If looks could kill…

… then you’d be twice dead if you ever saw the Nitro in your rearview mirror. This is because like any good Dodge, the midsize-SUV sports extroverted, sh*t-eating styling that does not care one whit about what its detractors think. Never mind that it shamelessly apes the hiphop culture popularized by 50 Cent and P Diddy and scores of other curiously named, overpaid rappers who wear tons of platinum bling on a daily basis and are seemingly just seconds away from a major felony. The Nitro does not care.

For that matter, whoever will buy one does not care either, because it’s the type of SUV that thumbs its nose at convention, beginning with the signature Dodge crosshair grille to its exaggerated fenders to the chromed 20-inch wheels. And why not? In a market full of two-box SUVs that look like they were penned by designers during their coffee break, the Nitro’s audacious styling will strike up conversations in your neighborhood and send your valets in a tizzy.

In this new age of high fuel prices, the Nitro keeps rolling with a 3.7-liter SOHC V6, an engine that won’t elicit hosannas at the gas pump but nonetheless puts out a gratifying 205 HP and 235 lb-ft of torque through a 4-speed automatic. A part-time four-wheel drive system is electronically controlled by a switch in the center console. The Nitro features a coil-spring independent front suspension and a five-link, coil-spring rear, but if you must have more, a performance suspension features a revised sway bar, springs, shocks, and bushings.

Image aside, the Nitro does have a very accommodating interior because even the most unabashed SUV buyer will look for a ride that will earn its keep. To that end, the front passenger and second-row seats can fold flat, while the “Load ‘N Go” cargo floor (rated up to 400 pounds) slides 18 inches rearward to make loading and unloading of cargo easier. Unfortunately, there is no third row seat in the Nitro. For the lucky five who will fit inside, the Nitro’s American-sized seats ensure that even the most oversized Pinoy homey will fit comfortably.

Up front, the Nitro’s chunkily-designed cockpit will give one the feeling of being at the helm of a tank. The instrument panel features independent pods for each meter cluster, while the square-edged center stack and oversized shifter have that sort of upsized, extra-durable feel.

Despite the larger-than-life ambience, the Nitro’s cabin is still well equipped with most of the features expected of a midsize SUV. Leather adorns the steering wheel and bucket seats, the driver’s seat is 6-way power adjustable, and the airconditioning has automatic temperature control. The stereo should please any audiophile and budding homeboy: it’s an 8-speaker Infinity system with a 6-disc in-dash CD player, MP3 capability, and a subwoofer that will bring the house down.

Standard safety features will also help to keep you from crunching your Nitro while cruising in the ‘hood: front and side airbags, 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS, Electronic Stability Program, back-up sensors, tire pressure monitoring display, and a UConnect Hands-Free Communication system. With an SRP of P1.980M, the Dodge Nitro packs a styling punch that will please the extroverts, while ensuring it still has the goods to keep it useful for families everywhere, bling or no bling.