REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

Just the right size

It didn ’ t take long for the Dakota to carve out its solid reputation. Its distinctive lines, drawn from the larger Ram, help it stand out from the other pickups on the market, and its unique size makes it one of the only mini-pickups available. Like everyone else, the Dakota continues to evolve, getting a Quad cabin with four real doors last year.The Dakota still offers a well-designed interior, but the colour scheme leaves something to be desired: the loud shade of red is a particularly unfortunate choice. The Dakota boasts about being the most spacious in its class, and happily, the claim holds true. In fact, with the latest extended cab model, the rear bench seats are just as comfortable as bucket seats, there ’ s not a pull-down seat to be seen! While we ’ re on the subject, however, the wheel wells are too close together for a standard 4′-by-8′ sheet of plywood to lie flat, and in the new Quad cabin model, the cargo bed is so short it ’ s practically useless.If the various manufacturers of this class of pickup have a motto, it must be, Why stay simple when you can complicate matters? Perhaps that ’ s why most trucks come with a lengthy list of options, and the Dakota is no exception.

For starters, there are several engines to choose from: a brawny 3,9 litre V6 that has good power and yet consumes only a moderate amount of fuel; the gas-guzzling but impressive 5,9 litre V8 that cries out for a manual transmission; and the more modern Chrysler 4,7 litre V8 SOHC. And better still, there ’ s the R/T version, with 250 horsepower and 335 pound-feet of torque. Trouble is, the only way to transfer this monstrous power to the rear wheels is an automatic transmission.

In the end, the Dakota offers excellent road handling and a remarkably short turning circle, but despite its recent improvements, the braking system still lacks the endurance modern consumers have come to expect. Aside from this, however, there ’ s no reason to complain.

PROS
Responsive 4,7 L V8 engine
Impressive R/T version
Excellent road handling

CONS
Unconvincing brakes
Quad cabin bed too short
High fuel consumption

CRASH TEST (five stars indicate the best protection)
Driver: * * * *
Passenger: * * * * *