Review: 2010 Dodge Dakota Crew Cab TRX4 4×4

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

Once, compact pickups were truly that: Light duty, nimble versions of those hulking behemoths called half-tons. Over the years, however, the big ‘uns got more car-like and the little ‘uns got, well, bigger. Case in point: The Dodge Ram’s little Dakota brother, which is quickly outgrowing its sheetmetal as it tries to play with the big boys.

What is it?
Standing in the Dodge Ram’s shadow, the Dakota was once a major player but has essentially languished in the background for the better part of a decade. Our tester, equipped with the latest and greatest version of the 4.7-liter V8 that has powered numerous Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles, also benefits from the rugged look and suspension might of the TRX4 off road package.

It measures about a foot shorter than a similar Dodge Ram Crew Cab, but it rides on a decidedly less rugged frame and offers far fewer creature comforts. But there’s good news: You can buy a Dakota and a discounted Dodge Caliber for the price of a similar Ram.

Any breakthroughs?
You won’t find many here – this is a class where old-school tech keeps prices reasonable.

The 4.7-liter V8 puts out an impressive 302 horsepower and 329 lb-ft. of torque, which certainly puts it in the league of full-sizers when it comes to performance, but otherwise you won’t find much to “wow” you here.

What’s it up against?
With the V8, the Dakota has only one pair of rivals: The Chevrolet Colorado and its matching GMC Canyon twin.

Otherwise, the compact/midsize pickup market offers a trio of six-cylinders: The ancient Ford Ranger and the consumer favorite Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier.

How does it look?
Updated with its mask-style front fascia for the 2008 model year, the Dakota bears a look that is in keeping with Dodge tradition but lacks the cohesive, well-toned style of its big brother.

The TRX4 package on our tester gave it rugged fender flares, tall tires and a silver matte grille (rather than chrome you’ll find on other Dakotas), which help, but the overall look is dated and never seems quite cohesive in its appearance. Broad, sweeping fenders are different in a good way, but they meet up with an utterly conventional cab that lacks the light and airy look of big glass windows and skinny pillars that we’d expect.

Viewed side-on, the Dakota, in its crew cab configuration, looks less like a stretch limo variation of a pickup than many of its rivals – a plus. Yet the snout pokes out more over the front wheels than it should, robbing it not only of style, but of an approach angle for the off roading that this trim level is claimed to provide.

Overall, the 2010 Dakota doesn’t have nearly the presence of its Ram-lite, Durango-like predecessor of a decade ago.

And on the inside?
From the material selections to the design to the switchgear, it’s a Daimler penny-pinching Chrysler of yesteryear affair inside the Dakota. That’s not all a bad thing – we generally like the behind-the-spokes secondary radio controls, as well as the overhead console – but it sure feels a lot older than its circa-2005 bones would lead us to believe.

You won’t find anything approximating a soft touch material inside on any dash, door or console surface, but what you will find is a mish-mash of good ideas and iffy execution. The lower center console between the bucket seats boasts three cupholders – a real boon in a vehicle with a bench seat but rather wasted on one with twin buckets. The there’s a flop-out cell phone/iPod holder in the center armrest, which is nice, but the auxilary audio input is miles away on the head unit. Finally, there are the simple climate control knobs that are all but invisible when the the column shifter is in drive. Did nobody drive this after it was designed?

At least the seats are comfortable, the optional six-speaker Alpine stereo rocks and our low-mile test truck offered nary a quiver nor a rattle from its structure over even the roughest roads we could find.

Yet it’s a stark contrast to its Ram stablemate, which offers arguably the nicest interior ever bestowed on a pickup.

But does it go?
We’ve generally liked Chrysler’s sophisticated V8 in just about every application we’ve seen – and it doesn’t disappoint here. Mated to a Mercedes-Benz-sourced five-speed automatic (Chrysler actually got something good out of the German occupation!), the V8 produced a subtle but throaty growl and moved this hefty truck along with authority.

We didn’t have the opportunity to hook up a trailer to the Dakota, but we have little reason to doubt the up to 6,700 lb. trailer capacity rating (with the 3.92 rear axle). The Dakota is a comfortable straight-line cruiser at speed on the highway, which should only aid moderate trailer towing.

The big 265/70-17 BFGoodrich tires on our tester were adequately quiet at speed, but around town they provided a bouncy, unsettled ride thanks in part to the leaf-sprung rear suspension. Unlike the larger, coil spring Ram, the Dakota uses less expensive and more rugged leaves which help with cargo hauling but give it a truck-typical ride.

On the bright side, the steering was surprisingly fast and communicative. Steering inputs were precise, and while the Dakota won’t be confused with a sports car, it was more maneuverable than its 218.5-inch overall length might suggest. The steering wasn’t as loose as we’ve found in the Ram.

Off road, the Dakota proved more of a mountain goat than we expected. Lots of ground clearance, a limited slip rear differential and a softly sprung suspension gave it plenty of capability. We do lament Dodge’s decision to drop the automatic four-wheel-drive option; instead, the Dakota offers only a basic two-speed part time system operated by a simple plastic knob.

Why you would buy it:
You want a pickup with the new car smell, but the Ram is out of reach. Plus, your Luddite nature makes you uncomfortable with the redesigned switchgear in newer cars.

Why you wouldn’t:
You’ve heard of AutoTrader and you see that you can pick up a nicely-optioned, low mile 2009 Ram for a similar price.

Leftlane’s bottom line
The Dakota offers about 75 percent of the hauling capacity of its big brother at about 75 percent of the price. Yet it’s somehow hard to recommend. Feeling a little too much like the Daimler-controlled Chrysler of yore, our Dakota tester made us want to buy a year-old Ram or Silverado for similar money.

We urge Chrysler to take another Ram-lite approach to the next generation Dakota. This class certainly isn’t dead, as the Tacoma and Frontier have proven. A V8 combined with a more trim package, rugged good looks and a decent interior would be a class standout. Did we just describe the first two generations of the Dakota?

2010 Dodge Dakota Crew Cab TRX4 4×4 base price, $31,365. As tested, $36,160.
Inferno Red paint, $225; Trailer tow group, $345; Extra security package, $640; Premium sound group, $750; Rear window defroster, $20; Engine block heater, $35; Media Center with navigation, $1,795; Under-the-Rail box bedliner, $245; Destination, $740.