- 2010
2008 Dodge Nitro
- Used Dodge Nitro
Exterior - What the Auto Press Says
The 2008 Dodge Nitro has aggressive, unique styling that truly sets it apart from its class and may even be the SUV's defining attribute. "Despite my normal aversion to overly aggressive-looking SUVs, I'm fond of the Nitro's Tonka-tough appearance," says Cars.com.
Likewise, most reviewers respond to its muscular looks with praise. The Washington Post describes it as a "work of chest-thumping, chest-bumping masculinity," and goes on to humorously note: "If I still had teenage daughters, I'd slam the door in the face of any suitor who drove up in this one. He wouldn't have to open his mouth. I'd know he was up to no good."
The Nitro is characterized by "pronounced wheel arches, abbreviated overhangs bordering a long wheelbase, squared-off corners and a bold, upright Dodge crosshair grille," says AutoWeek. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram thinks the Nitro "looks quite a lot like the Hummer H3, a similarly sized compact sport utility that falls into the truck-based class." Edmunds adds, "It's a unique look for this class."
Dodge has purposefully aimed for a masculine image with the Nitro. According to the Detroit News, Chrysler Group Senior Manager of Product Design Dennis Myles opened the press conference introducing the 2007 debut model by criticizing the rest of the small SUV field: "They look somewhat feminine -- and not in a good way," he said. The Nitro is positioned as a response to the majority, and even reviewers who were inclined to dislike the vehicle on those grounds were won over by its appearance.
The Detroit News initially worried that the Nitro "teeters perilously close to being cartoonish with its bulging wheel flares and crosshair grille, as if it were drawn by some first-grader stoked up on Mountain Dew and M&Ms," but was eventually won over, adding: "Still, it all seems to work in a kind of overblown, American way. I like the Nitro because it is unmistakable on the road, turns heads and has a safe, practical side, as well." Cars.com is one of the only reviewers to point out an exterior flaw, noting, "Stylists apparently were aiming at a burly image for this SUV, as the wheels, grille, hood and even door handles appear almost one size too large for the rest of the body."
