Nitro vs Pathfinder

There’s a new off-roader in town, and it isn’t exactly the shy and retiring type. The all-American Dodge Nitro arrives in the UK with bold styling that helps it to stand out from the crowd.

There’s no doubt it’s packed with character, and it comes with a powerful V6 engine under the bonnet. But Dodge knows that a thirsty, 3.7-litre is going to have limited appeal to cash-conscious, fuel economy-savvy British buyers, so a diesel engine is available, too.

This turbocharged unit also packs a punch – it’s a 2.8-litre delivering 174bhp but promising to return more than 30mpg. Buyers can choose between a six-speed manual gearbox and five-speed auto, and there are two trims available – SE and SXT – with the base manual SE costing £18,995. Our SXT test car comes with an automatic gearbox that takes the price to £23,590, which is £1,000 more than the manual 2.8 CRD SXT.

Nissan’s Pathfinder was introduced as a cut-price Land Rover Discovery alternative, but it’s very much a natural rival for the Nitro, too. The entry-level Pathfinder Trek has recently been revamped and is very closely priced to the Nitro at £23,395. Nissan doesn’t bother with a petrol engine for the Pathfinder, and although its 2.5-litre turbodiesel is smaller than the Nitro’s, it’s nearly as powerful.

Both contenders look very closely matched – so which one is good enough to win this test?