Friday Fleet Notes

We get a lot of cars to test at the Cars.com offices, and often many of our staff — besides the lead reviewer — get to test-drive vehicles. We wanted to give them a place to add their thoughts on cars we’ve already reviewed. Friday Fleet Notes is a new feature we’re thinking of bringing back. Tell us what you think in the comments to help determine its fate.

2007 Dodge Nitro SXT 4WD

The only explanation I can come up with for out-there styling like the Dodge Nitro’s is that it must be aimed at a particular niche. That, of course, is thinly veiled code for “I think it’s ugly,” but the truth is somebody must like it if it made it to production. For Dodge’s sake, I hope the group of buyers meant to appreciate the Nitro’s aesthetics doesn’t include many of my stature. Which is to say, short.

I’ve never driven a car that was so ill-suited for my 5-foot-3 frame. The high beltline translated into abysmal sightlines; I felt like cars kept materializing out of thin air on either side of me while driving on the freeway. A number of seat and mirror adjustments did little to help the situation; I never felt like I had a good view of my surroundings. The tiny back window and short side windows had me straining for third- and fourth-checks before changing lanes, hoping I hadn’t missed anything. At least I could rest assured that all the cars I couldn’t see had no chance of missing me.

The seat-height adjustment was nice, but lifting myself to a position where I felt more comfortable with the view meant I could no longer reach the accelerator. Maybe adjustable pedals would do the trick, but they’re not currently available on the Nitro. Even from a lowered position, several interior controls were a stretch or out of reach.

Maybe the Nitro’s quirks just strike me as different after cruising around in a Civic for the past six years; perhaps I’d adjust over time. But when it gets down to it, the Nitro gave me no inducement to adapt. In my book, it’s rough ride and trucklike handling far outweigh the perks — things like generous cargo space, a strong engine and an MP3 jack.

Beth Palmer, copy editor

2007 Nissan Altima 3.5

I’m no fan of CVTs, and even the one in the Altima — a fairly astute example — was discouraging. Accelerating to highway speeds, it reduced the exhaust note from the first-rate V-6 to an unending drawl. Fortunately, it has a manual-shift mode that simulates six gears, and it’s one of the few I would regularly use. Keep the revs high, and there’s plenty of lifelike responsiveness.

The interior is worlds better than that in the previous generation. At risk of opening the floodgates to livid Toyota fans, I even think the dashboard outshines that of the redesigned Camry.

A family car can’t ace everything, and naturally the Altima has its flaws. The turn signals have a bit more play than those in the Honda Element, and the heated seat controls have a cheap feel. The trunk is enormous, though.

Kelsey Mays, assistant editor

I was really surprised by how much the Altima’s interior reminded me of the Honda Accord, but the engine and transmission sure didn’t. There was plenty of power, but I found the CVT really annoying, and in heavy in-town traffic it felt anything but smooth. The only time I’ve actually enjoyed a CVT transmission is in a smaller car like the Sentra or Caliber. Here it doesn’t seem to offer any type of advantage and bummed me out.

I did dig the interior, which is much better than the outgoing model. Stereo controls were easy and the sound system was surprisingly good.

David Thomas, KickingTires editor

2007 Dodge Magnum R/T

The Magnum has always looked like a hearse to me, but despite the menacing exterior, it’s athlete-friendly.

There is ample storage room. The seats fold with a tug of a strap — no release buttons or counterintuitive seat folds to make. That’s a nice touch. The hatch opens very high and takes some roof with it, so there’s no bumping your head — a very nice touch.

Cargo area length is absolutely no problem. I tested using a 58-cm cyclocross frame and it went in very easily, though the width could be an issue. With larger, offroad tires mounted, the bike would have to be angled or its seat would have to be lowered. Big deal? Not at all. But if you think you can pop the hatch and chuck the bike in, you might be surprised.

Verdict: Carries one bike very well but lacks non-upholstered, non-bumper area to sit on. Still, if I got one at the airport rental counter for a flyaway race, I’d be very happy.

Bill Jackson, Buying Guides editor, staff triathlete

Cars.com Expert Reviews:
2007 Dodge Nitro
2007 Nissan Altima
2006 Dodge Magnum