The way things used to be, all we needed was to do one thing well. Now we're multi-taskers - juggling a bowling ball with a gas lamp and a chain saw, all while walking and chewing gum.
The same is true of our off-road rigs. A small pickup used to be tight and tidy, nimble and fuel-efficient. And a full-size truck was just that - big, brawny and bodacious.
But now the lines have blurred. In between those two extremes are mid-size trucks that are as big, or bigger than what used to be called full-size. And they also do more than sip fuel, haul hay and bounce down a dirt road. They come with way more power and with a ride that's, dare we say it - like a car.
Well, not all mid-size pickups fit that description, but it's certainly true of the newly revamped 2008 Dodge Dakota. Before digging into the details, though, there's a bit of history leading up to its appealing mix of attributes.
Back in the late 1980s Dodge decided to get serious about competing in the compact truck market. Instead of offering a "me-too" pocket-size pickup to go against strong-selling imports, the company created the Dodge Dakota, the first-ever mid-size model. Size has long been the Dakota's main advantage over the competition, filling a niche between cramped mini-trucks and the big-boy, full-size trucks. Later on, Dodge introduced the Dakota Quad Cab in 2000, which was the first relatively small crew cab to offer comparatively comfortable seating for four adults.
Besides finding the right fit, Dodge also tailored the Dakota for competent on-road manners, unlike the tough but stiff handling of most compact trucks. In contrast, both the earlier and newer models of the Dakota ride smoothly and handle nicely on the road, yet are still sturdy enough for off-pavement purposes. This effective combo still carries through to the latest version.
As for the power aspect, Dodge was also the first manufacturer to put a V8 in a small pickup. While that might sound great on paper, the reality is that the leading import brands can pull as much or more performance out of more fuel-efficient V6s, so the V8 is more of a bragging right than an actual advantage. Even so, the Dodge Dakota has much to recommend it for off-road enthusiasts looking for a spacious and versatile midsize pickup truck that can still squeeze through a fairly tight trail.
As already noted, the Dodge Dakota serves well for daily driving with its car-like feel and a pair of engine choices. These include a 210hp 3.7-liter V6, and a 302hp 4.7-liter V8 (the latter replacing the 230hp and 260hp V8s, and available only with an automatic transmission).
A V8-powered 2008 Dakota Laramie four-by-four with a big crew cab is rated to get 14 miles per gallon in the city and 19 on the highway. In mixed driving, we observed a respectable 16.5 mpg (about two or more mpg better than the mileage we get on a 4.7-powered, half-ton, 2002 Ram that we drive often.)
The base V6 should suffice if fuel economy and cost are priorities (expect about 20 mpg on the highway), but the V8 offers considerably more torque (235 versus 329 lb/ft) and is thus better suited for towing and scrambling up a steep grade. Speaking of scrambling ability, while the Dakota comes with either two-wheel drive or part-time four-wheel drive, high-line models feature a full-time 4WD system, unusual in this category. Not only that, the Dakota's 7,050-pound maximum towing capacity is also tops in its class.
Returning to the size aspect, Dodge no longer offers a standard cab configuration for the Dakota. You can get either an extended cab (called the Club Cab) or crew cab (Quad Cab). The Quad Cab is the way to go if you need to haul extra passengers more often than a lot of cargo. The less spacious Club Cab has a 6-foot, 6-inch bed, while the Quad Cab has a shorter 5-foot, 4-inch bed. Dodge offers neither a longer bed length nor a factory bed extender, but does have built-in, adjustable utility rails for cargo tie-downs. There's also a dual-position tailgate that can be secured in a mid-position, providing support for extra-wide or -long cargo laid on top of wheel wells and extending beyond the end of the bed.
The 2008 Dodge Dakota's exterior includes a newly styled hood, grille, front fascia, rear spoiler, fenders and headlamps. The front end has been designed to improve aerodynamics and features a better fit than previous models. The hood surface was designed to signify power and further amplify the drop-fendered, signature look for Dodge trucks. With these styling enhancements, the "face" of the 2008 Dodge Dakota is better aligned with the Dodge truck lineup.
The Dakota comes in six trim levels, ranging from the basic ST up to the upscale Laramie, which features standard leather bucket seats, a premium sound system, and V8 power. The starting price for a basic extended cab, two-wheel-drive model with a V6 under the hood is $20,080. A top-of-the line four-by-four crew cab Laramie starts at $31,745. The MSRP on the model we tested was $36,225.
The only downfall we noted in the revised Dakota was is its interior design, even on the luxo Laramie, which wears too much hard plastic. On the other hand, the center console has some nice features - including three big cup-holders and an iPod dock.
Also, Chrysler has developed an innovative "Crate N Go" rear-seat storage system that's worthy of imitation. When you fold up the rear seats against the back of the cab, there are collapsible milk-crate-style boxes underneath that can stow items that might roll around during driving. The crates can be easily removed, too, so you can use them to carry stuff into the house or to your off-road campsite.
In an effort to stay abreast with the latest interest in alternative fuels and engine efficiency, Dodge touts the fact that the new V8 Dakota can run on E-85 fuel (85 percent gasoline, 15 percent ethanol). However, that might not be much of a selling point in practical usage. According to the Dakota owner's manual (we didn't have access to E-85 fuel for actual testing), you're not supposed to alternate between E-85 and conventional gasoline because of "hard starting" and/or "significant deterioration in drivability during warm-up" which might ensue. The manual also warns that E-85 contains less energy than gasoline, so "you can expect your miles per gallon to decrease by about 30 percent compared to gasoline operation." We'll give Dodge points for offering this flex-fuel feature, but it seems we're still a ways off from a simple solution to our energy woes.
In the meantime, though, Dakota is great for those who want a little more size, power, and roominess than found in a compact truck. Conversely, it's ideal if you want to trade down from a full-size pickup, but don't want to sacrifice any comfort and smoothness. Just like modern-day off-road enthusiasts in general, the Dakota has learned the art of multi-tasking.
