The
Dodge Dakota is a truck that offers truck capabilities along with comfort and
easy handling. With a redesign in
2005, the 2007 Dodge Dakota received a standard two-position tailgate that can be
locked at an angle to better carry cargo, available YES Essentials fabric is
designed to be stain-odor- and static-resistant, and a remote starter as
optional. A V-6 is standard, but the Dakota can be fitted with either of two
V-8s. Dakotas are available with rear- or four-wheel drive in three trim
levels: ST, SLT and Laramie. Dakota's steering is light, allowing easy
maneuverability in crowded parking lots and to respond quickly on the
road. Dodge Dakota comes in two body styles. The Club Cab is an
extended-cab configuration with small, reverse-opening rear doors to access the
rear compartment. It comes with a 6 1/2-foot bed. The Quad Cab is a crew-cab
style truck with four full-size doors and a 5-foot, 4-inch bed. Each can seat
five to six passengers, but back-seat riders will be much more comfortable in
the Quad Cab.
Driving the Dakota
With the V-6, the Dakota cab fell short on power
and is sluggish for passing and merging. Furthermore, it doesn't offer much
of a fuel
economy advantage. The V-8s are more suitable on grades. Automatic
transmission shifts on a V-8 are a bit more noticeable than in the V-6 model,
but they are still not bothersome. Thick glass, big mufflers, and generous
sound insulation throughout the body and firewall help reduce noise. Still, the
Dakota drives bigger than it looks, with a hefty, Ram-like way about it, and
plenty of muscle to flex. Performance with the high-output engine is not
appreciably quicker than with a regular V-8. Four-wheel-drive
versions ride with pleasant smoothness on good pavement. The suspension reacts
quickly to bumps and recovers promptly. On narrow two-lane roads, the Dakota
maneuvers quite nicely and with satisfying steering feel. Dakota's
rack-and-pinion power steering is a bit over-assisted. The truck tracks
extremely well, and responds quickly to inputs. Like all pickup trucks, the
2007 Dodge Dakota can get choppy over small, high-intensity bumps and ruts. It
has
been upgraded for '07 with electronic throttle control and exhaust-gas
recirculation.
Trims for '07
Three trim levels are available: ST, SLT, and
Laramie. ST Club Cab and Quad Cab come standard with air conditioning,
AM/FM/CD stereo with audio auxiliary jack, tinted rear windows, front disc/rear
drum brakes with rear-wheel anti-lock (ABS), and 16-inch steel wheels. Quad Cabs
have fold-down rear seats. Both bodies are built on the same 131.1-inch
wheelbase.
SLT Club Cab and Quad Cab are upgraded with new
YES Essentials seat fabric, fold-down rear seats; a full-floor console for
Quad Cabs power windows, mirrors and locks with remote keyless entry, cruise
control, tilt steering, color-keyed carpet mats, chrome bumpers, fog lights, and
16-inch painted aluminum wheels.
Laramie Club Cab and Quad Cab add leather
upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel, premium 276-watt Alpine audio with
MP3 capability and 6-CD changer, automatic headlamps, auto-dimming rearview
mirror, body-color front bumper, bright body-side moldings, and a security alarm
with Sentry Key engine immobilizer.
Dodge Dakota Power
A 210-horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6 is standard. For
more power, the available 4.7-liter V-8 produces 230 hp and 290 pounds-feet of
torque. At the top of performance is a high-output 4.7-liter V-8 that
makes 260 hp. Transmission choices include a four-speed automatic, five-speed
automatic and six-speed manual. The Laramie comes standard with the automatic.
Either a part-time or full-time four-wheel-drive transfer case is available.
Inside the Dakota
2007 Dakota Quad Cab models can be configured for
six-person seating rather than the usual five-person capacity. Rear-seat
room is generous. With the rear seats folded, Club Cab storage space
totals 30 cubic feet, versus 37.1 cubic feet in the Quad Cab. Club Cab models
have forward-facing rear seats and rear-hinged access doors. The rear seats are
stepped up on their bases so that rear-seat occupants can see out more easily
and they are split into 40/20/40 folding sections with two rear cup holders. Getting in is easy, and the interior is comfortable and convenient, with
controls that are easy to reach and operate. The angular center stack houses the
sound system, climate controls and vents. The plastic materials are decent
and interior finishes are good. The thick four-spoke steering wheel features
audio and cruise controls. A center console and a lot of cubbyholes provide
organizational options. Black-on-white gauges are outlined with chrome rings,
and the central speedometer is about twice as large as the other two gauges.
Brushed metal accents brighten the cockpit, and the whole design works very well
in terms of usability, convenience, and reach.
Dodge Dakota Design
The 2007 Dodge Dakota looks massive; Club Cab
models have a 6.5-foot bed, while the Quad Cab gets a bed that measures 5 feet,
4 inches. Last redesigned for 2005, the Dodge Dakota hasn't changed much in
appearance since then. The Dakota shares its design with the full-size
Dodge Ram and Durango SUV. All three share the retro big-rig grille motif and
bulging fenders that have become trademarks of the Dodge Truck brand. Still,
Dakota boasts sharper, crisper lines and flatter planes than its relatives.
Also, its grille is laid back, not vertical. Squared-off styling on the hood,
grille and fender edges gives a distinctive look. Wheels are available in 16-,
17- and 18-inch sizes. Club Cabs have auxiliary rear doors that swing open
nearly 180 degrees. Quad Cabs feature four huge doors; the rear doors open
out to nearly 90 degrees, so ingress and egress are very good. Quad Cab
interiors are roomy, with over 102 cubic feet of passenger space. Front fender
lines deliberately extended halfway along the length of the door. A
coil-over-shock independent front suspension is used on both 2WD and 4WD models,
with conventional leaf springs at the rear. All models come with front and rear
tow hooks and tie-downs in the bed.
Safety
The Dakota Club Cab has earned five-star safety
ratings in both front and side impact testing by the federal government (NHTSA). Rear-wheel antilock braking is standard; four-wheel ABS is optional. Side
curtain airbags that protect passengers in both rows of seats are optional.
The Dodge Dakota is on the large end of the
mid-size pickups. The Dakota is the biggest pickup in the mid-size class,
and the only mid-size truck available with a V8. Dodge claims its 7150-pound
maximum towing capacity is by far the best in the class. All models come with
front and rear tow hooks and tie-downs in the bed. Fuel economy range for the 2007 Dodge Dakota is
estimated at 22 mpg Hwy, and 16 mpg City. Dakota looks nearly as big and
tough as the full-size Dodge Ram. For 2007, the V8 is now flex-fuel
capable, meaning it can run on gasoline or up to 85 percent ethanol. A
dual-position tailgate is now standard on all models, maximizing versatility
when hauling long building materials. If you are looking for a vehicle that is
big and brawny, but not as big as a full-size, the Dodge Dakota is a good
choice.