Taking the 2009 Dodge Nitro RT Around the Block

I was interested in getting a car that could carry all the luggage we needed to take with us on long trips, so out of curiosity I checked out the 2009 Dodge Nitro RT. The first thing you notice is its boxy shape, and fender flares. I thought those went out in the 60's. Frankly the look is a bit off putting to me. Another thing that struck me was the dearth of color choices. The only one I really liked was the silver metallic. The Deep Water Blue Pearl is so-so, but the Sunburst Orange Pearl was just plain hideous.

Driving the 2009 Dodge Nitro RT was a pleasure though. It has a 5 speed automatic transmission which gives you a really smooth ride. Having driven a lot of cars with only a 4 speed automatic transmission, I can tell you the extra gear definitely levels out the road.

The gas mileage however is a disappointment, yet not completely unexpected. It is rated at 16 mpg city, and 20 mpg highway. With the gas prices going up and down you have to really be serious about driving an SUV.

The interior of the 2009 Dodge Nitro RT has the premium Yes Essentials fabric on the seats to repel stains, control odors, static electricity, and dirt. You get plenty of legroom in the front, and the slim dashboard makes it even seem like you have more.

The rear seats in the 2009 Dodge Nitro RT are split and fold completely flat, as does the front seat. This gives you the ability to carry long objects like boxes, wood, and various types of cargo. (Although I am not sure you would really want to carry anything like lumber with the nice interior but that's me.)

The engine in the 2009 Dodge Nitro RT is a 4.0 liter V6 which gives a decent amount of horsepower and torque. When you tromp on the accelerator, this car moves. I had no problems passing on the freeway.

The 2009 Dodge Nitro RT does not have a stereo, it has a multimedia system. With it you can listen to AM/FM radio, Sirius Satellite radio ( with the uConnect system) and listen to the six disk changer CD player. Sound is handled by the Infinity® premium sound, with eight speakers, subwoofer and a 386 Watt DSP amplifier. It also has an MP3 player jack. You will not go without music in this vehicle.

Overall, the 2009 Dodge Nitro RT has some nice amenities, and a comfortable interior and plenty of cargo space. However its lousy gas mileage makes it a car I cannot recommend in this economy.