Why (Not) the Dodge Nitro?
Dodge Nitro Quick Links
Buyers' reasons for buying--or not buying--a particular car
View reviews for a different model
Direct link to this page
Logged in as: Guest
TrueDelta's "Why (Not) This Car?" reviews of the Dodge Nitro, posted by owners, focus on the information most sought by many car buyers: the reasons to buy (or not buy) the Dodge Nitro compared to other car models.
Not a member yet? Read about TrueDelta's research and how to participate by clicking here.
- Car buyer comparisons: Dodge Nitro preferred
- Car buyer comparisons: Dodge Nitro not preferred
- Single vehicle reviews: Dodge Nitro pros and cons
Comparisons: Dodge Nitro Preferred
2008 Dodge Nitro4-door SUV | > | 2008 Chevrolet Equinox4-door SUV |
| Dodge Nitro: Reasons to buy |
|---|
| Exterior styling: Agressive styling. |
| Price or payments: Attractive price. Not too high. |
| Discounts & incentives: Most SUV's and Trucks have generous discounts/incentives at the moment. |
| Top of page ^ |
Comparisons: Dodge Nitro Not Preferred
2008 Chevrolet Equinox4-door SUV | > | 2008 Dodge Nitro4-door SUV |
| Chevrolet Equinox: Reasons to buy |
|---|
| Exterior styling: Sporty attractive exterior styling. |
| Powertrain performance: The Sport models 264hp provides excellent power. |
| Ride smoothness: The Equinox rode more like a car than an SUV/Truck, very smooth. |
| Rear seat room & comfort: The rear seat can slide forward and back 8" providing generous leg room for rear passengers. |
| Driving position & visibility: The Equinox has a very comfortable seating position and visiblity is excellent. |
| Top of page ^ |
| Dodge Nitro: Reasons not to buy |
|---|
| Fuel economy: Very low fuel ratings. And I personally never even get what the ratings state. |
| Ride smoothness: The Nitro has a very rough ride. You feel every bump in the road. And, while not part of the ride, the headlights were some of the worst I've ever seen in a vehicle. VERY dim, even on HIGH. |
| Quietness: Due to it's rough ride, the passenger cabin wasn't nearly as quiet as the Equinox. |
| Top of page ^ |
Single Vehicle Reviews: Dodge Nitro Pros and Cons
2007 Dodge Nitro4-door SUV |
| Dodge Nitro: Reasons to buy |
|---|
| Safety & braking: Good safety ratings, airbags front & side standard |
| Powertrain performance: Feels strong, powerful. |
| Audio & nav systems: Bluetooth headset compatible, MP3, great sound with addition of premium audio package, DVD player nice quality, too. |
| Exterior styling: I tend to like Dodge styling to start with so the look of the beefy Dodge car/SUV front and muscular style to this SUV appeals to me. I have the premium wheels which look great. The sunroof is a nice addition, too. |
| Dealership practices: The warranty on Dodge vehicles is attractive. Lifetime powertrain warranty. Nice. |
| Top of page ^ |
| Dodge Nitro: Reasons not to buy |
|---|
| Ride smoothness: It's a rough ride. You can feel the bumps in the road for sure. |
| Quietness: You can hear the engine pick up clearly. Maybe it was meant to be that way. I know some people like to hear the power of the car working but I would prefer it have more sound insulation. |
| Top of page ^ |
2007 Dodge Nitro4-door SUV |
| Dodge Nitro: Reasons to buy |
|---|
| Available features: There's so many to keep me busy. The U connect and Homelink features are creative. Like the stereo and the controls and the entire layout of them. Easy and in places that make sense to me. The rear gate pullout load feature is unique. |
| Exterior styling: Uniqueness, tough, daring, mini-Hummer-esque. |
| Safety & braking: 5 star frontal and side crash ratings... 2 front and 2 side airbags. Brakes are responsive and stopping distance is short. |
| Quietness: Never been in a more silent vehicle...can hardly hear a motorcycle right next to you. Able to carry on a conversation with literally no impediment from road noise/natural sound it almost inspires a nap. |
| Front seat comfort: Very supportive power seat that adjusts. Seems to fit my body very well... I'm 6 foot 210. |
| Top of page ^ |
| Dodge Nitro: Reasons not to buy |
|---|
| Fuel economy: I'm a little hesitant saying too much having only owned one for one day... As with all vehicles you're not going to get the "estimated" mileage as they're always best case non-attainable numbers. City driving is 15, or so...Hwy is about 20. |
| Reliability & durability: All the reports I've read from major sites and publications say 1st year reliability has been very poor. It inspired me to buy a automaker backed extended warranty which is something I would usually NEVER give a thought to to protect against failures. |
| Insurance & depreciation: The insurance is actually about the same as my '05 Equinox. I don't know that the depreciation is any worse than any other vehicle... I just dislike depreciation in general. That is why I bought pre-owned with warranty. Saved thousands. |
| Top of page ^ |
2007 Dodge Nitro4-door SUV |
| Dodge Nitro: Reasons to buy |
|---|
| Exterior styling: I bought mine in japan so it is the R/T package but with a 3.7L engine. I like the look of it which is the reason I bought it. It had a unique interior with the stow and go storage area and mine came with a side view camera. |
| Top of page ^ |
| Dodge Nitro: Reasons not to buy |
|---|
| Powertrain performance: It is not geared well, I always have to slam on the gas to get it to go up a steep hill and from a stop it has a really torquey start, it never wants to accelerate smoothly. Its either always sluggish or the engine and transmission over compensate. |
| Fuel economy: It has some of the worst fuel economy out of any v6 out their with similar horse power. |
| Handling: It is very bumpy and drives like an older pickup truck. |
| Reliability & durability: I had this thing fixed 4 times in the first 6 months i owned it. 3 times for interior electronics and the other for brakes. Also the interior is very cheap plastic that vibrates to much when playing loud music. It deffenantly could have been built better. |
| Materials & workmanship: The transmission feels very cheap and kick often when letting of the gas when the transmission is about to shift gears. |
| Top of page ^ |
Want to post your own reviews? Become a member--it's free for participants.
Want to view reviews for a different model? Then click:
Dodge Nitro Forums (TrueDelta partners)
These forums have helped make our results possible. For discussions of the Nitro by owners, visit:
Dodge-Nitro.com -- Dodge Nitro forum
allpar.com -- Dodge forums and information resource
Direct links to this page
Regular link to this page:
http://www.truedelta.com/wntc.php?stage=pt&bd=Dodge&mc=724
In BB Code, for forums:
[url=http://www.truedelta.com/wntc.php?stage=pt&bd=Dodge&mc=724] Why (not) the Dodge Nitro? (car buyer reviews)[/url]
About TrueDelta's "Why (Not) This Car?"
Dealer Price Quotes
Hundreds of websites include Dodge Nitro reviews. But with your typical Dodge Nitro review car buyers must dig to find the information they really want. And too often they still don't find it.
With "Why (Not) This Car?" TrueDelta is providing the information many car buyers considering the Dodge Nitro are looking for: the reasons to buy--or not buy--the Dodge Nitro. As reported by other car buyers.
The survey process is simple:
- Select two cars to compare
- Describe your time in each
- Select reasons for buying one and not buying the other
- Explain and provide additional detail for these reasons
