Before, driving a compact SUV gets you noticed. Next to your average car, they offer muscular styling and added interior space without causing an eclipse like a truck does. But with pretty much every car maker having stab at it, compact SUVs are now becoming the dull and average mode of transport they’ve once sought to be an alternative to. So what’s a late entrant like Dodge to do? Simple: do what they’ve always done—inject life into a dull segment and creating something no one has seen before. Not mincing with any three-lettered acronym or with anything X for that matter, Dodge named their compact SUV, the Nitro. Score one for Dodge as it’s a name that begs to be noticed—one that connotes performance and attitude. At the same time, it also creates lofty expectations even before sitting behind its wheel. Thankfully, the Nitro does not disappoint too much.
A walk around the Nitro reveals formidable looks. It’s surely attention grabbing with the same in-your-face swagger of the Chrysler 300C. It looks somewhat like a cross between a 1950’s hotrod and something straight out of a sci-fi movie. There’s a neo-retro design theme going on here which Dodge put to the almost comical extreme, creating a profile that’s truly unmistakable. First, the main body is boxy with the wheels pushed to the corners. Then, each corner is given pronounced fender flares which are then filled with standard platinum-finished 20-inch alloys. More aggression is lent by the vertically stacked lamps which are topped off with a front-end that’s washed in chrome.
Size wise, Dodge is a compact SUV. With a length of 4,554 mm, it’s just 14 mm larger than a Honda CR-V. However, the Dodge is much wider and benefits from a longer wheelbase (an advantage of over 100 mm) thus creating that feeling of girth. In theory, it should also create a much roomier cabin, but in reality the drive train packaging has a lot to be desired since it robs substantial leg room upfront. Still, the front seats are huge with excellent support. The driver gets extra luxury too thanks to electric adjustment. The rear ones though are less kingly with a shorter seat length, but nothing too discontenting. Two-tone leather seats are standard, which is good given the Nitro’s almost two-million peso asking price.
Pulling on the industrial looking handle reveals a heavy door, perfect since the cabin carries on the exterior’s blocky design complete with the same angular motif. The look is Spartan and straight-forward with hefty-looking controls and chunky buttons. Those who know other Dodge products will immediately find their way around, but even newbies will find it easily understandable even without an owner’s manual. However, the Nitro is still far from being an ergonomic dream machine. First, getting in and out is harder since there are no grab handles for the front passengers. Second, getting a good driving position is laborious because you’ll end up either with a steering wheel that’s too far or foot pedals which are too close. And lastly, some important controls like the hazard switch and even the chrome-clad shifter require a good stretch to operate.
After adjusting to the Nitro’s ergonomic quirks, it suddenly dawns on you that this is mere appetizer to the car’s greatest weakness: it drives a size bigger than its footprint suggests. If a full-sized SUV is already in your garage, then you have no problem; but otherwise the Nitro’s on-road behavior is closer to a conventional SUV rather than being a car on stilts. This can be credited to the ladder-on-frame chassis shared with its sibling, the Jeep Liberty. The gun-slit greenhouse adds to the illusion of bulk, giving an added impression that you’re driving an armored truck half the time. Thankfully, the Nitro comes standard with accurate parking sensors or else, with the small side mirrors, this is one difficult SUV to maneuver. The brakes do their job pretty well, but the 1,862 curb weight does take some time to grind to a halt.
However, once you get it to wide open spaces free from free-weaving motorcycles though, the Nitro actually drives pretty decently. First, the light steering should appeal to the fairer sex. Though this move trades a bit in terms of high-speed stability, it does make lane changes much, much easier. Dodge could have been easily tempted to tune the Nitro towards the mushy side, but thankfully that’s not the case as the suspension is firm, offsetting the loss of high-speed stability from the light steering. The real thumbs-up though has got to be the Nitro’s engine, which sound very, very American. Despite having just a 6-cylinder engine under that expansive hood, it actually thunders like a V8—induction noise, acceleration and all. Though 210 horsepower and 319 Nm of torque aren’t exactly mind blowing by anyone’s book, it’s more what you’ll need for Philippine roads. There’s no AutoStick (Dodge’s manual shift override) on the Nitro, but it’s not sorely missed, as the 4-speed unit’s an eager beaver.
After spending a weekend with the Dodge Nitro, it dawns on you that ‘being more than what you’ll ever need’ serves as this car’s greatest strength as well as its greatest weakness. On one hand, this is an extrovert’s great fantasy come true. It looks stunning and with colors like Fire Engine Red and Cooper Orange available, you won’t mistake it for anything else. And though the asking price is premium (P 1.950-million), it’s actually quite attainable and with features like a sliding luggage compartment (Load ‘N Go), kick-ass Infinity sound system and moon roof, it’s equally good value too. On the other hand, having a 3.7-liter V6 isn’t exactly going to do wonders for your savings account. It guzzles gas at the rate of 5.69 km/L. Plus, the rugged suspension and outlandish tire/alloy package does trade some low-speed riding comfort, which could have been rectified by either using a uni-body construction or tires with thicker side walls.
Clearly, the Nitro still has some rough edges to iron out, but the concept is there and it’s a great one. Just like the Chrysler 300C, which pretty much turned the luxury car market on its head, the Dodge Nitro should be able to do the same with the compact SUV crowd.
By Ulysses Ang | Photos by Ulysses Ang
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