Dodge Nitro convertible

When Chrysler was deciding where to place the new Dodge Nitro, marketers clearly had a headache. The Jeep brand, which is also part of this concern, already covers almost the entire range of all-wheel-drive vehicles, from the light Compass to the seven-seat Commander. Dodge itself is almost unknown in Russia: until recently, the brand was represented here only by the Caliber crossover and the Viper supercar. In the US, Dodge has the huge Durango, but it is too large for our roads and parking lots — here, "almost European" BMW X5 and Mercedes ML are held in high regard.

In terms of dimensions, the Nitro falls into the category of mid-size SUVs, a kind of competitor to the BMW X3 or Hyundai SantaFe. But at its core, it has a ladder frame, like the Jeep Cherokee. This is almost an anachronism: none of the rivals use this. Moreover, the Nitro is assembled at the same plant as the Cherokee in Toledo, Ohio, and they share engines.

Fortunately, the differences between these cars are not limited to design. This is truly a new model. Its content matches its positioning. If the Cherokee is a Jeep with a capital J, which must conquer off-road at any cost, then the Nitro is more of a crossover. It has fewer off-road refinements, but the ladder frame provides an additional margin of safety. The Nitro's transmission is simple: permanent all-wheel drive and the ability to rigidly engage the front axle. Moreover, it is engaged not by a lever, but by a small "knob" near the selector — this is more reliable because the driver is unlikely to make a mistake. But this mode cannot be used on asphalt: the Nitro has no center differential, so most of the time the car drives in rear-wheel drive.

But the main difference from the Cherokee is immediately visible. The round headlights of the "redskin" evoke only tenderness, but standing face to face with the Nitro is somehow undignified. The menacing "Ram" on the emblem seems to perceive a smile as a mockery and will rush to attack. The large chrome radiator grille literally blinds, and the massive lower bumper is ready to catch anyone. If the Nitro is friendly, the bumper can serve as a bench or a step to climb onto the hood. The powerful wheel arches easily accommodate 20-inch wheels and seem ready for more. True, the base Nitro has only 16-inch wheels. But it is unlikely you will see the "Ram" on small "legs" — there are no such cars even in press fleets. Dealers do not import them either. "Who needs them? If you want a real SUV with high-profile tires, take the Cherokee, but the Nitro is for fashionistas," a manager at a dealership explained to me.

And indeed: remove the chrome and large wheels, and you are left with a boring "box on wheels." But as it is, it is quite a stylish car from nose to tail, down to the door handles with massive buttons borrowed from the legendary Jeep Wrangler.

Inside, the kinship with the Cherokee is felt more strongly — the same layout with an almost vertical windshield and a narrow front panel. Moving into the Nitro from a passenger car, you feel as if you are in a helmet: the glass is almost close. But this does not create discomfort; the seating position in the Nitro is comfortable. Everything about hard plastic in American cars has already been said, so I will not dwell on it — in an SUV it is less annoying than in a passenger car. But the interior pleased with many compartments for small items: they are on the front panel, in the center tunnel, and there is also a spacious armrest and door pockets. There is room not only for a phone and cigarettes, but also for a map, GPS navigator, and other road gear that such an adventure seeker as the Nitro always needs. In any trim, the stereo can connect an external MP3 player, and there is also a separate pocket for it.

We got a car with a 3.7-liter gasoline engine, although the 2.8 CRD diesel is more suitable for the Nitro. It is almost not inferior in power and dynamics, and with a more modern 5-speed automatic it is both more pleasant to drive and consumes noticeably less. Moreover, contrary to stereotypes, the diesel version is also 200 euros cheaper than the gasoline one — the almost liter difference in displacement, on which customs duties depend, has an effect. By the way, no matter which engine is installed, the Nitro is sold only with an automatic transmission.

On the road, the Nitro did not surprise — neither in a good nor a bad sense. With 20-inch wheels, it responds quite accurately to the steering wheel, although it does not encourage aggressive driving. The torquey large-displacement engine provides decent dynamics at the level of passenger cars, but fuel consumption of 15-20 liters per hundred is normal for it in any mode. The sound insulation pleasantly surprised — it is quite decent in the Nitro, so you do not get tired on a long journey. At least if you sit in the front. In the back, the seat is more like a leather-covered bench with a thin layer of foam. It is positioned low and is not very suitable for comfortable travel, and a third passenger will be bothered by the center tunnel protruding strongly into the cabin.

But what a trunk the Nitro has! In the SXT trim, there is a sliding Load&Go floor that is convenient for loading and can serve as a bench. True, if you count to the window line, the trunk is not that spacious. But fold the rear row — and you get two cubic meters of flat space with vertical walls.

Off-road, the Nitro turned out to be a good fellow. For greater comfort, softer high-profile tires would probably be useful, but otherwise the Dodge is a worthy heir to the Cherokee. The suspension allows you to storm rocks and roots without fear for the car or your own internal organs, and even jump. The difference in class is felt only on steep climbs or in soggy mud. To feel like a true off-roader, the Nitro lacks a low-range gear that would increase torque at the wheels. But it must be admitted: even in this form, the SUV never got stuck and did not even try to spin. And during diagonal wheel hanging, the electronic traction control system helped out.

It seems that Dodge has found an interesting free niche for the Nitro, albeit not a very wide one. The car will suit those who regularly use all-wheel drive for business but do not go into the mud up to their ears. Moreover, the powerful ladder frame is excellent for towing heavy trailers, for example, with boats.

And of course, when choosing a Nitro, appearance is not the last issue. The charismatic Dodge design will leave few people indifferent, and many city dwellers will surely buy the car precisely because of its looks, especially with chrome 20-inch wheels.

By the way, in America there is also a charged version of the Nitro R/T with a 260-horsepower engine. It is a pity that it is not yet available in Russia…

Text: Leonid Pavlov. Photos by the author.