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2008 Dodge Nitro R/T 4WD Road Test

I wouldn't exactly consider myself an expert in classic muscle cars or the culture

The Nitro looks much more imposing than the Liberty, especially in R/T trim. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

of hot-rodding, but I've always had the desire to know what you'd get if you crossed a 1960s muscle machine with the ideal form of modern family transportation, the SUV. If there's a brand that would serve such a creation up, I'd reckon it would be Dodge, Chrysler LLC's power and attitude brand. Staring down the hood of the pumped up Nitro R/T, I couldn't help but wonder if Dodge had the same thing in mind when this truck was created.

At its heart, especially visible in lesser trim levels, the Nitro shows no intentions of hiding its sport utility vehicle roots. The base SLT has small, 16-inch steel wheels and matte plastic fenders that make it look pretty rudimentary. It's boxy and built on a ladder frame chassis, designed with towing in mind, and yes, it's got a live rear axle too. Although it looks very similar in profile and shape to Jeep's new Liberty, it isn't just a clone wearing the Dodge crosshair grille. The Liberty actually rides on a shorter wheelbase and is some 0.8 inch narrower than the Dodge, not to mention it's also about 1.2 inches taller. The Nitro also has a much different metal-to-glass ratio, which is clearly visible from the side, giving it the appearance of a “chopped” roof, which is a

Big wheels make a big difference. They're 20-inches and chrome plated too. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

styling detail that is congruent throughout the Dodge product lineup. These differences aren't really noticeable to the naked eye, but are significant when considering that the Nitro is pretty much meant for the road (particularly this R/T version).

Even though the Nitro could technically be lumped in with the XTerra, and other small-ish truck-based utility vehicles, it doesn't really portray itself as ordinary. There's something about the R/T's appearance package that really speaks volumes. It's got big, 20-inch chrome-clad alloy wheels wrapped in street-biased truck rubber that really grab attention, and the bulked up front fender flares look like a prize-fighting boxer with his dukes up. I also quite like the billet-effect chrome accents on the body-colored grille, which cement in that muscle-car look. Likewise, the chunky plastic door handles with push-in thumb releases have a hefty, substantial feel, and the fender vent, though non-functional, looks like it was borrowed from the Range Rover Sport. Around the back, the Nitro is a bit on the plain side, and unlike the Liberty it doesn't have a split tailgate with separate opening glass.

Sadly, they're not real. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

This hot-rod look is also substantiated by some hot-rod engineering. It may not have a Hemi under its hood, but the Nitro R/T features Dodge's biggest gasoline-powered V6 engine, the 4.0-liter, which was shared with the now defunct Pacifica. Where it's quiet and smooth in the Mercedes-like crossover, the exhaust system has been tuned to produce a deeper, gruffer exhaust note in the Nitro. Romp on the throttle and you'll hear the engine thrash out a tune that's not quite to the level of a true V8, but still it's heady enough to get peoples' heads to turn. With 260 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque, the Nitro is hardly underpowered; in fact, it's got enough guts to out-drag most of its SUV rivals. Thanks to its relatively large displacement, it has plenty of torque at its disposal, and will out-accelerate the much leaner and aerodynamic CX-7, although the RAV4 with its 3.5-liter V6 has the upper hand. Still, the Nitro's performance is nothing to turn your nose up at.

And like an old muscle machine, the Nitro feels more at home on

Interior is slightly cramped up front, but is substantially roomier in back. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

straightaways than corners. Despite having a sportier-tuned suspension, body lean is copious. The wide tires do afford good levels of grip, and there's stability control backing you up. But when you compare it to more lithe and nimble car-based crossovers, it's not hard to see the truck in the Nitro. The steering is vague and slow to react; better suited to highways than winding roads. As a cruiser, the Nitro R/T works, as its suspension is well damped, and despite having a live rear axle, there's little bucking or axle tramp. All Nitro R/T 4x4s come with a two-mode transfer case that makes it 2WD or straight up 4WD with a fixed power split; likewise SE and SXT models with the smaller 210-hp 3.7-liter V6 can be had with either 2WD or full-time 4WD. Oh, and you can get an R/T with 2WD too.

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