Jun. 21--DAKOTA EASY TO HANDLE, EASY ON THE EYES: I enjoy a pleasant surprise every now and then.
My most recent one was the 2007 Dodge Dakota Club Cab 4x4 SLT. It was everything I didn't expect it to be.
First, it was quiet. Really quiet. The cabin was solid as a rock with not a squeak to be heard. And the quality of its assembly was top-notch.
It also was easy to handle and a snap to park. And it was really good looking, too.
I'm not a truck person, but this one had me thinking. "Let's see. I'm always hauling dirt and plants for the garden. Then there's the odd friend or relative who calls and needs a truck. I like to bike, camp, and I want learn to cross-country ski this winter. Hey! I could really make use of this thing as a second set of wheels!"
I've driven a number of mid-size trucks over the years, and always came away thinking they were built as though they were toys. And that's why the Dakota surprised me.
Our test truck had a base price of $26,040. That included air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, AM/FM stereo with CD player, Sirius satellite radio, a rear sliding window and a host of other items.
It also had TRX4 Off-Road group, which included a skid plate group, cast aluminum wheels, tow hooks, fuel tank skid plate shield, transfer case and front suspension skid plate. All the options brought the price to $30,795 with the equipment group discount bringing the price down to $30,625.
The 3.7-liter V-6 engine has a rating of 15 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway.
Speaking of that engine, I thought the acceleration and highway behavior were quite good. The ride was well-controlled and pleasant despite the truck bed being empty most of the time. That's surely not the case with some of the pickups I've driven.
As I said, parking was easy, despite the fact that it was a 4x4. Sometimes, 4x4 truck beds sit up higher and make it tough to judge the length of the truck when you are parking. However, with the Dakota I easily could see the end of the truck and get the job done with no problem at all.
The biggest drawback for me was the set of twin jump seats in the back. They were bolted upright and plenty uncomfortable even for temporary use.
Other than that, I found the Dakota to be a really fun companion.
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