Is the Dodge Nitro 4 or 6 cylinder?
The Dodge Nitro uses six-cylinder engines, not a four-cylinder. It was offered with two V6 options: a 3.7L PowerTech V6 and an optional 4.0L PowerTech HO V6.
Produced for model years spanning the late 2000s, the Nitro was designed around V6 power. Dodge did not offer a four-cylinder Nitro in the U.S. lineup; all U.S.-spec models used six-cylinder engines, paired with automatic transmissions whose configurations varied by year and trim.
Engine options
The following are the two V6 engine choices that were available for the Nitro. This list clarifies the engine architecture behind the model and helps explain why the Nitro isn’t a four-cylinder SUV.
- 3.7L PowerTech V6 — standard on base and mid-level Nitro trims.
- 4.0L PowerTech HO V6 — optional upgrade on higher trims or specific packages.
Conclusion: The Nitro did not offer a four-cylinder engine in the U.S. market; both available engines are six-cylinder V6 configurations and were paired with an automatic transmission depending on year and trim.
Performance and practicality
The two V6 options were tuned to balance everyday drivability with stronger mid-range punch. The 3.7L V6 provided adequate acceleration for a mid-size SUV of its era, while the 4.0L HO V6 offered more torque for towing and faster passing power. Fuel economy remained modest in this class and era, reflecting its early-2000s engineering.
Transmission and drive configuration
Gearbox choices and drive layout varied by year and trim. Most Nitro models paired a conventional automatic transmission with the V6 engines, and all-wheel-drive variants were available in some configurations to handle rough terrain and weather conditions.
Model-year notes
Across its production span, the Nitro's two V6 engine options remained constant for the U.S. market, with the 3.7L standard and the 4.0L optional on select packages. No four-cylinder option was offered in the U.S. lineup.
Summary
In short, the Dodge Nitro is a six-cylinder SUV, featuring two V6 engine options: the standard 3.7L PowerTech V6 and an optional 4.0L PowerTech HO V6. If you’re shopping used, verify which engine your Nitro has, since model year and trim change details can affect performance and towing capabilities.
