Dodge Nitro test drive since 2006 SUV

Dodge Nitro & Avenger

The Dodge brand recently came to Russia. The Americans are more than actively in the market: only recently two interesting models have been bred to our market. We are talking about Nitro SUV and Avenger sedan. Journalists were invited to get to know them to St. Petersburg.
Peter accepted the guests as usual: majestic monuments, museums, divorce bridges, a cold wind, a small nasty rain, to which local residents have not paid attention for a long time. To begin with, reporters decided to show the Dodge Avenger sedan, the sales of which began recently. The unusual aggressive design of Avenger invariably attracted attention to him from a rather calm and already accustomed St. Petersburg public. But even serious guys looked at this car with interest, now and then asking traditional questions: how much does it cost? And what motor?. We answer everyone: in Russia, the price of Avenger in the basic configuration with a gasoline 2-liter engine (156 hp) and a manual gearbox starts from 21,500 euros. A car with a 2.4-liter engine (170 hp) and an automatic box will cost 23,300 euros. It is very attractive, especially when you consider that Avenger performs in class D according to the European classification and, according to the Dodge representatives themselves, is designed to compete with models such as Toyota Avensis, Peugeot 407, Mazda 6, Opel Vectra. By the way, it is possible that next year, cars with a 2.7-liter engine that issues 188 hp will begin to supply us to us.
The test in St. Petersburg was not quite ordinary. The organizers decided to make journalists participants in a kind of rally. But this was not at speed, but for the accuracy of passing the route all the way was calculated in advance, and if the car was driving along the route in compliance with the recommended speed, he came to the control points at the right time. Moreover, the penalty points were awarded not only for being late, but also for the mark of the due date. Looking ahead, we can say that the struggle for the victory was very tense: several cars at once passed the route with an accuracy of up to a minute. And the first place as a result went to the crew in which there was a representative of our magazine!
The proposed route began at the Angletter hotel, in the very center of St. Petersburg, and led to a camp site at the Karelian Isthmus. During the trip to the destination, it was possible to fully feel the nuances of Avenger's behavior. Alas, there were no flaws without flaws. And basically they are connected with the fact that the model is primarily focused on American buyers who do not present high requirements on interior decoration materials. As a result, the entire salon (very spacious, by the way) is trimmed with inexpensive plastic, which is not very appropriate on the expensive model. And, for example, the lid of the Avenger trunk is not sheathed at all. And the suspension showed itself not in the best way on the broken roads of the Leningrad region. At speeds above 100 km/h, she was quite rigidly treated with numerous potholes and potholes. Frankly, this behavior Avenger surprised, because you always expect smoothness from an American car stroke. Although in the city the car behaved very worthy: equipped with a 2.4-liter engine, it was confidently accelerated, and the suspension calmly swallowed small fossaes, which are so many on St. Petersburg roads. In general, Avenger once again proved a long -known truth: American cars are created for a calm ride (exceptions from this rule are, but rarely). And the advantages? The main thing is, of course, the appearance, thanks to which the machine attracts attention. According to ordinary motorists, with whom it was possible to communicate during the test drive, the most interesting elements of Avegner are an evil front part and a stylish lid of the trunk.
After arriving at the recreation center and a well-deserved tasting of barbecue, journalists were happy to test another nitro nitro newspin (in Russia the base price of Nitro with a 3.7-liter gasoline V6 is 31,500 euros, a version in a rich set with a diesel engine of 36200 euros). If you look at this car from the side, then it seems just giant. However, in fact, even by European Nitro standards, this is a medium-sized SUV, which has about the same dimensions as everyone familiar with Honda CR-V or Toyota Rav4. By the way, the sensation of a large machine occurs not only during the inspection of Nitro, but also at the wheel. Trying to emphasize this feature of the car, representatives of Dodge offered reporters a not quite ordinary competition: they need it was necessary to enter the SUV into several conditional gates and touch the bumper of chips-cones. At the same time, these very cones were completely unable to see from the car. I had to work, relying exclusively on intuition and experience. As a result, no one was able to clean the task, and most drivers managed to knock down all the chips.
In addition to this test, there was an opportunity to ride along an off -road highway. She was not too complicated by and large, and domestic Lada could also pass along it. This was partly due to the fact that Dodge Nitro has a very simple transmission when moving along the asphalt, the car is rear -wheel drive, and in heavy areas the driver has the opportunity to tightly connect the front axle. That, in fact, is all. There are no locks of differentials or a lowering series in the transmission. However, due to the fact that the road was relatively simple, it became possible to ride along the forest path at a very high speed. Fortunately, not one of the Nitro received any damage, although the car was separated from a tree or a deep ditch carrying at a speed of 100 km/h several times at a speed of 100 km/h. By the way, during travel on Nitro, many came to the conclusion that on the road of poor and medium quality (and we have more than enough) the car rides better on standard 16- or 17-inch wheels, and not on the optional 20-inch. With such disks and low -profile Nitro rubber, it turns out too hard and shaking.
The return trip to St. Petersburg along a narrow, winding and dangerous Priozersky highway was again done on Avenger. A powerful engine is important on this road, because the driver has to constantly overtake slowly walking trucks and numerous summer residents. And the burden of a 2.4-liter motor was here with the way. True, a 4-band automatic transmission is quite thoughtful, but, fortunately, there is a manual mode, thanks to which it was possible to switch a little faster.
 
Denis Smolyanov
Photo of the manufacturer
 
 

Source: Avtopanorama magazine