Dodge Dakota Extended Cab Truck Review
Truck Reviewer
The Dodge Dakota Extended Cab and its partner the Crew Cab have been doing excellent duty since the late 1980s when, instead of competing with compact imports, Dodge decided to raise the game and introduce what was really the very first mid-size pickup. It’s not undersized and underpowered, but it’s not an over-large behemoth either. The Dodge Dakota Extended Cab fit conveniently into a gap in the market back then, and still does today. Depending on the configuration you choose, then short of full-size trucks it carries more and lugs more around than pretty much anything. It’s a smart looking vehicle too. Slightly aggressive styling suits its purpose well. The Dodge Dakota Extended Cab drives with accurate and predictable handling and has a comfortable ride. It will cope well with hard work and rough terrain but you wouldn’t mind sitting back and taking it on a long freeway drive if needed. Talking of working for a living, the bed length is a healthy 6-foot, six-inches and you can get longer items on board if you need to, courtesy of the clever two-position tailgate.
What about a few Dodge Dakota Extended Cab statistics? The 2-wheel drive base model ST will take 1810 lbs of load. The upscale Big Horn takes just 10 pounds less and the 4-wheel drive versions take 1630 and 1610 lbs respectively. Still a healthy set of gear! With the right towing kit, the 2-wheel drive Big Horn is king at a maximum 7200 lbs. Making sure all that stuff gets where it’s going at a reasonable pace is a standard 3.7 liter V6 mated to a 4-speed auto or, when you really want to get moving, an impressive 4.7 liter V8 with five-speed auto box. It delivers just over 300 horsepower and a powerful 329 lb-ft of torque. It also has the advantage of being able to use E85 Ethanol. Safety is taken care of by front and side-curtain air bags, ABS and tire pressure monitor as standard. It’s fair to say that the Dodge Dakota Extended Cab is not fitted out like a luxury sedan, but for a seriously capable pickup it’s not short of useful and helpful gadgets. You get what you need and then, depending on your pocket, you can have some heavy-duty stereo options, modern connectivity, even satellite radio.
First and foremost you need to look at the Dodge Dakota Extended Cab as a workhorse. If you a looking for a wagon to take the family around, that has the space to throw a few tools in the back, or camping gear, or both, you would be better off with an SUV. On the other hand, if you need bigger than average capacity, from a good-looking, compact pickup that’s a great all-rounder you probably won’t be disappointed. Considerable thought has gone into making the Dodge Dakota Extended Cab suit a particular group of people. If you are one of them it is a near perfect choice.
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