The Dodge Nitro is designed to provoke a strong reaction. And it did just that.
Around town some folk waved or gestured, others pointed, but except in rare instances when the arm-waving was accompanied by a smile - or a scowl - it wasn't easy to tell if those who responded visibly to the Dodge Nitro did so in approval or disapproval.
Then there was the person I never saw, but who took such a shine to the Nitro that he (call me old-fashioned but I doubt it was a she) decided to acquire one of its personalised plates.
The theft took place in broad daylight, while ``9NITRO'' was sitting in a public parking spot by a city beach, and after that, life with the vehicle was not quite the same.
Without ``9NITRO'' adorning its blunt, bullish nose, the Nitro was robbed of some of its presence: so much so, in fact, that when it came time to photograph the front of the machine for these pages, I took the time to unscrew the rear plate, and temporarily affix it to the nose.
Thus presented, Dodge's brash SUV delivers in-your-face styling that will make as many enemies as friends.
Its considerable presence is anchored by the nose and further emphasised by its slab-cut sides, height and width (the Nitro is, for example, 18mm wider and 59mm taller than a Ford Territory).
Opt for the flagship R/T - as tested in $50,990 V6 petrol guise - and it also boasts an impressive set of 20-inch alloys and 245/50 R20 tyres under those heavily flared arches.
Inside, the driving position is appropriately commanding, although a high seating position impacts adversely on headroom and side visibility.
There is better headroom in the back, and leg and shoulder room is generous throughout. The back seat is a bench-style unit with a back that splits 65:35 and also reclines.
The square boot, which carries 389litres below the seat-line and 832litres in all, is fitted with a plastic floor that slides back when the tailgate is open to make it easier to load the luggage aboard.
There is also a useful hidden compartment under the ``Load'n'Go'' floor, while the spare wheel - full-sized, but steel rather than alloy - is mounted externally.
Finished in hard plastics, the dash and centre console mimic the straight-edged styling of the Nitro's exterior, with the dark grey anchor tone lifted by light uppers and a metallic finish around the centre console and armrests.
Oddly, given its ample overall proportions and massive centre storage bin, the Nitro has a tiny glovebox, small cup holders and medium-sized door pockets. I was also disappointed to find the zip of the test car's handbrake cover broken.
Leather trim is standard in the R/T, which features heated front seats, a nine-speaker six-stack MP3-compatible sound system with iPod jack and fingertip controls, air-conditioning, cruise control, trip computer, compass and outside temperature gauge and a security alarm system.
Key safety items include front and side curtain airbags, electronic stability programming,
tyre-pressure monitors and rear parking sensors.
While there is a 2.8-litre diesel in the Nitro array, the test vehicle was the 3.7-litre V6 petrol. Producing 151kW and 314Nm, the motor is lusty enough, but would do far better mated - as the diesel is - to a five-speed rather than four-speed automatic transmission.
The downside of the four-speed is most obvious during open-road hill work, when maintaining momentum on steeper climbs requires the occasional drop to second gear, with consequent adverse implications for refinement and economy. Cruising over gentler country, progress is
less gruff and more convincing, as is the vehicle's ability to tow 2270kg braked.
Sitting on the same underlying platform as the next Jeep Cherokee, the Nitro has reasonable ground clearance and is rated to wade through as much as 480mm of water.
However, it is not designed as a rugged bush-basher. Rather, its four-wheel drive - selectable on the move to provide a 50:50 front-rear split rather than rear-wheel drive - exists to provide extra traction on slippery gravel roads, snow, and soft-road tracks.
While light, the Nitro's steering is reasonably precise. However, being so tall, and with soft springs and long-travel suspension that run true to its American heritage, it is not a particularly fun machine to hustle along a winding tarmac road. Indeed, its response to such antics include
pronounced body roll, and an uncomfortable fore-and-aft bucking motion.
Which brings us back to where we started, assessing the Nitro as a predominantly urban SUV. It is certainly not politically correct, and as one of the most assertively-styled SUVs around, it will attract negative attention from some quarters.
However, those bold enough to own such a vehicle probably won't give a damn. Indeed, some might even welcome the fact.
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