I am also a nitro owner had it for two weeks now. I hear alot of people whining about the mileage. My nitro gets 18 in the city 3.7 V6 and I am in Vancouver Canada mine it fully loaded and I love it. The nitro is built on a jeep chassis so it is protective the event of a accident. This is also a midsize suv so it does better mileage then a lot of the suv's out there. It uses one more kilometer more then my 2005 grand caravan did and the motor was a 3.3 V6. I have had three mini vans and this was a compromise between a truck and a mini van. Kids are grown up and we wanted something sporty.
The Ford Escape gets great mileage but it is small lightweight and has no guts.
I know we are concerned about gas thats why I lease the hybrids will come down and be more affordable in a few more years. So drive you new nitro it will turn some heads and enjoy it.