2010 Dodge Nitro

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Safety - What the Auto Press Says

The federal government gives the 2010 Dodge Nitro top scores of five stars for driver and passenger safety in frontal crash tests as well as in front- and rear-seat safety side impact crash tests. Unfortunately, the Nitro receives only a three-star rollover rating -- meaning it has a 21 to 22 percent chance of rollover -- in a class where most SUVs receive four stars.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has not tested the 2010 model, but gave the 2009 Nitro a top score of "Good" in frontal offset tests. In side impact tests, however, it received a much lower score of "Marginal". The Nitro fared even worse in rear crash protection tests, receiving the lowest possible score of "Poor."

The Nitro's only safety option is a ParkSense rear park assist system, available on the SLT model only. The system uses sound waves to detect obstacles and alerts the driver through audio-visual indicators on the overhead display.

• "In a vehicle as chunky as the Nitro, we'd like to see a reverse camera option, but there isn't one. In its place is Dodge's rear proximity sensor, which beeps if there is an object behind you while in reverse. It works, but it's not as elegant as actually being able to see in the blind spot." -- CNET