2010 Dodge Dakota

The 2010 Dodge Dakota gains revised suspension tuning for an improved ride and better handling. Dodge hopes to remedy some of that with the 2010 Dakota. Also receiving high marks are the pickup's innovative rear under-seat storage bins and comfortable seating. As a workhorse, though, the 2010 Dodge Dakota still stands tall.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The TRX4 and Laramie models are only available as crew cabs.
Standard features for the ST include 16-inch steel wheels, a dual-position tailgate, foglights, air-conditioning, front bucket seats, a front center console, two rear folding seats (extended cab only), a rear under-seat storage system (crew cab only), cloth upholstery, a tilt steering wheel and a CD player stereo.

The Big Horn adds 17-inch alloy wheels, body-colored bumpers and front fascia, full power accessories and cruise control. The Big Horn and Laramie extended cabs can be equipped with a front bench seat in place of the standard buckets. A 3.7-liter V6 is standard on every 2010 Dodge Dakota, producing 210 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque. Rear-wheel drive is standard on all Dakotas, with four-wheel drive being optional (standard on the TRX4).

Fuel economy registers an EPA-estimated 15 mpg city/20 mpg highway and 17 mpg combined for rear-drive models, while four-wheel-drive mileage drops slightly to 14/15/18 mpg. A five-speed automatic is standard. In performance testing, a 4WD Dakota Laramie crew cab with the V8 accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 7.6 seconds. When properly equipped, a V8 Dakota can tow 7,200 pounds.

Safety
In side-impact tests, the 2010 Dodge Dakota crew cab without side curtain airbags earned five stars for the protection of both front and rear passengers. On the upside, the Dakota's interior design is mostly straightforward.

2011 Dodge Dakota

The 2011 Dodge Dakota gains a couple of important safety features, namely antilock brakes and side curtain airbags, on its list of standard features. The 2011 Dodge Dakota is a midsize pickup truck that's offered as either an extended cab or crew cab.

Extended-cab models feature a 6.4-foot cargo bed, while crew cab models are fitted with a 5.3-foot bed. The Big Horn adds 17-inch alloy wheels, body-colored bumpers and front fascia, a rear under-seat storage system (crew cab models only), keyless entry, full power accessories and cruise control (optional on ST).

The Big Horn and Laramie extended cabs can also be equipped with a front bench seat in place of the standard buckets. Every 2011 Dodge Dakota is powered by a standard 3.7-liter V6 engine that produces 210 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque.

Rear-wheel drive is standard on all Dakotas, with four-wheel drive being available as an option. Fuel economy registers an EPA-estimated 15 mpg city/20 mpg highway and 17 mpg combined for rear-wheel-drive models, and 14/18/15 mpg for 4WD versions. In performance testing, a 4WD Dakota Laramie crew cab with the V8 accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 7.6 seconds. When properly equipped, a V8 Dakota can tow up to 7,250 pounds.

Safety
This year the 2011 Dodge Dakota gets four-wheel antilock brakes and side curtain airbags. In Edmunds brake testing, a 4WD Dakota Laramie crew cab came to a stop from 60 mph in 126 feet -- a good distance for a pickup.

In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety frontal-offset crash tests, the extended cab got a second-best "Acceptable" rating while the crew cab Dakota earned a top "Good" rating.

Interior Design and Special Features
The standard bucket seats are very comfortable, while the available power seats offer a wealth of adjustability.