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The Dodge Dakota is a midsize compromise.

It`s bigger than a compact but smaller than a full-size pickup truck.

Dakota is offered in two versions, one with 112-inch wheelbase and 6.5-foot cargo box, the other with 124-inch wheelbase and an 8-foot cargo box.

By comparison, a Chevrolet S-10 compact is built on a 100.5-inchwheelbase and a full-size Chevy pickup is built on a 117- to 131-inchwheelbase.

Dakota is offered in base, S, SE, LE and Sport versions. Chrysler`s 2.2-liter, 4-cylinder engine is standard in two-wheel-drive models; a 3.9-liter, fuel-injected V-6 is standard in four-wheel-drive models andoptional in two-wheel-drive models.

We drove a four-wheel-drive LE version with the 112-inch wheelbase. Goodroom in the cab and in the cargo box. And the 3.9-liter V-6 teamed withoptional 3-speed automatic ($565) was peppy enough.

The 3.9 is EPA-rated at 17 miles per gallon city/23 m.p.g. highway withstandard 5-speed manual, 15/19 with automatic.

The added size and room is appreciated but does present at least onedrawback. The interior is just wide enough, for example, so you have to havepower controls to adjust the right side mirror. Another annoyance is the heavyprop-held hood, a monster for a small truck. And the four-wheel-drive transfercase is too far under the dash, making it hard to see, much less reach.

Standard equipment includes power brakes, heavy-duty battery andalternator, all-season tires, chrome front bumper, tinted glass, stainlesssteel exhaust system, urethane lower body coating, 15-gallon fuel tank and adual cup holder that pulls out from the dash.

Among the major options, air conditioning costs $781; AM/FM stereo, $244; and sliding rear window, $113. You should get the window if you have anynotion of adding a camper top.

Base price of the Dakota LE 4×4 with 6.5-foot box is $12,410; with 8-foot box it`s $12,606. With optional goodies, the model we tested ran $15,069 plus $395 freight.

Dakota has met stiff competition from Chevy and Ford in the lower end ofthe market, where the two rivals have offered heavy incentives, especially on 4×2 models.

“Our 4×2 sales are down 20 percent for the calendar year but our 4x4sales are up 29 percent,“ said Mike Aberlich, Chrysler truck spokesman. Tokeep up with the competition, Dakota`s build has been running 30 percent 4x4s and 70 percent 4x2s.

Dodge could be doing better if it offered antilock brakes like Chevy andFord do on the rear wheels of their big trucks and Ford does on the rear ofits Bronco II.

And Dakota could use an extended cab version like its rivals. Dakotareportedly will add an extended cab model in mid-1989, but antilock brakeswill take longer.

Chrysler plans to have the Dakota truck platform serve as the basis for a new utility vehicle as an addition to Chrysler`s current Ramcharger lineup or as a replacement for that full-size unit. Such a v ehicle is about two yearsoff.

The betting is Chrysler would keep the full-size Ramcharger and add asmaller version based on the Dakota, like Chevy and Ford offer full-sizeBlazer and Bronco utility vehicles and compact S-10 Blazer and Bronco IIversions.