Test Drive Dodge Nitro since 2006 SUV

False alarm

For Dodge, the Nitro model is the first pancake in the class of medium-sized SUVs. Have you managed to bake it right, without a coma in the end?
 
Walking to a meeting with a test car, I remembered the message of one news agency: Dodge Nitro explodes the market of medium-sized SUVs. And he began to sort out in the mind of those who already play on this field. The list was made impressive. Here and the German Volkswagen Touareg, and the Japanese Nissan Pathfinder, and the tribal Jeep Cherokee, and the Korean SsangYong Rexton with Kia Sorento. Yes, it will not be easy to break through. And even more so blow up.
 
But Nitro shows all its appearance that difficulties are not afraid. The chopped style, run-in still on the younger Dodge Caliber, is supplemented here and developed. One front of what is worth! The huge shield of the radiator grid, separated by the company's cross with the emblem, an impressive angular bumper with fogs, two-story headlights, bloated to Grotesque Wheel Arches in the head comes popular on construction sites Slogan not stand under load!.
 
The sidewalls are calmer. But also very expressive thanks to again, the arches, an interesting game of planes, clamping glazed, and also stolen with a bar rover of a butt confinement on the front wings, outstanding itself, whether behind the air intake, or for the ventilation grille. Well, and not the last role is played by optional 20-inch wheels. On the stern Nitro, designers clearly rested. The sheer back door and quite ordinary lanterns trying to confront only the bumper is as serious as in front, but the forms are simpler. All this cubism gives Dodge solidity, makes it visually larger. We must pay tribute to the designers despite all their praises, the exterior is not devoid of harmony. Special aesthetics are rough, assertive. American.
 
Dodge decided not to learn from their own mistakes, so the interior performed in the same vein as for Caliber. Outside thick, inside is empty. Despite the major external dimensions, the salon is not spacious. No, the place, of course, is enough for all five saddles, but they could carve out more. The style meets the exterior. Finishing is far from exquisite materials inexpensive, assembly not without errors. Switch of transmission modes, wheels, rotating air duct nozzles, hello from the 80s. Scary. To wash the plastic on the doors from the dirt with cold water is unrealistic, I tried myself. And on the move plastic, it creates noticeably.
 
I really liked the three dashboard wells and a solid lever of the machine. Rotating microclimate control handles are performed. The effort on them is correct, but there is no AUTO mode. In addition, the climatic installation is not able to cope with the size of the cabin. The test was held in a 30-degree heat, and the air conditioner almost constantly worked on a complete coil, but the rear passengers still had no ducts. But it was comfortable to sit comfortably behind more than in front. Not to say that on the first row is closely, but some stiffness constantly feel. And why will Americans do not learn to form an internal space correctly?
 
Nevertheless, from the point of view of ergonomics, everything is in order. Of course, I would like to sit down a little lower, and the steering wheel to stretch more. But it is impossible below, because it is an SUV, besides with a very high isgered line. And the steering wheel is not regulated. But it's little things. I easily found the optimal position did not change it during the test time. In addition, the chairs, the cloth-skinned YES Essentials, turned out to be comfortable, fixed well. Although traditionally soft. But in the far distance they do not get tired at all.
 
Get tired of another. First of all, from an ancient four-stage automaton. Translations are long (especially the third and fourth), it is not necessary to wait for dynamic overclocking. In addition, the engine power is clearly insufficient for a two-ton machine of only 205 forces. Pressing the gas start, acceleration, of course, you will receive. And even very energetic. But passports10.3 seconds before hundreds seem dubious. At the same time, overclocking passes in an unpleasant accompaniment: the transmission overstates and reports the shifts of the switching, and the V-shaped six is \u200b\u200bprimitive roars on high revs. The engine as if he asks: let go of the pedal, do not cool! And indeed, nothing to drive the tachometer arrow above 45005000 rpm is more sound than the stroke.
 
At the same time, in mode with intensive accelerations, fuel consumption may exceed the indicator of 30 l / 100 km. Even with a measured ride, I could not fall below 1617 liters. I must say, it is to such a movement inclined the driver Nitro. The operation of the automatic transmission at kick-down leaves much to be desired, switching is performed with a second delay. Obgon on the highway will not be ease. Sometimes the machine passes even a pair of downward, but hitting the zone is too high for the engine of revolutions, hurries to switch higher. Concepts such as keeping or braking the engine, unfortunately, unfortunately. Sorry, failed to get acquainted with a diesel version. She has less power (177 hp), but the torque is above 150 nm (460 nm), and in the PPC five steps.
 
At high speeds, Dodge behaves as well as it is supposed to be a heavy SUV with a back bridge: floats on the course, goat on irregularities, noticeably swinging on gentle waves. In this case, he does not have a completely outstanding steering wheel and brakes. Well at least sit high, you can continue to see and begin to brake before. If you prefer maneuver with a sharp braking, then here you do not wait for the suspension to it turn out to be not ready for it. Rolls are great, the response to the driving speed with a tangible delay. And this is despite that I drove on 20-inch wheels. I wonder how the car will go on 16- or 17-inch? Suspension behaves strange. It swings on an almost smooth road, like on a yacht, then on irregularities beats in the body from unscrewing masses. Neither comfort nor drift. But if you firmly squeeze my teeth and crawl off for a ram, you can quickly hurt in Ughab. Shots do not break through, it is long-time and energy-intensive. But is it often necessary in ordinary life? In general, on the asphalt nitro pleasure delivers a little except that on straight lifestals, and then after 140150 km / h, it is already difficult to relax.
 
Do not check the car with a signboard of 4 x 4 on off-road would be a mistake. But having remembered that the entire four-wheel drive here is the connection of the front axle (50/50) by electronics, I did not climb on the Rod. The inter-axis differential is not provided, not to mention the locks and a reduced row in the transmission. Dodge Nitro is able to perform only lightweight exercises with which the usual crossover like an X-Trail will cope. A more serious Off-Road is not for Nitro. And the ESP system that performs partially the full drive functions here does not help. It works with tangible delays, so much easier than simple. The clearance does not help more than 20 cm. In the light of all the above, the conclusion suggests: the explosion is canceled. It is unlikely that Europe will be delighted with such a car. Dodge does not shine neither power or handling, and it will probably prefer Touareg, although it is more expensive. In Russia, the situation is a bit different. Here for beautiful eyes and external pathos, many are ready to give a lot.
 
 
Prices and equipment
Russian dealers sell Dodge Nitro with two engines with a gasoline volume of 3.7 liters (205 hp, 314 nm) and a CRD turbodiesel with a volume of 2.8 liters (177 hp, 460 nm) development VM-Motori. A car with a gasoline engine can be bought in SE or more saturated SXT. Diesel is combined only with SXT. The initial version of SE has 16-inch wheels, audio preparation, electric mirrors, air conditioning, lighting lamps, moldings on the sides, arches expansion, fabric lounge, roof rails, security alarm, folding in front of the back seat (35/65) , central locking. In the SXT configuration, all moldings, lining and wheeled arches are painted in body color, the salon is separated by a special tissue of YES Essentials, and the mirrors have heated. Plus, the music with a 6-disk changer, 17-inch discs, rugs, tire pressure control, cruise control, leather multifunction steering wheel, rear parking sensor and driver seat electric drive. Price to the basic version of 3.7 SE? 31 500. Diesel version SXT costs? 36 200. And the most expensive 3.7 SXT? 36,400.
 
Dmitry Krotov
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A source: Magazine Motor [September 2007]