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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday April 11, 2007 - 33 Dodge Nitro blasts into explosive SUV market By LORNE DRURY SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER EVERYTHING Auto your guide to everything auto in Oakville People will either love 'em or hate 'em. That will likely be the legacy of the Dodge Nitro, a new mid-size entry into the SUV marketplace for 2007. A step up in size from the Jeep Liberty and a step down from the Dodge Durango, DaimlerChrysler hopes the Nitro will take off with a bang. With its distinctive styling, the Nitro is sure to polarize opinions, much like the equally boxy Honda Element has done since making its debut. I happen to like the looks of the Nitro, but automotive styling is such a subjective thing that what catches one person's fancy, strikes just the opposite chord with others. With the Nitro, one thing you can say for certain is that you can't ignore it. There's no doubting what brand the Nitro represents with the signature crosshair grille and inyour-face styling. That can't be all bad because the Nitro is entering an already crowded market that seems to grow by an entry or two every week. And the Dodge brand of late has become known for its edgy styling. Just think of the Viper, Magnum, Durango, Caliber and Ram models. "The 2007 Dodge Nitro is going to heat up the mid-size SUV market by giving consumers a quality vehicle with masculine good looks, exceptional performance, unsurpassed utility and features that will surprise and delight," said George Murphy, senior vice present-global marketing for the Chrysler Group at the Nitro's launch last fall. DaimlerChrysler hopes the `masculine good looks' help the Nitro succeed in other markets as well. The Nitro heads to overseas markets this summer with the option of an EVERYTHIN DISTINCTIVE STYLING: The Nitro is the Dodge brand's first foray into the mid-size SUV market. It is based on the Jeep Liberty platform and sits between the Liberty and Dodge Durango in size. all-new 2.8L common rail diesel (CRD) engine, that is not being offered here. What is offered here are four trim levels (with two engine choices) and the option of either two- or four-wheel drive. The models are the SE, SXT, SLT and R/T, differentiated by powertrain selection, features and options. Base engine is the 3.7L SOHC V6, producing 210 hp and 235 lb-ft of torque. The top-line R/T model gets the more powerful 4.0L SOHC V6 with 255 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. My tester was the SLT with optional leather seats and an upgraded sound system that was priced at $32,830. It had a fourspeed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive. A six-speed manual is standard on the entry-level SE and SXT models, with the See Dodge page 35 OAKVILLE HONDA OFFERS A LARGE SELECTION OF PRE-OWNED VEHICLES. 2005 Acura RSX 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2004 Honda Accord LX 2005 Nissan 350ZX Roadster stock#P1406 stock#P1414 stock#L70632 stock#P1412 Only 9,500 km, automatic transmission, features the p y power group of options and power moonroof, finished in Silver. Only 65,000 km, automatic, features full p power g group and leather interior, 4 WD, finished in Aruba Gold. Offered for Only 22,000 km, automatic transmission, features the power group of options, finished in Silver. Offered for Only 18,000 km, 6-speed transmission, features the complete y p p power group of options, Black leather interior, finished in Red. Offered for $26,900.00 $15,900.00 $21,900.00 $45,900.00 500 Iroquois Shore Road, Oakville 905-844-9831