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By Anita And Paul LienertDetroit Newspapers
December 8, 2004
We tested a well-equipped rear-wheel-drive Dakota Quad Cab SLT, priced at $30,904. It had more than $7,000 worth of options, including leather bucket seats ($830), a five-speed automatic transmission ($1,170) and 17-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels with all-season tires ($820). SHE: I know we're always in for a lot of fun when you get your heavy-duty leather gloves out of the toolbox. HE: We were just hauling trash -- about 50 garbage bags full of debris and junk from a good fall cleaning. What a godsend the Dakota proved to be when it came time to visit the city dump. You begged me to let you come along so you could "play" in the Dumpster, didn't you? SHE: I just wanted to play in the Dakota, which is a fantastic truck whether you're hauling stuff to the dump or just determined to impress your friends on a Saturday night. The Dakota comes close to being a five-star vehicle. It's a great workhorse and Dodge is working hard to pitch it to families, but it has a way to go to become a superior family vehicle. That's why I only gave it four stars. HE: Pretty snazzy rig for a "workhorse," don't you think? I wouldn't necessarily call the Dakota's revamped cockpit plush, but it certainly is comfortable and looks contemporary. You can even see how some of the interior lines, especially on the instrument panel, are shared with the new Grand Cherokee from Dodge's Jeep sibling. We had loads of options on our test vehicle, but I was probably most impressed with the 4.7-liter V-8 engine and five-speed transmission, which is a pretty potent combination. The ride comfort with the 17-inch tires was surprisingly good, too. And with all that room in the rear seat, I could easily see this doubling as a family hauler. SHE: I have one negative memory of the Dakota, and that was in the parking lot of our local sandwich joint, where I had trouble squeezing our long-wheelbase pickup into a tight parking space. You told me in typical sexist fashion to get out and you'd park it yourself. I laughed and laughed when you had just as much trouble as I did. Good thing you can't get a Hemi in the darn thing, or you'd be off on a macho tangent. HE: Hey, I love all that power going straight to the rear wheels, but I noticed on wet pavement that the Dakota could use traction control -- even stability control -- to maintain its poise. Unfortunately, neither is available, and that's a no-no, especially with a Michigan winter just around the corner. You also have to pay extra for such safety features as four-wheel antilock brakes and side-curtain air bags, which should be standard equipment on all vehicles. SHE: This clearly is a polarizing vehicle when it comes to men and women. I'm sure women like me will be disappointed that the driver doesn't get a lighted vanity mirror. The kids in the rear can't get a DVD entertainment system. And while you can order a Sirius satellite radio, you can't get an even more useful option -- a satellite navigation system. So I'm not convinced that this is a good "family" vehicle that could replace a minivan or a sedan, or one that you'd want to take on a long vacation. HE: I look at all the positive things about the new Dakota -- the only available V-8 in the class, the distinctive styling, the comfortable cabin, the great hauling ability -- and I don't see another competitor that's really close. Sorry, Toyota. Sorry, Nissan. Dakota heads the segment, and gets five stars from this guy. Anita and Paul Lienert are partners in Lienert & Lienert, a Detroit-based automotive information services company.
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