2011 Dodge Nitro’s styling, but they find little else to like about the pugnacious little SUV.
Most affordable compact SUVs are starting to look alike – but not the 2011 Dodge Nitro. Consumer Guide says the 2011 Dodge Nitro “works best as a style statement, trailing most crossovers for drivetrain refinement, rear-seat accommodations, and interior materials."
The Honda Element has boxy styling, a lower starting price and better fuel economy than the Nitro.
Details: Dodge Nitro
For 2011 the Dodge Nitro is little-changed, with the exception of trim names. The Nitro shares much of its construction with the Jeep Liberty.
Despite its tough name, the 2011 Dodge Nitro is surprisingly wimpy. Rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive are available, as are two engines - a 3.7-liter V6 and a 4.0-liter V6.
Pricing: base model should start at about $22,000 MSRP and a little over $21,000 invoice
Fuel economy: auto review articles lambaste the current Nitro for its poor city/highway mileage car ratings of 16/22 mpg, so the 2011 model should improve that number to make the Nitro more competitive in the affordable compact SUV class
Engine: standard engine is 3.7-liter, 210 horsepower V6; 4.0-liter, 260-horsepower V6 optional with Nitro SXT
Acceleration: the standard Nitro has a current 0-60 time of 9.5 seconds, while the rear-wheel-drive 4.0-liter Nitro has a 0-60 time of 7.7 seconds. For 2011, Dodge may up the power of the Nitro, resulting in more competitive acceleration.
Suspension: the live-axle rear suspension on the current Dodge Nitro has received substantial criticism, so changes may be in store for 2011 to give the Nitro a smoother, less trucky ride
Warranty: three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty; five-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty
Exterior Features
Until Chrysler releases official photos of the redesigned 2011 Dodge Nitro, we really cannot say too much about what’s in store for the small SUV.
Interior Features
Despite a sprinkling of eye-catching aluminum accents, the overall ambiance of the Nitro's interior is sub-par.
Performance
The 2011 Dodge Nitro will never be mistaken for a high-performance vehicle. There are two parts to the experience of being inside the 2011 Dodge Nitro. The 2011 Dodge Nitro gives car buyers on budgets a decent option; after all, the base model has a starting price of around $22,000. With so many features-packed crossover SUVs on the market today, the 2011 Dodge Nitro is a tough sell.
The 2011 Dodge Nitro has the standard Dodge warranty including a basic warranty of 3 years or 36,000 miles; drive train warranty of 5 years or 100,000 miles; roadside assistance of 3 years or 36,000 miles and rust protection warranty of 5 years or 100,000 miles