All dressed up and ready to go

This was to be one heck of a joyride, the daily rise and fall and rise again of gas prices notwith-standing. It was a Monday and, yes, I got all dressed up and was ready to go.

I loaded the 3.7-liter V6 2008 Dodge Nitro with the gadgets that would keep me company on the long drive — a trusty Nokia N78 cell phone (can’t miss calls and texts, can we?), an iPod and a Nikon camera for the photos that I would take.

The 2008 Dodge Nitro is a mid-size sport utility vehicle (SUV). But, unlike the new Japanese SUVs, this Nitro struck me as being rather boxy — almost jeep-looking. When I first saw the sunburst orange Nitro that CATS Motors let me test drive I was a little intimidated because the vehicle looked big, much bigger than I had thought it would be.

I was happy, though, when I hopped into the driver’s seat because the Nitro has a high-seating position which made it easy for me to see and even easier for me to handle.

I was in a rush and the “load ‘n’ go” cargo storage system — you know, where the rear seats and front passenger seat fold flat in seconds — made it easy to get packed up. It was great to have lots of extra room for the many pasalubong items that I was planning to buy.

It was 6 a.m. and my destination was still unknown, or perhaps not certain. For me, chill time is when I’m able to head out randomly for my destination and discover what I may as I go along.

I set out for Laguna with the hopes of finding a great place to eat breakfast. The drive along South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) was fun, but definitely for the rugged at heart.

The Nitro comes in either two-wheel or four-wheel drive, with a choice of V6 engines. This 3.7-liter baby offers a very comfortable ride. I loved that the Nitro made me feel really safe inside. It is not only built like a tank, but it feels just as sturdy as what I imagine riding a tank would be like.

Andros Villaraza of CATS Motors told me that the Dodge Nitro comes in three models — SXT, SLT and R/T. All are available with rear-wheel drive (2WD). The SXT, with a manual transmission, has part-time four-wheel drive (4WD) that should not be left engaged on dry pavement. The SXT is also offered with an optional automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

Looks like the designers of this SUV were aiming for a burly image, as the wheels, grill, hood and even door handles appear almost one size too large for the rest of the body. Sharp, angular lines give the vehicle a muscular, chiseled look. Much like riding The Hulk — but not what you think.

Stay Inside

The Nitro’s seats are billed as supportive and firm — a feature that seemed to make this SUV very comfortable on long trips. The Nitro seats five in two rows, and brushed-metal accents are used on the gearshift, door handles, climate controls and center console.

Both the front passenger seat and backseats fold flat for storage.

The Nitro has a dock where I could plug in my Nokia N78 and play the tunes that I had loaded for the trip. When I got tired of those songs, I plugged in my iPod and continued to enjoy the music as I drove mindlessly along.

I also tested out the FM transmitter function of the Nokia N78. It was easy to do once I figured it out. First, you choose a station on the radio that’s empty and then find the same station on the N78. I put the N78 on the console and was able to play the tunes from my Nokia phone right through the transmitter. Neat. I don’t get a lot of opportunity to listen to loads of music on workdays, so this respite was truly a welcome one.

The sunroof offered me loads of the sun’s vitamin D, something I don’t usually get when I am strapped to my chair in the office. And, looking at all the green and natural beauty around me, I paused to thank the Great One above for the many things in life I often take for granted.

Music, private thoughts and time for reflection with my eyes focused on the road and a great cooling air-conditioning system kept me calm throughout the drive to Kusina Salud in Laguna.

I was told that Kusina Salud would be a good first stop because the restaurant, owned and managed by the daughter and son-in-law of fashion designer and Filipiniana outfit proponent Patis Tesoro, is not only pet-friendly, it also serves good food.

I was not disappointed; Patis was there with her brood of Poodles watching over her as she worked in the garden. I opted for lumpiang ubod and fried rice. I also got to sample the suman with mango. Great start for a refreshing and healthy day.

The next stop for me was Los Baños. I wanted to get a view of Mount Makiling. But halfway there I changed my mind and opted to take the Nitro to Sonya’s Garden in Tagaytay.

Before I headed towards Tagaytay, I gave the four-wheel drive a test run through some rough roads. I remembered being told that the suspension of the Nitro was a new independent design upfront with a five-link, solid-axle rear arrangement.

It was fun rough-roading and off-roading in a vehicle as husky as the Nitro. I am no off-roading expert, but I did enjoy the feel and control I had of the car as I pushed it through some of the muddied and bumpy roads in Los Baños.

“Dodge builds really safe SUVs and this Nitro is no exception,” added Villaraza. “The four-wheel antilock brakes are standard. The Nitro adds a traction control system that applies those brakes to wheels that slip during acceleration to get them grabbing the road again.”

Safe, sound and happy with my playtime, it was time to get a move on to Sonya’s Garden for some veggie delights and pampering, too.

I like the Nitro because it is unmistakable on the road, turns heads and has a safe, practical side as well. The compact exterior dimensions of the Nitro make it relatively easy to park — that is, of course, if you have the luxury of space to park it in. But some of the places where I took the Nitro didn’t have lots of space so it did take me about two tries before I got this SUV parked the way I wanted.

Man Made

The Dodge Nitro seems emblazoned with the word “masculine.” No wonder it got lots of ooohs and aaahs from some of the male friends I met along the way. For us girls, well, in this day and age it is good to feel protected by a real man — even if that real man is your Dodge Nitro.

Don’t get me wrong; I think that moms who have active and not-so-active kids will love this SUV. It’s got the space to store soccer balls, basketballs, tennis rackets and even a few teammates, to boot. Really, the list of safety features that this baby has makes it a great choice for moms and dads with kids and dogs and cats and whatever else they load into it. And gadget-savvy kids will like listening to all sorts of music on whatever gadget they bring with them — the cell phone, the MP player, the iPod.

Sonya’s Garden was a treat. The pampering at the spa was great and the food was even better.

Nitro, Nokia and neat downtime: Ah, the sweet life.

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The Dodge Nitro is exclusively distributed by CATS Motor