Giving SUVs a little Grrrrrr

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Outside

Sure, it's a box, but it's one mean-looking box, with style and attitude, big fender flares and that oh-so aggressive Dodge grille pointing the way forward. Our tester had 20-inch wheels, which filled in the wells nicely. The grille, by the way, is in chrome, save for the body-color R/T version. Add in the optional fog lamps and you've got yourself a nice, macho front end. Problems start with all the joints and edges caused by this design, making us wonder how much a Nitro is going to rattle and bang after a few years of driving. Overall, the shape is chiseled and attractive, if over the top, with smallish rectangular windows, upright front windshield and high beltline.

Inside

While SXT buyers get basic cloth, SLT and R/T shoppers get YES Essentials stain- and odor-repellent fabric. R/T buyers should seriously consider shelling out an extra $730 for the special R/T seats, with firm sport-style bolstering and red R/T stitching. SLT and R/T Nitros get Load ‘N Go, which is a fancy name for a cool pull out tray in the back. The sliding cargo “floor” pulls out 18 inches from the rear bumper and can hold up to 400 pounds. The cargo floor area also has a four-inch deep compartment for storage. Buyers are also able to outfit their Nitros with MyGIG, a new 20-gig infotainment system that holds pictures, music and more.

Under the Hood

The Nitro is actually an interesting sneak peek at the next Jeep Liberty SUV, especially the R/T model. It's a spry and sporty Nitro, with its 4.0-liter V6 engine making 260 horsepower and 275 lb.-ft. of torque mated to a smooth five-speed automatic transmission. That's the model we drove, with what Chrysler execs say is a sport-tuned suspension different than the rest of the Nitro models in that the sway bar, springs, shocks and bushings have been upgraded, as well as the fact that it's the only Nitro with 20-inch wheels. Aside from sport tuning, it's a pretty typical live-axle setup in the rear and independent front tied to a rack-and-pinion steering setup that proved adept at tight turns.