Dodge Nitro vs. Toyota FJ Cruiser Review

Cost
The destination charge is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle from its point of origin to the dealer. It costs almost the same to get the Dodge Nitro to the dealership as the FJ Cruiser. Producing an exact fuel economy evaluation is so difficult that some think not even the federal government can do it, but it looks as though both the Toyota and the Toyota perform almost similarly with respect to gas mileage. When it comes to fuel economy, the Dodge Nitro is somewhat better than the Toyota FJ Cruiser, but not by much. Regarding MSRP, the Toyota costs approximately as much as the Dodge Nitro (though the Dodge Nitro is somewhat cheaper).

Utility
Neither the Toyota FJ Cruiser nor the Dodge has a marked advantage regarding seating capacity. The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a better choice than the Dodge as far as transporting cargo, especially if you frequently need to carry a lot of luggage or large pets. The Toyota FJ Cruiser outpulls the Dodge Nitro by a big margin.

Convenience
The FJ Cruiser's fuel tank will need to be replenished somewhat more often than the unit in the Nitro.

Comfort
While the front cabin in the FJ Cruiser offers a bit more head room than the Dodge Nitro, there honestly isn't much of a difference. The Nitro offers more head- and leg-room to your passengers than the FJ Cruiser does.

Dimensions
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is considerably heavier than the Dodge Nitro. The FJ Cruiser's tank is approximately the same size as the Dodge Nitro's, though the Dodge Nitro's is a tad bigger. The Nitro and the Toyota FJ Cruiser compete for the same parking spaces.

Handling
With its tighter turning circle, the Dodge is most certainly nimbler than the Toyota FJ Cruiser, something to consider if you do a lot of city driving; on the other hand, remember that a vehicle with a tight turning circle may feel a bit twitchy on the highway.

Drivetrain
The Dodge Nitro's engine is a tad smaller than the Toyota FJ Cruiser's, but not terribly so. Torque is the force that lets you accelerate quickly, and in this respect, the Toyota is considerably more powerful than the Nitro. Torque equals pickup, and the Toyota FJ Cruiser will have picked up and gone by the time the Nitro finally gets moving.

Warranty
The Dodge Nitro and the FJ Cruiser have the same basic after-sale protection.