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Only days before unveiling a concept vehicle to the public at the Detroit Auto Show this year, the folks from Dodge had a major decision to make–what to call it.

The machine was a variation of the compact Dodge Dakota pickup truck, which you’d think would make moniker selection a no-brainer.

But this Dakota featured an extended cab of massive proportions, as big as–if not bigger than–the cab in the much larger full-size Ford and Chevrolet pickups.

And, unlike the Ford and Chevy pickups, this Dakota had two traditional front-hinged swing-out doors to serve rear-seat occupants rather than one swing-back mini “access” door on the Chevy, two swing-back access doors on the Ford.

What made the name game difficult is that Ford had offered a peek at a full-size Lincoln Navigator sport-utility vehicle with a truck bed in back. And Ford said it would add a compact Ford Explorer SUV with a truck bed called Sport Trac. Under the skin, Navigator is a full-size Ford F-150 extended-cab pickup and Explorer a compact Ford Ranger extended-cab pickup.

Since Dodge’s Durango sport-utility is simply an enclosed version of the Dakota pickup, why not call this concept a Dodge Durango sport-utility with a pickup bed?

If Ford could fool people into believing an extended-cab pickup with a bed is an SUV and not a truck, why couldn’t–or shouldn’t–Dodge?

“We really labored over the name. It was literally a last-minute decision,” said Mike Gialdini, senior manager of truck marketing for the Dodge division of DaimlerChrysler.

“Up until the last minute, we considered calling it a Durango, but what it does is act like a truck with truck function and versatility so we called it the Dakota Quad (four doors) Cab,” Gialdini said.

It moves from concept to reality when it goes on sale next month as a 2000 model.

“We chose to focus on keeping Quad Cab a pickup truck first,” Jim Julow, vice president of Dodge division, said at a media preview here. “Is it a truck, a sport-ute, a sedan or a hybrid of all of these vehicles? Yes, it’s whatever you want it to be.”

The doors stand out, but a pair of traditional front-hinged, swing-out doors is only part of Quad Cab’s novelty.

Other trucks have four-doors, from the compact Nissan Frontier with simila r swing outs to the Ford F-150 extended cab with a pair of swing-back access doors.

What makes Quad Cab special is that once you open the doors and slip in back, you don’t have to inhale and cinch the belt a notch tighter for the pleasure of riding with your knees folded against your chin.

The back seat is spacious–leg, head and arm room galore. The seat back is reclined at an 18-degree angle, which means that, unlike in most extended-cab back seats, your spine doesn’t sit at attention. The F-150 and Chevy Silverado extended cabs may be wider, but Dodge made the Quad Cab feel roomier and more comfortable than its bigger rivals.

And those doors swing wide open to make entry or exit easy. Plus, the rear windows motor all the way down into the doors rather than stopping a few inches short. That shows attention to detail by the designers. Of course, you’ll need those windows down because Quad Cab doesn’t offer a sunroof, not even as an option.

The rear seat’s handy foldaway design increases cargo capacity in the cabin. The designers deserve an extra gold star for that.

The rear seat is a 60/40 split bench. One hand lifts either or both seat bottoms to fold flat against the seat back to transform the rear cabin into a cargo hold. Being a 60/40 split bench, you can lift one seat bottom for added cargo and leave the other down for a passenger. Neat touch.

And if you are bumped or forced to brake sharply, an inertia system in the folded seat bottom allows it to move a few inches, but keeps it from slamming down. Another neat touch.

Of course, there’s no such thing as a free lunch or a spacious truck cabin without a sacrifice. The rear cabin has so much room because it got 14 inches from the cargo bed. A lot to give up in back, though Dodge points out it started with a 6 1/2-foot bed versus a 6-foot bed at Chevy and Ford.

Gialdini said Quad Cab is a direct rival to the Ford Explorer Sport Trac coming out next spring, which also gave up bed space for cabin room. But Sport Trac will have a 4-foot, 2-inch bed versus 5 feet, 3 inches on the Quad Cab, Gialdini said.

For those who need more length, a bed extender is a $200 option on Quad Cab. That’s the same extender offered on the Nissan Frontier. Dodge and Nissan went to the same supplier. The extender not only adds 19 inches to bed length, but it also keeps cargo from slipping around when flipped back into the bed.

A new addition to Dakota and its new Quad Cab for 2000 is the 4.7-liter, 235-horsepower V-8, the same engine offered in the Jeep Grand Cherokee. It replaces the 5.2-liter, 230-h.p. V-8 from ’99 and boasts of a much-needed 2-m.p.g. increase in fuel economy as well as better low-end torque for quicker off-the-line power and more muscle when asked to tow.

Surprising how twisty and hilly the roads are a few miles away from the casinos in the desert.

The 2000 Quad Cab we tested traveled up, down and around the neighboring hills without the 4.7 once pausing to cough, wheeze, sputter or gasp for air. The 4.7 is fairly spirited but despite the boast of better mileage, there’s good reason Dodge expanded the fuel tank to 24 gallons from 22.

A 3.9-liter V-6 is standard in response to those who prefer mileage over macho, and the 5.9-liter, 245-h.p V-8 from ’99 remains an option ($1,125) for those into heavy towing.

The 4.7 was teamed with a new 4-speed automatic that “reads” whether or not you are moving from the light with a boat in tow to determine how soon to move into and out of second gear.

Dakota had offered rack-and-pinion steering only on two-wheel-drive models. For 2000, it’s added to four-wheel-drive models. Rack and pinion eliminates Dakota’s tendency to wander. Our test vehicle also came with the optional tire and handling package ($400) that adds wider-profile, 15-inch radials, front and rear stabilizer bars and fender flares.

While the flares look nice, the tires and stabilizer bars, along with the rack-and-pinion steering and recalibrated suspension, keep Quad Cab moving in the direction pointed while minimizing unnecessary up-and-down movement.

If needed, rear-wheel antilock brakes are standard, four-wheel ABS is a $495 option.

Quad cab is full of noteworthy features, such as large outside mirrors (foldaway 6-by-9-inch a $160 option versus the non-folding 5-by-7-inch that are standard); elastic band straps under the rear seat bottoms that hold items ranging from an umbrella to an ice scraper; and, for the first time, an optional rear-window defroster for a pickup truck ($370 in a package that includes heavy-duty battery and alternator), though it means you don’t get the slide-open rear window; a power outlet in the dash; and overhead console with holders for eyeglasses and garage-door opener.

Quad Cab is offered in Sport and SLT versions. SLT pays homa ge to the god of chrome (bumpers and grille versus body-colored on the Sport) while adding tilt wheel, cruise control, front and rear mats and more hood insulation to reduce road noise to further separate it from the Sport.

The 4×4 Sport we tested starts at $21,615, the SLT 4×4 starts at $22,735.

DaimlerChrysler’s Mopar parts division will offer a variety of options to dress up and personalize the Quad Cab, including bed liners, mats, brush and grille guards, winches, side steps, roof racks, bed caps and soft and hard cargo bed covers, including a three piece “gull wing” tonneau.

While the compact Dakota sports swing-out rear doors, the full-size Ram Quad Cab comes with swing-back access doors. Julow said look for the Ram to change door patterns soon.

Gialdini said Dodge has no plans to offer a door between the back of the passenger cabin and the front of the truck bed on its new Quad Cab.

Chevy reportedly is considering offering such a door on a full-size sport utility/truck hybrid to be built off its Silverado extended-cab pickup platform and Cadillac on a full-size sport-ute/truck hybrid it plans to bring to market soon off that same platform.

>> 2000 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab Wheelbase: 131 inchesLength: 215.1 inchesEngine: 4.7-liter, 235-h.p. V-8Transmission: 4-speed automaticFuel economy: 14 m.p.g. city/19 m.p.g. highwayBase price: $21,615Price as tested: $26,050. Includes $590 for 4.7-liter V-8; $975 for automatic.Pluses: Four-door extended cab with traditional swing-out rear doors and windows that power fully down. Spacious rear-seat room. Rear-seat foldaway design.Minuses: So many options – but no sunroof – for so much money. Fuel economy.>>