- suv 119,303
- 328 below average
- 8,274 fair
- O'Fallon, MO
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- autoshopper.com
- 328 below average suv 119,303 gasoline red manual
2008 dodge nitro review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Mid-size suv is practical and distinctive. introductionthe 2008 dodge nitro is a mid-size sport utility vehicle distinguished from other suvs by its squared-off styling with exaggerated fender flares. Nitro shares its platform with the jeep liberty. It is 22 inches shorter than the dodge durango full-size suv. the nitro looks and feels larger than its size, with a high seating position that suv owners like, and good cabin space. It features load 'n' go, a cargo storage system whereby the rear seats and front passenger seat fold totally flat in seconds; additionally, the cargo floor slides rearward out over the rear bumper, and can hold 400 pounds, making the loading of heavy objects much easier. The newer 4. 0-liter v6 is better than the old 3. 7-liter, with 50 more horsepower and fuel economy that's only one or two miles per gallon less. However the 4. 0-liter engine only comes in the top-of-the-line r/t model, which costs about $3200 more than the most popular slt. No matter which covering, the seats are very comfortable. The cabin is quiet thanks to heavy use of sound deadening material, and visibility out the rear and to the front corners of the nitro is excellent. for a base price of $19,595, a nitro owner gets many safety features that are usually optional on other vehicles, such as side curtain airbags, an electronic stability program with traction control and brake assist, electronic roll mitigation and a tire-pressure monitor. the nitro was introduced for the 2007 model year and it gets only minor changes for 2008. The only notable updates are standard trailer sway control and the availability of rear obstacle detection system. lineupthe 2008 dodge nitro comes as three models, sxt, slt and r/t. All are available with rear-wheel drive (2wd). The sxt is also offered with an optional automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Standard equipment includes cloth upholstery, air conditioning, remote keyless entry with power windows and door locks, 115-volt power outlet, flat folding front passenger seat, 60/40 folding rear bench seat, am/fm/cd with mp3 and six speakers, sirius satellite radio, auxiliary input jack, tilt steering column, slate-colored molded front and rear fascias and fender flares, folding power mirrors, theft-deterrent system, rear window washer/wiper, roof rails, and p225/75r16 tires on steel wheels with wheel covers. the slt 23,005) and slt awd 24,665) come standard with the automatic transmission. The slt adds yes essentials upholstery that dodge says is stain, odor and static resistant; leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls; six-way power adjustable driver's seat; heated exterior mirrors; vehicle information center; auto-dimming rearview mirror; universal garage door opener; fog lights; load 'n go cargo storage system with tie-down rails; overhead console; cruise control; compass; tinted windows; body-colored front and rear fascias and fender flares; and p235/65r17 tires on aluminum wheels. the r/t 2wd 26,180) and r/t awd 27,840) feature a 4. 0-liter v6 making 260 horsepower, mated to a five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift capability. The r/t comes with a sport suspension with p245/50r20 goodyear eagle tires on chromed aluminum wheels. The r/t is equipped like the slt. options for all three models include a power sunroof 895) and trailer tow package 820). Options for the slt and r/t include a rear dvd entertainment system (1,300), leather upholstery with heated front seats 830), and dodge's mygig multimedia infotainment system 1550), which has a navigation system with voice command and a 20-gigabyte hard drive to store music and photos. Also offered for slt and r/t is a convenience package 1,345) with rear obstacle detection, dodge's uconnect wireless cell phone link, remote engine starting, eight speakers and a subwoofer. The slt can be ordered with the r/t's sport suspension and chromed 20-inch alloy wheels 1,505). safety equipment that comes standard on all models includes dual front air bags, head-protecting curtain side air bags, and a tire-pressure monitor. Abs with brake assist, traction control, and electronic stability control with dodge's trailer sway control are also standard. Rear obstacle detection is optional for slt and r/t 250). all nctd prices are manufacturers suggested retail prices (msrp) that do not include destination charges and may change at any time without notice. walkarounddodge publicity makes a big thing about the nitro's looks, citing its so-called athleticism. We might call it brawny, but mostly it just looks boxy. The exaggerated fender flares are the only rounded parts in the styling. Every other angle is square-ish. It looks and feels larger than mid-size, which some will find to be a good thing. from the front, it's unmistakably dodge. It's got that big crosshair grille, which looks much better in body color (r/t) than chrome (sxt, slt). It's intended to look like a cooling slot. It's a nice touch, and for such a small piece it goes a long way toward relaxing the nitro's blocky shape. in silhouette, with its relatively upright windshield, very high beltline and rectangular windows, plus short front overhang, the nitro's shape is reminiscent of, say, a '62 dodge power wagon. But from the rear three-quarter angle, the lines around the rear glass are reminiscent of its bigger cousin, the jeep commander. The much narrower sidewall on the 20-inch tires doesn't appear to offer much defense against flats. interiorthe sxt comes in a basic cloth, but the cloth in the slt and r/t is something called yes essentials; dodge claims it repel stains, control odors and reduces static electricity. There are three big main instruments: speedo in center, tach on right and fuel and temp on left. They're very good looking and especially legible, with the digital information still visible in the sun because the three pods are thoughtfully shrouded. Chrysler does gauges right, and generally blows gm out of the water when it comes to handsome style and function. On the other hand, dodge trails gm when it comes to materials quality. Like most dodges, the nitro's interior materials are largely plastic and don't impart the feel of luxury or quality. A few more soft-touch surfaces would be nice. there's good front seat legroom, and it feels like there's even more because the dashboard is narrow, making the cabin feel nothing like that in a minivan. The dash also has an insert over the center stack, about 6 by 9 inches with grippy rubber at the bottom, and it's perfect for, well, things. The glovebox is the full width of the passenger side. rearview visibility is very good, with just windows back there, no attempt at swoopy styling with excess sheetmetal. And again, because the front fenders have no rise or real shape, it's easy to see the front corners of the vehicle, making parking a relief compared to many vehicles this size. the square theme continues with the center stack and its instruments and buttons for the sound system and climate control, although nowadays many cars look like that, which isn't bad, just almost natural. Everything is clean, easy to operate, and easy to understand. There's a shallow tray in the top of the center console storage bin, and a deep compartment under that; as one lady on the press launch said, it's big enough to stash her cat, on road trips. the available mygig multimedia i.
8,274 O'Fallon, MOO'Fallon, MO at autoshopper.com