Dodge Nitro - big, bold and blinged-up

The Dodge Nitro, Chrysler's new SUV released in South Africa this week, is so bulked-up, so aggressively styled it's almost a caricature. It's fair to say that only Dodge - which seems willing to push edgy styling a lot further than most - would have put something like this into production.

But I don't think the Dodge guys would mind me saying that; Chrysler SA brand manager Guy Franken said: "The Nitro has a presence that sets it apart from its competitors.

"It's expressive, dynamic. It shouts 'Dodge' - it's a mid-sized SUV for adrenalin junkies."

Mid-sized by American standards maybe; to South African eyes it's a big vehicle at 4.6m long, 1.85m wide and 1.77 high.

It has a blocky, squared-off, basic shape that puts it firmly in the Isuzu Trooper/Nissan Patrol school of design - but huge, flared wheel arches and an amazingly pugnacious front bumper add lots of attitude.

Add 20" chromed mags on the range-topping R/T model and you have one bodacious wagon.

Even the door handles are exaggeratedly chunky, with round push-buttons the size of lollipops that look as if they came from Toys 'R Us.

Every time I walked past one I asked myself: "How the hell did something so outrageous ever get into production?"

Yet I'm glad it did; in a sea of smoothly styled, aerodynamically optimised lookalikes the Nitro stands out as if to say, like Popeye: "I yam what I yam - wanna make something of it?"

And, like Popeye, it packs a wallop; it's available with either a 2.8-litre, turbocharged, common-rail diesel quoted at 130kW and a noteworthy 460Nm, or a brawny, 3.7-litre, 151kW/314Nm, SOHC, V6 petrol engine.

The diesel comes with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed semi-automatic transmission: put it in drive and then pull the gear lever towards you to change up or push it away to change down.

The manual version has actually been detuned to a still-muscular 410Nm; Chrysler staff muttered something about ham-fisted drivers overstressing the clutch and drivetrain with the industrial-strength engine.

The petrol engine is available only with an old-fashioned automatic transmission - no sequential shift, just 1, 2, and D. It shows little tendency to hunt, however, although it often kicks down just as you try to power through a slow corner.

The V6 I drove was the R/T "bad boy" model with 20" chromed mags and stiffer "sports" suspension, available only in V6 flavour; certainly kicking down in the middle of a corner didn't unsettle it - just made it a little noisier.

Make that a lot noisier; the V6 produces its maximum power at 5200rpm. It likes to rev and when it does a pleasant but slightly overwhelming big-six roar fills the cabin.

It's almost inaudible at 120km/h, however, so noise level is a matter of driver choice, I suppose.

Acceptable consumption

Despite some predictions by attending journalists of outrageous fuel consumption the R/T averaged 14.7 litres/100km on a lead-footed launch drive - certainly not frugal, but this is a big SUV.

The suspension - double wishbone in front and a live axle at the rear - is firm, almost harsh, with some thumping from the low-profile 245/50 tyres, but body roll is practically non-existent which with a tall, bulky vehicle such as the Nitro is very reassuring.

The gentler SXT version with more compliant damping, 17" alloys and 65-profile rubber gives a gentler ride - at the expense of a little more lean in fast road work - but never wallows or misbehaves in corners. The power steering, however, is rather remote on both models, with no feel and very little self-centering action.

All Nitros come with a simple, two-way electrical switch next to the gear lever that invokes all-wheel drive. In the "2WD" setting all the drive goes to the rear wheels; "4WD" engages the transfer case and power is supplied equally to both axles.

There's no low range or sophisticated all-terrain system and neither axle has a lockable differential, but it's ideal for yanking your jet-ski out of the water or getting you safely through the occasional muddy section on the dirt road to your favourite weekend wild spot.

Not recommended for tar - or anywhere at over 100km/h - so a red light on the fascia will warn you if you forget. Like everything else on this somewhat truck-like SUV, it's simple, robust and just about idiot-proof.

Plain interior

Truck-like also describes the cabin; in contrast to the blinged-up exterior, it's very plain (aside from ridiculously chunky but rather cute aluminium door handles) and rather low-rent.

Fit and finish is more than acceptable but everything is moulded in hard, toyshop plastic - and there's lots of it - so you get the distinct feeling you're sitting inside a Tonka Toy.

The front seats (electrically adjustable for the driver) are wide, deep and very comfortable, with reasonable lateral support, while the rear bench is luxurious for two and more than adequate for three, with remarkably generous leg room, while offering no lateral support whatsoever.

Stain-resistant cloth upholstery is standard on the SXT model; leather is optional there but standard on the R/T.

The fascia is very plastic, very upright and very deep (reminiscent of a 1960's American bakkie) with the driving instruments in three little pods rather than a binnacle.

Sophisticated sound

The centre stack controls for the air conditioning and the very sophisticated, nine-speaker radio/CD/MP3 audio system (there's a serious sub-woofer next to the luggage compartment that'll impress the most blasé of teenagers) are straightforward but there are rocker switches all over the front and back of the steering wheel (for the sound and cruise control) that take a bit of learning.

The rear seats splits 65/35 and fold level with the luggage compartment floor, increasing luggage capacity from 390 to a cavernous 1990 litres.

The R/T also has a luggage tray that slides out like a drawer (watch video) and can carry 180kg - very useful for loading awkward cargo without scratching the rear bumper.

Power steering, remote-controlled central locking, power windows, cruise control, trip data computer and rear parking sensors are standard, as are front and curtain crash bags, an electronic stability programme with traction control

The only options are metallic paint, a power sunroof and a DVD system for the peanut gallery.