Before you buy a The Dodge Nitro in Uganda

by Edwin

The Dodge Nitro is an imposing 4x4 with chunky all-American styling and plenty of road presence. Unfortunately there's little else positive. Although the diesel engine is fairly potent, it's not very economical or refined - and likewise in most other areas the Nitro feels crude. It's meant to be an alternative to cars like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento - but they both feel sophisticated by comparison.

Before you buy a The Dodge Nitro in Uganda

The Dodge Nitro is a compact SUV that was produced by Dodge from the 2007 to the 2012 model year. The Nitro shared its platform with the second generation Jeep Liberty. It was assembled at the Toledo North Assembly Plant in Toledo, Ohio. The Jeep facility is part of an automobile complex which includes the Toledo South Assembly Plant, home to the Jeep Wrangler since the 1940s.

Lately the Dodge Nitro has taken on the streets of Kampala. Some people want unique style and origin and I think the Nitro come into play just to fulfill that. With its attention-grabbing styling, decent diesel engine, generous equipment levels just make worth to have.

Click here to buy a The Dodge Nitro or car spare parts in Uganda

Buying Dodge Nitro from a local car bond in Uganda

Buying a foreign used car from a car bond makes life a lot easier to acquire yourself a vehicle. There is basically no need to go to japan or order for the vehicle from japan or any other part of the world. In short one just walks to the car bond and arrange for a purchase and within a short time, the car is paid for and handled over to you as the owner.

However, you can also find that some cars have only the Dodge Nitro cleared the cost, insurance and freight (CIF) fees only. So it would mean that if you want a Dodge Nitro then you will have to clear the rest of the taxes. You can find the cost, insurance and freight of the Dodge Nitro(that’s up Kampala from Japan) to be around $ 3,000 or more for latest models.

The total fee of the cost, insurance and freight can change due to year of manufacture, condition of the car, mileage and the dealer. Now the Dodge Nitro is more expensive as compared to most the cars we have discussed. In general, the Dodge Nitro can cost you around UGX 60,000,000 or even more.

Click here to buy a The Dodge Nitro or car spare parts in Uganda

Importing a foreign used Dodge Nitro from Japan

Now this is different from buying from car from the car bond here in Kampala. You may prefer to import your own Dodge Nitro directly from Japan or from any other part of the world.

This will mean all the costs and expenses are going to be met by you the owner of the car right from say Japan to Mombasa up to Uganda. You will also need to determine the cost of the car while still in Japan from which the Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) are calculated and determined to help you calculate the over price of the car.

After that, arrangements are made to ship the car to Kampala, Uganda. After arriving in Kampala, then the required taxes have to be cleared as stipulated by the Uganda Revenue Authority.

The taxes charged by the Uganda Revenue Authority include Import Duty, Value added (VAT), Withholding Tax, Environmental Levy, Infrastructure Levy, and Registration Fees. When all this is done, then your Dodge Nitro will be free to be driven on Ugandan roads with any issues.

General Dodge Nitro reviews for Uganda

Taking a look at the performance, a version of the 2.8-litre CRD engine in the Nitro has been available in the Jeep Cherokee since 2002 so it's well proven, if not especially modern or refined. It produces 177bhp and plenty of pulling power low down giving it a decent 0-62mph time of 11.5 seconds with the standard clunky six-speed manual gearbox. Most buyers opt for the optional five-speed automatic - which actually gets more torque than the manual version and as a result is a second quicker from 0-62mph.

Dodge also offers a 3.7-litre V6 petrol model with 205bhp but while it's quiet, it feels sluggish and with a fuel economy of just 24mpg it's little surprise that only a handful of people choose it.

Luggage capacity could be better, too; the boot offers 389 litres. Split-folding rear seats boost the maximum figure to 1,994 litres, but the car's ride height makes loading awkward. Still, while the Nitro doesn't get the option of a third row of seats, SXT models come with Jeep's Load N' Go floor, which slides out up to 50cm to deal with big or heavy objects.

Visibility is quite good, but the steering column doesn't adjust for reach, and the foot well is cramped, which results in a slightly offset driving position. Passengers in the rear are well catered for, although overall, you're left with the impression that interior space is tight; disappointing when you consider the car measures 4,584mm in length.

Click here to buy a The Dodge Nitro or car spare parts in Uganda

Availability of the Dodge Nitro spare parts in Uganda

The spare parts are not readily available as this SUV is not a common car in Uganda. One may have to make an order of the required spare parts from abroad. Unlike Toyota that is well distributed in the Uganda, the dodge doesn’t enough technical personnel to handle it in case the car gets a faulty or mechanical problem. Such expertise is rear in Uganda.

Final verdict

If you want to make a statement, the Dodge Nitro is an appealing SUV. But if you scratch beneath the surface, the cracks begin to show. Practicality is compromised by the lack of a seven-seat option, and cabin quality is average. However, if looks and pace are what matters, the model's styling and strong diesel engine hold obvious appeal.

Click here to buy a The Dodge Nitro or car spare parts in Uganda

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