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Reviews October 19, 2006, 2:35PM EST

2007 Dodge Nitro

Based on the Jeep Liberty but more aggressively styled, the Nitro is Dodge’s entry in the midsize SUV field

by Richard Yarrow

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The new Dodge Nitro is only the latest work of a company famous for producing 4x4s, but it will still take its place in the firm's history books. It's the firm's first ever mid-size SUV, and the first Dodge SUV of any size destined for beyond the borders of the USA and Canada.

It's not entirely a clean-sheet design, but a distant relative of the current Jeep Liberty. However the Nitro has grown in some essential ways - it's longer than the current Liberty, for example - in which the new Liberty will also grow when it's revamped after the 2007 model year. The next Liberty will get a low-range ratio and a tougher suspension befitting its badge, but this Nitro is designed more for the on-road SUV crowd.

The Nitro goes on sale in the U.S. later this year. As the Liberty is, the Nitro is aimed at domestic offerings such as the Ford Escape, Kia Sorento, and Hyundai Santa Fe.

Looks about right

Three models make up the range. The SXT is the base vehicle and comes with a six-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission and a 210-hp V-6. The SLT adds trim but only comes with the four-speed automatic. Rear-drive is standard, while four-wheel drive is optional on these. The higher-performance R/T gets a 260-hp V-6 and a five-speed automatic, as well as standard four-wheel drive.

No matter which model, there's no mistaking the looks of the Nitro. It certainly has an appeal, and judging by its impact on our California test route it's unquestionably a head-turner.

For those seeking to stand out from the crowd, the Nitro is bold and different. An understated piece of automotive design this is not; the car's aggressive looks, big wheels, cross-shaped grille, and slab flanks means it could be the Land Rover LR3 younger - and meaner - half-brother.

Growl like the wind

Buyers have a choice of two gasoline engines. The first is a 3.7-liter V-6, offering 210 hp and 235 lb-ft of torque, mated to a six-speed manual, or a four-speed or a five-speed automatic gearbox. Above it is a 4.0-liter V-6 with 260 hp and 265 lb-ft, linked to a five-speed automatic, found only on the R/T.

There are three different drive systems, including a basic 2WD (rear-wheel drive) car. Full-time 4WD is standard on the R/T, while the 3.7 gets a part-time 4WD setup that can be electronically controlled by a dashboard button.

We drove a base Nitro with the 3.7-liter V-6 and rear-wheel drive. On uneven surfaces the ride quality was acceptable when we were doing up to around 40 mph, but the damping lacked control the faster we went and we found ourselves bouncing up and down regularly. The steering was quite vague, and at speed if you turned the wheel up to about 45 degrees either side of straight ahead there was little change of direction. It meant we found ourselves constantly adjusting the wheel to keep the Nitro on line. That spoiled its ability to go smoothly through corners, which was a shame because the lateral body control, if we went fast enough into bends, was good.

The 3.7-liter Nitro isn't a car that responds well to being rushed or pushed. If you travel along with the traffic it's fine, but with no manual "AutoStick" option on the four-speed auto gearbox, you have to floor the throttle and wait for the kickdown to pass other vehicles. When it comes it's not very impressive; the V-6 gets very noisy and coarse, and doesn't provide the burst of acceleration you'd expect from an engine of this size.

There was also noticeable wind noise from the A-pillars and large door mirrors at freeway speeds. The brakes worked well, but if you took your right foot off the pedal too quickly there was a loud clunk as it sprung back up to the default position. It got quite irritating after a time.

Likeable cabin

In the cabin, there's much to like. It has a chunky, utilitarian feel, but in a modern way rather than an antiquated one. The central console is well laid out, with three big ventilation system knobs below an audio unit that's easy to use and has big buttons. The brushed aluminum surround looks right for the car.

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