Dodge Dakota

The Dakota is a midsize pickup truck from DaimlerChrysler's Dodge brand. It was introduced in 1987 alongside the redesigned Dodge Ram 50. The Dakota was nominated for the North American Truck of the Year award for 2000.

The Dakota has always been sized above the compact (Ford Ranger, Chevrolet S-10) and below the full-sized (Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado) pickups and Dodge's own Ram. It is a conventional design with body-on-frame construction and leaf spring/live axle rear end. The Dakota has also long been the only midsize pickup with an optional V8 engine. One notable feature was the Dakota's rack and pinion steering, a first in work trucks.

See Wikicars' comprehensive Dodge Dakota Review.

Pricing

Today's actual prices for the Dodge Dakota can be found at CarsDirect.

Dakota Trims
Trim1	Trim2	Trim3	Trim4
MSRP
$Price1	$Price2	$Price3	$Price4
Invoice
$Price1	$Price2	$Price3	$Price4

Gas Mileage

As seen on the FuelEconomy.gov website, the City/Highway MPG averages are as follows:

Trim
3.7L V6 manual 2WD	3.7L V6 auto 2WD	4.7L V8 manual 2WD	4.7L V8 auto 2WD	3.7L V6 manual 4WD	3.7L V6 auto 4WD	4.7L V8 manual 4WD	4.7L V8 auto 4WD
MPG
16/22	16/22	15/20	15/20	16/20	15/19	15/19	15/20

Reliability

Although the latest generation of the Dakota, which was introduced in 2005, is still too new to provide accurate long-term reliability information, Consumer Reports states that the 2007 model's "reliability has been below average."

Safety

Both the Club Cab and Quad Cab versions of the Dakota received high marks from the NHTSA. In tests for rollver and in passenger side front-impact crash tests, the Club Cab received 4-Star ratings, while driver front-impact and both side-impact crash tests earned it 5-Star ratings. The Quad Cab, however, earned 5-Star ratings in all crash tests and 4-Star ratings in tests for rollover. Standard safety equipment on the Dakota includes:

• Front and rear anti-roll bars
• Rear wheel anti-lock brakes
• Driver/passenger front-impact airbags
• Occupancy sensors
• Side impact bars
• Front seatbelt pretensioners

Colors

Colors will vary by trim, and a complete list is viewable at CarsDirect.com. Some of the possible combinations include:

Exterior

• Bright Silver Metallic Clearcoat
• Bright White Clearcoat
• Electric Blue Pearlcoat
• Inferno Red Crystal Pearlcoat
• Light Khaki Metallic Clearcoat
• Patriot Blue Pearlcoat

Interior

• Khaki
• Medium Slate Gray

Main Competitors

• Chevrolet Colorado
• GMC Canyon
• Honda Ridgeline
• Toyota Tacoma
• Nissan Frontier
• Ford Ranger

Hybrid Models

There are currently no hybrid models of the Dakota in production.

Resale Values

According to Kelley Blue Book, "the Dakota pickup maintains a slightly better-than-average projected residual value, better than the Chevrolet Colorado and Ford Ranger, but not yet at the high mark set by the Nissan Frontier Crew Cab, Honda Ridgeline and Toyota Tacoma Double Cab."

Criticisms

• "The new rack-and-pinion power steering is a bit over-assisted for our tastes but will probably be okay for most customers." - New Car Test Drive
• "...club cab's backseat offers barely passable comfort for adults." - Edmunds.com
• "While the Dakota is definitely a solid truck, it doesn't offer the powertrain refinement and smoothness of the Toyota Tacoma or Nissan Frontier. Also, there is no Regular Cab model available." - Kelley Blue Book
• "[the interior] suffers from drab colors and too much hard shiny plastic." - MSN Autos

Generations

Third Generation (2005-present)

The redesigned 2005 Dakota shares its platform with the new Dodge Durango SUV. This model is 3.7 in longer and 2.7 in wider, and features a new front and rear suspension, and rack-and-pinion steering. There are one V6 and two V8 engines available: The standard engine is a 3.7 L PowerTech V6. Two 4.7 L V8 engines are available as well. The Dakota is built at Warren Truck Assembly in Warren, Michigan.

Second Generation (1997-2004)

The second-generation Dakota was built from 1997 through 2004. It inherited the semi truck look of the larger Ram but remained largely the same underneath. 1998 saw the introduction of the R/T model with the big 5.9 L 250 hp (186 kW) Magnum V8.

Four-door "Quad-Cab" models were added for 2000 with a slightly shorter bed, 63.1 in (160.2 cm), but riding on the Club Cab's 130.9 in (332.5 cm) wheelbase. The smaller V8 was replaced by a new high-tech V8 as well.

2002 was the final year for the four-cylinder engine in the Dakota, as Chrysler was ending production of the former AMC design. Most buyers ordered the V6 or V8 engines, which were considerably more powerful and, in the case of the V6, which was made standard for 2003, nearly as fuel-efficient with a manual transmission.

2004 was the end of the old OHV V6 and the big R/T V8.

Engines

• 1997-2002 - 2.5 L AMC I4, 120 hp (90 kW)
• 1997-2003 - 3.9 L Magnum V6, 175 hp (131 kW)
• 1997-1999 - 5.2 L Magnum V8, 230 hp (172 kW)
• 1998-2003 - 5.9 L Magnum V8, 250 hp (186 kW)
• 2000-2004 - 4.7 L PowerTech V8, 230 hp (175 kW)
• 2004 - 3.7 L PowerTech V6, 210 hp (157 kW)

First Generation/Origins (1987–1989)

The first generation of the Dakota was produced from 1987 through 1996. Straight-4 and V6 engines were offered along with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. Four wheel drive was available only with the V6. Both 6.5 ft (2 m) and 8 ft (2.4 m) beds were offered. Fuel injection was added to the 3.9 L V6 for 1988 but the output remained the same.

In 1988, the Sport package was added as a mid-year release. Available in both 2wd and 4x4, the Sport included:

• AM Stereo / FM Stereo radio with cassette player
• Carpeted logo floor mats
• Center armrest bench seat
• Charcoal/Silver Deluxe Cloth interior with fold-down arm rest
• Color-keyed leather-wrapped sport steering wheel
• Deluxe wipers
• Dual remote control outside mirrors
• Floor Carpet
• Gauge Package
• Mopar Air Dam with BOSCH Fog Lamps
• Mopar Light Bar with BOSCH Off-Road lamps (4x4 only)
• Unique bodyside tape stripes
• Euro-style black out grill and bumpers
• Sliding rear window
• 3.9 V6 Engine
• 15" Aluminum Wheels

The Sport was only available in only in Black, Bright White and Graphic Red.

1989 saw the unusual Dakota convertible. The first convertible pickup since the Ford Model T, it featured a fixed roll bar and complicated manual top. Just 2,482 were sold that first year. Another important addition that year was Carroll Shelby's V8-powered Shelby Dakota, his first rear wheel drive vehicle in two decades.

An extended "Club Cab" model was added for 1990, still with two doors. This model allowed the Dakota to boast capacity for six passengers, although the rear seat was best suited for children and shorter adults. However, taller adults who had higher tolerance for the crampy backseat could even fit in easily.

For 1991, the front of the Dakota received a more aerodynamic grille and hood, and Dodge added the 5.2 L V8 as an option, inspired by the earlier Shelby Dakota option. This engine produced 170 hp (127 kW). Both of the V-configuration engines were updated to Magnum specs the next year, providing a tremendous power boost.

In 1996, the first generation's final year, the K-based 2.5 L I4 engine was out of production and had been considered vastly underpowered compared to the competition, so Dodge borrowed the Jeep 2.5 L I4 (rated at 120 hp) and installed it as the base engine in the Dakota. It was the only major change for 1996, and would be carried over as the base engine in the new, larger 1997 model.

Engines

• 1987-1988 - 2.2 L K I4, SOHC, 96 hp (72 kW)
• 1987-1991 - 3.9 L LA V6, 125 hp (93 kW)
• 1989-1995 - 2.5 L K I4, 99 hp (74 kW)
• 1991 - 5.2 L LA V8, 170 hp (127 kW)
• 1992-1993 - 3.9 L Magnum V6, 180 hp (134 kW)
• 1991-1993 - 5.2 L Magnum V8, 230 hp (172 kW)
• 1994-1996 - 3.9 L Magnum V6, 175 hp (131 kW)
• 1994-1996 - 5.2 L Magnum V8, 220 hp (164 kW)
• 1996 - 2.5 L AMC I4, 120 hp (90 kW)

External Links

• Custom Dodge Dakota cars on CarDomain

This page uses content from Wikipedia; see Dodge Dakota, which includes these contributors.