The extra length increases room for rear passengers while adding cargo room behind the second row, up from 821 litres (29.0 cu-ft) in
the Liberty to 909 litres (32.1 cu-ft). Fold the rear seatbacks forward and that space increases to a sizable 1,846 litres (65.2 cu-ft), but interestingly this is just shy of the Liberty's maximum stowage of 1,954 litres (69.0 cu-ft), probably due to the fancy sliding cargo floor which no doubt eats up space. If the front seatback is folded forward, the Nitro increases total storage capacity to 2,141 litres (75.6 cu-ft), something that can't be done with the Liberty.
What's more, Dodge has taken a cue from its minivan lineup's popular Stow 'n Go seating system, and developed its own Load 'n Go cargo floor, which slides rearward up to 18 inches
to make loading and unloading easier than it otherwise would be. According to Dodge, the sliding floor, which is constructed of heavy-duty plastic so that cleaning is less of a chore, can hold up to 180 kilos (400 pounds) of cargo. Evidently the cargo area can also be outfitted with an optional compact utility table, similar to the PT Cruiser's, while a reversible load floor, first shown in the Magnum, is standard.
"With its performance-oriented 4.0-litre engine and Load 'n Go cargo floor, the Dodge Nitro continues the brand's history of creating new and game-changing products and features," said Murphy.
The Nitro's seats can be covered in either vinyl or cloth, with leather available on SLT and R/T models. With the SLT, Dodge features standard YES Essentials cloth seating surfaces, a material that is said to repel stains, control odor and reduce static electricity. The unique upholstery reportedly controls bacteria-based odors as well.
I've sat in the Nitro Concept and it truly is roomy, feeling quite a bit more spacious
than the Liberty it's based upon. This will be a key selling point, but Dodge hasn't forgotten how critical safety features are in the SUV segment. Rollovers being on any SUV owner's mind, the new Nitro gets standard Electronic Stability Program (ESP), which works together with the standard ABS brakes to pull a wayward car out of a slide and back on the chosen course. What could be more important than that? Electronic Roll Mitigation and standard side-curtain airbags, the first to stop a rollover from occurring and the second to protect outboard occupants from sustaining potential harm if the vehicle were to tip over.
On the subject of safety, the Nitro's brakes don't only include ABS as standard, but also feature discs all-round. Dodge says that the SUV's "larger rotors contribute to its excellent stopping and handling capability". The rotors in front feature inverted hat construction (vent openings that are on the outboard side of the rotor), said to "improve cooling compared to conventional inboard venting". Dodge also says that the inverted hat method minimizes high-temperature deformation of the rotors for smoother operation over the long term.
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| The extra length increases room for rear passengers while adding cargo room behind the second row, up from 821 litres (29.0 cu-ft) in the Liberty to 909 litres (32.1 cu-ft). (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada) |
What's more, Dodge has taken a cue from its minivan lineup's popular Stow 'n Go seating system, and developed its own Load 'n Go cargo floor, which slides rearward up to 18 inches
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| The Nitro's front passenger seatback folds forward to increase cargo capacity. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada) |
"With its performance-oriented 4.0-litre engine and Load 'n Go cargo floor, the Dodge Nitro continues the brand's history of creating new and game-changing products and features," said Murphy.
The Nitro's seats can be covered in either vinyl or cloth, with leather available on SLT and R/T models. With the SLT, Dodge features standard YES Essentials cloth seating surfaces, a material that is said to repel stains, control odor and reduce static electricity. The unique upholstery reportedly controls bacteria-based odors as well.
I've sat in the Nitro Concept and it truly is roomy, feeling quite a bit more spacious
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| The Nitro's roomy interior, and standard side-curtain airbags, will be key selling points. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada) |
On the subject of safety, the Nitro's brakes don't only include ABS as standard, but also feature discs all-round. Dodge says that the SUV's "larger rotors contribute to its excellent stopping and handling capability". The rotors in front feature inverted hat construction (vent openings that are on the outboard side of the rotor), said to "improve cooling compared to conventional inboard venting". Dodge also says that the inverted hat method minimizes high-temperature deformation of the rotors for smoother operation over the long term.