes no apologies for its robust Jeep DNA. If you can live with its rough-and-tumble charms, the Nitro R/T makes an intriguing alternative to its city-slicker competition. However, I'd strongly recommend the 2008 model with standard full-time four-wheel drive. At least then it will live up to its swagger. |