Despite its tough name, the 2011 Dodge Nitro is surprisingly wimpy. Rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive are available, as are two engines - a 3.7-liter V6 and a 4.0-liter V6.
Fuel economy: auto review articles lambaste the current Dodge Nitro for its poor city/highway mileage car ratings of 16/22 mpg, so the 2011 model should improve that number to make the Nitro more competitive in the affordable compact SUV class
Engine: standard engine is 3.7-liter, 210 horsepower V6; 4.0-liter, 260-horsepower V6 optional with Dodge Nitro SXT
Acceleration: the standard Dodge Nitro has a current 0-60 time of 9.5 seconds, while the rear-wheel-drive 4.0-liter Nitro has a 0-60 time of 7.7 seconds. For 2011, Dodge may up the power of the Nitro, resulting in more competitive acceleration.
Suspension: the live-axle rear suspension on the current Dodge Nitro has received substantial criticism, so changes may be in store for 2011 to give the Nitro a smoother, less truck ride
The 2011 Dodge Nitro will never be mistaken for a high-performance vehicle. The 2011 Dodge Nitro gives car buyers on budgets a decent option; after all, the base model has a starting price of around $22,000. With so many features-packed crossover SUVs on the market today, the 2011 Dodge Nitro is a tough sell.
For 2011, the Dodge Nitro gets a few new standard and optional features. Underneath the buff body, the Nitro shares its platform with the Jeep Liberty.
The 2011 Dodge Nitro is a five-passenger SUV available in Heat, Detonator and Shock trim levels.
There is also the available Heat 4.0 package that includes a bigger V6 engine, an upgraded nine-speaker audio system and Bluetooth connectivity.
The Dodge Nitro Shock trim adds different 20-inch wheels, a sunroof, leather upholstery and heated seats.
The Dodge Nitro Heat comes with a 3.7-liter V6 engine that produces 210 horsepower and 237 pound-feet of torque. Rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive are available, with the latter being a part-time system with high- and low-range gearing. EPA estimates are an underwhelming 16 mpg city/22 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined with rear-wheel drive and 16/20/17 with four-wheel drive. In performance testing, a rear-drive Nitro with the 4.0-liter engine went from zero to 60 mph in 7.7 seconds while a 4x4 model hit the target speed in 8.2 seconds.
The stability control includes a trailer sway control feature. Rear parking sensors are standard on the Detonator and Shock.
The 2011 Dodge Nitro has not been rated using the government's new, more strenuous 2011 crash-testing procedures. In Edmunds brake testing, a Nitro with the optional 20-inch wheels came to a stop from 60 mph in 122 feet -- good performance for this type of vehicle.
With its aggressive styling and macho name, you'd think that the 2011 Dodge Nitro offered vigorous power and acceleration.
The Nitro was rolled out a few years ago as a more aggressively styled, more road-going (and less off-road-focused) vehicle based on the Jeep Liberty. With crisper sheet metal, distinct Dodge cues, aggressively lipped wheel wells, and bigger wheels, the Nitro has more of a macho tuner look. For more about the 2011 Jeep Nitro, which has changed little except in trim names, see either this full review of the Dodge Nitro, or our full review of the related 2011 Jeep Liberty.
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