Dodge has always been a brand where buyers go to when they need a truck. To this day, DaimlerChrysler’s rugged line has been pumping out a popular line-up from the Dakota series to the Ram series. However, Dodge has been lacking in the SUV department with only the Durango to fill the slot. Dodge needed to round out sales by attracting more SUV buyers. Dodge’s answer is the 2007 Dodge Nitro.
The 2007 Dodge Nitro shares its platform with the popular Jeep Liberty. However, while the Liberty has a wheelbase of 104.3, the Nitro is 108.8. The Nitro is about an inch wider as well. While the suspension geometry is basically the same for both vehicles, it is just a little longer in the Nitro. Overhangs are relatively short, so the Nitro can probably crawl over a few more rocks than most of the other small crossovers.
Design-wise, Dodge got its inspiration for the exterior of the Nitro from the 2002 Detroit auto show pickup truck called the M80. Notably the Nitro inherited those pronounced wheel arches, abbreviated overhangs bordering a long wheelbase, squared-off corners and a bold, upright Dodge crosshair grille.
Besides platform, the Nitro shares its engine from the Liberty. The base engine is the Liberty’s 3.7-liter V6 which is basically a 4.7-liter Chrysler V8 with two of the cylinders chopped off. Nonetheless, the engine still makes 210 hp and 235 lb-ft of torque, enough to keep the nearly 4000-pound Nitro moving along. The 3.7 liter comes with an option of a six-speed manual or a four-speed automatic tranny. The 4.0-liter V6 provides only a little more power and torque at 260 hp and 265 lb-ft but does it with less wasted effort and a bit more authority. The 4.0-liter comes standard with a 5-speed automatic transmission.
Other features include your choice of two four-wheel-drive systems, both single speeds with no low range. A part-time four-wheel drive (2-High and 4-High) is also available, and a full-time all-wheel-drive system is expected to arrive in early ’07.
Prices for the Dodge Nitro range from $19,885 to $25,900.
Our take? Dodge is making no sales predictions for the Nitro but anything incremental is good, right? Dodge may share more SUV platforms when it gets the opportunity and maybe we will see more Dodge SUVS in the years to come.