2008 Dodge Dakota Review

Specifications

Although it was never written in stone, in many ways the Dodge Dakota wasthe world’s first midsize pickup truck. Examples from before the ’90s showed the Dakota to be bigger and brawnier than its domestic competition, the Ford Ranger and Chevy S-10/GMC Sonoma twins. And the imports? Well, they were middling about with four-cylinder engines while Dodge was busy stuffing big V6s down the Dakota’s gullet. It grew faster than the others too, its latest incarnation still eclipsing the likes of those other trucks. Today’s Dakota is the biggest yet, and still no one’s caught up, at least in regards to power, towing, hauling and payload capability. Midsize? Well, I think it’s more like three-quarters of a full-size truck with midsize pricing. To keep the Dodge truck lineup as fresh as can be, the Auburn Hills brand has given a facelift to the Dakota for 2008.

Dodge really focused its revisions on redesigning the Dakota’s face, with a nose thatlooks a lot like the one fitted to the Nitro. The grille itself has the signature crosshairs flanked at both sides with more rectangular headlamps that wrap around the front of the fenders. To accompany these changes, Dodge fitted a new hood with a rounded leading edge and a new front bumper that has deep tunneled foglamps with extensions to both sides of the license plate frame, designed to give the truck a tougher, more protected look. The unfortunate part is that the new nose doesn’t appear to be integrated into the Dakota’s body very well. Without softening the fenders as well as the upright profile of the truck, the changes stick out. I have yet to see it in the metal, so I will reserve any further comments until then. The rest of the truck carries on pretty much unchanged. The Dakota gains a matte-finish rear spoiler over the tailgate to improve aerodynamics, like the RAM, but other than that it’s a standard truck tail. With this mid-cycle update, Dodge hopes to attract buyers between 25 to 35 years of age; I could see them diggin’ the new look.

Also in Dodge tradition, they’ve made the Dakota’s biggest available engine– the 4.7-liter V8 — more powerful yet more economical. Pre-facelift, a Dakota could be ordered with one of two different versions of the 4.7, regular and High Output. The new engine makes more power than both of the old ones. Compared to the base version, an extra 25-percent was wrung out of the old V8 by upping the compression ratio, changing the cylinder head design, and offering two spark plugs per cylinder just as is done with the 5.7-liter HEMI that’s available to RAM buyers. Add to that the ability to run on E85 ethanol, and the Dakota could be considered a carbon-neutral hot-rodding truck. The actual figures for the engine are 290 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque, which puts it in close contention with the power made by some full-size trucks. They really should’ve topped the whole thing off with a hemispherical head, and named it HEMI Jr. By tinkering around the engine, Dodge also managed to make the new V8 quieter and more refined, always a plus. The new engine is only available with a five-speed automatic gearbox, as the previous six-speed manual was dropped due to low sales. In case you didn’t know, the Dakota is the only midsize truck on the market to offer a V8 engine aside from its badge-engineered fraternal twin, the Mitsubishi Raider.

Dodge is also offering the Dakota with a lesser engine that is suited to thosewho neither need the performance, the capability or the associated fuel costs of a V8. The Magnum 3.7-liter V6, essentially the V8 sans two cylinders and a liter of displacement, gets by with no major changes except the adaptation of an electronic throttle control. That means 210 horsepower and 235 lb-ft of torque. Transmission options for the V6 Dakota include a six-speed manual or a four-speed automatic that is standard on Laramie V6 models. And speaking of things that haven’t been changed, Dodge is still offering two- and-four wheel drive models with both engines, plus transfer cases that operate in two- or four-wheel drive with locking lo and hi, as well as a different model that offers permanent four-wheel drive with locking lo and hi.

Combine the biggest frame with the biggest enginesand logically the end result is the biggest midsize pickup, which is indeed true for the Dakota. The most capable Dakota can now tow 7,000 pounds and has the largest bed in its class, at 6’6” on the Extended cab model. Technically, that’s down 50 pounds from last year’s Dakota, but its lead isn’t threatened. And for loads that extend beyond that length, Dodge now offers an adjustable tailgate that includes a halfway position. Combine that with adjustable cargo hooks, and just about any load can be safely carried. The Extended Cab model also features rear-hinged doors that swing open to 170 degrees, allowing easy access for those who ride in back.

Dodge knows that the modern pickup isn’t just used for work. After all, pickup people love their trucks just as much as others love their cars, which is why Dodge crammed as many car-like features into the Dakota as possible. YES Essential cloth seats makes its appearance for ‘08, as do heated bench seats. New stereo systems area also available, including a 508-watt Soundbox, which includes a blue-tinged gigantic speaker system to play tunes really loud when you’re feeling juvenile and want to wake up the neighbors. Oh, and for those responsible moments when you want to get where you’re going on time, a navigation system can also be had. As well, there are many additional storage areas in the new Dakota, as work trucks tend to gather clutter just as fast as a minivan belonging to a family of five. On trucks that have front bucket seats in place, there’s a new center console with cubbies meant to hold things like cellphones, PDAs and MP3 players. The dash now has an open bin for storing things close at hand, while objects can be hidden (and organized) under the rear seats which flip up. The ‘08 Dakota’s interior is rounded out by a new selection of materials and trim, as well as a new gauge cluster.

Since the third generation Dakota was introduced a couple of years ago, sales have been sliding. It would be logical to think that a midsize truck with the capabilities of a full-size truck at a lower cost would sell like hotcakes, but such is not the case. Blame a number of competitors that have scaled up their compact trucks (Tacoma, Frontier, etc.), as well as increased attention on full-size trucks like the Silverado, F-150 and RAM, plus sharply rising fuel prices. Last year Dakota sales were down 27 percent. Hopefully by adding an improved lineup of engines and more of the creature comforts that so many truck buyers are demanding these days, Dodge can recuperate sales in this market place.

The new Dakota will go on sale later this year, but you can catch it at the Chicago auto show this week, where it will be making its international debut.