Its Mini-Me

Do you like the aggressive commercials presented by Dodge? They claim that their vehicles are all about "Grabbing life by the horns." I consider this a daily occurrence, as my boss is an apprentice to the devil himself. According to this television campaign, their trucks are all oozing masculinity , due to high doses of testosterone. There are plenty of trucks to choose from, and with gas prices staying high, it is a good time to negotiate a reasonable price. Dodge offers two pick up truck selections, which are the gigantic Ram, and the more modestly sized Dakota.

While the Ramgets more attention, the Dakota is a fine understudy. It has been around since the late 1980's, and has been a successful seller for the company. I've known two people who have owned early 90 models of the Dakota, and one of them is still driving his with over 200,000 miles on it. The other got rid of his a couple of years ago, with 150,000 miles, and only minor mechanical issues. Both happened to be powered by V6 engines, which is what the SLT Quad Cab that I've been driving around has.

You can buy a V8 Dakota if you want serious hauling power. It costs more, and it obviously will affect your gas mileage. If you have a boat or move heavy objects often, it will be in your best interest to purchase that edition. For most suburbanites who need to move an occasional couch, then the 3.7 liter V6 should be fine. I was a bit bored with the engine, as it doesn't have a lot of power. While it will suffice in most traffic situations, I like trucks with a lot of engine strength. While not every truck can be a Chevy 454 or Ford Lightning, I like to be able to mash the accelerator to squeal the tires. This truck won't do that, but it does well at higher speeds.

While the engine isn't that zippy, it sure sounds loud enough. While I'm all about being able to hear the engine, I expect the sound to be related to performance. Here that is not the case, and I wish the engineering team could tone that down a bit. It sounds rough, and is one of the contributing factors to the road noise issues. While it does have that harsh noise quality, it does shift very smoothly. There is no hesitation between the gears, which has been the case in many trucks/SUV's that I've spent time in.

I really like how this truck handles. This is an easy pickup for anyone to drive, and its excellent for individuals with lower muscle tone.(Or who don't like steering a monster truck) On the highway, it is so easy to switch lanes, and steering on curvy roads is a lot of fun. It almost steers like a midsized car, and its easy to maneuver in even difficult circumstances. This is a great one hand steering wheel vehicle, although I recommend using two hands.

The suspension is very smooth, and this truck has car manners here as well. I like how it sticks to the road in superb fashion, and gives you a feeling of confidence. Braking is outstanding. I have never seen a better braking truck, and I'm convinced that the Dakota could stop on a dime if needed. While I didn't slam the brakes, it performed flawlessly in nightmare commuter traffic. There were plenty of quick stops, and it didn't even lurch during tough applications. This has an ABS system, which is a great safety feature.

The interior has a combination look, with family friendly features, and a tough truck appearance. I like how Dodge has done this, and I like the huge white gauges. These are huge, and display the Fuel/Temperature, MPH, and RPM/Driving Position. They are well illuminated at night, and easy to see in all driving conditions. On a negative note, its hard to lie about the speed you were going, when a friendly state trooper is behind you. It does allow you to drive safer though, which at least is a good compromise.

The features are all easy to reach and use, and the stock AM/FM CD stereo is quite powerful. It has a total of four speakers, and sound is at the right balance throughout the cabin. There is plenty of bass on it, and all of the stations come in without any problems. The power windows on this are so fast going up and down, that this could be a potential problem spot for children. The heated outside mirrors are a nice touch, and I like how the rest of the dash gives it a rugged appearance. The heat and a/c controls are just a hands reach away at all times, and work excellent in providing the desired temperature. The cupholders up front are huge, so you can easily have those two Big Gulps ready for a road trip.

The front seats are awesome. They are very comfortable, and provide a wonderful level of support. If you are a taller individual, your legs will thank you when driving as well. Visibility from the front is excellent, and there's only a small blind spot on each rear side.(Just be aware of this, plus always use mirrors for assistance) It is easy to adjust the front seats, and I only wish that the back could be done as well.

While the back seating area is comfortable enough, I'd like more legroom. Children and smaller adults should be fine, but if you are over 6 feet, expect to have your knees sticking up. I understand that this is a smaller truck, but I've seen better legroom in other models. These are similar to the coach section on a international flight, and I would not want to spend more than an hour back here. There's room for three people according to Dodge, but I would put it at two maximum. I wish they could add some space, as there's nothing else wrong with the back section. Its easy to get in and out at least.

Road noise is a problem. I don't consider it to be acceptable drowning out this by the stereo, as it impedes on normal conversations at high speeds. I don't know exactly what is the cause, as the interior materials seem to be of good quality. After 45 mph and up, it becomes annoying, and it can be a burdensome problem for long trips. During city driving speeds, it won't affect you thankfully. Hearing back seat individuals is a chore on the interstate, and its almost like a scene from the first Batman Movie.(Remember when Michael Keaton and Kim Baskinger had that dinner date at his mansion?)

The bed is tiny, so it won't allow for large items to be placed in the back. A Bull Mastiff might be okay back there, but anything bigger than a couch will take up all of the space. That is why this size, with the V6, is okay for the average suburban citizen. If you want a shell, there are plenty of different models to choose from. If you fill up in room in the bed, the back seating area has some space for a few extra items at least.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates, that the Dakota gets 16 mpg city/20 highway. For once, I have to get them credit, as this is exactly what I've been getting the last few days. You can feed this truck 87 octane gasoline, and it has a 22 gallon tank, which guarantees you can take that road trip without too many stops. I've been driving this truck that has 4,000 miles on it, and the price is $22,500. It has 4x4, which should be excellent for this upcoming winter. It is still possible to find a few of these 06 left at new dealerships, and you can probably get a pretty good bargain on them. The manufacturers bumper to bumper warranty is 3 years/36,000 miles.

Final Thoughts

This truck is average, and it will be a good value for certain consumers. They've had a decent reputation over the years, and with its good looks, it will look nice in the driveway. If I wanted a smaller truck, I would give it consideration, based on the pricing at dealerships in my area. I don't have a need to pull a boat or horsetrailer, so the V6 of this version would be fine for me. I think it has some positive aspects, but I wasn't thrilled by its performance or the annoying road noise. My recommendation is to buy it if on a budget, and if it fits your requirements for a pick up truck.