The Toledo, Ohio, assembly plant will stop producing the Dodge Nitro, the brand’s one and only 5-seat SUV, in December, which will come as no surprise to anyone.
Sharing a platform with the Jeep Liberty, the Nitro was launched for the 2007 model year and marked the return of the automaker into the compact SUV field. The Nitro had trouble carving out a place for itself though, and the Journey crossover quickly stole the spotlight with its seven seats and lower price tag.
No less than 74,825 Nitros were sold in the United States when it was launched, boding well for the future. Unfortunately for the Chrysler Group, only 36,368 Nitros went to new homes in 2008, 17,443 in 2009 and 22,618 in 2010.
At the same time the Journey really took off, selling 47,097 units in 2008, 59,381 in 2009 and 48,577 in 2010.
Canadians are even more enamoured of the Journey, and it’s currently among the top 10 best-selling light trucks. No less than 19,192 Journeys were distributed across the land between January and July 2011, compared to a paltry 381 Nitros.
It was just a question of time before the SUV was either redesigned or simply chucked, and we now know Dodge decided against the facelift.
The Nitro is currently only available in the SXT version here in Canada ($31,695 before taxes and fees).
A 3.7-litre V6 (210 hp and 235 lb-ft of torque) and a four-speed automatic transmission driving all four wheels are delivered standard, and there’s an optional 4.0-litre V6 (260 hp and 265 lb-ft) coupled with a five-speed automatic transmission.
Buyers looking to purchase the SUV should be on the lookout for deals, as dealers will no doubt be looking to get rid of the last models with tempting discounts.
Source: Left Lane News
Sharing a platform with the Jeep Liberty, the Nitro was launched for the 2007 model year and marked the return of the automaker into the compact SUV field. The Nitro had trouble carving out a place for itself though, and the Journey crossover quickly stole the spotlight with its seven seats and lower price tag.
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| Photo: Chrysler |
No less than 74,825 Nitros were sold in the United States when it was launched, boding well for the future. Unfortunately for the Chrysler Group, only 36,368 Nitros went to new homes in 2008, 17,443 in 2009 and 22,618 in 2010.
At the same time the Journey really took off, selling 47,097 units in 2008, 59,381 in 2009 and 48,577 in 2010.
Canadians are even more enamoured of the Journey, and it’s currently among the top 10 best-selling light trucks. No less than 19,192 Journeys were distributed across the land between January and July 2011, compared to a paltry 381 Nitros.
It was just a question of time before the SUV was either redesigned or simply chucked, and we now know Dodge decided against the facelift.
The Nitro is currently only available in the SXT version here in Canada ($31,695 before taxes and fees).
A 3.7-litre V6 (210 hp and 235 lb-ft of torque) and a four-speed automatic transmission driving all four wheels are delivered standard, and there’s an optional 4.0-litre V6 (260 hp and 265 lb-ft) coupled with a five-speed automatic transmission.
Buyers looking to purchase the SUV should be on the lookout for deals, as dealers will no doubt be looking to get rid of the last models with tempting discounts.
Source: Left Lane News