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What was Dodge thinking?

Some folks can’t afford $8 a gallon bottled water and $3 a gallon pumped gas yet Dodge sticks a new version of its 4.7-liter V-8 in its midsize Dakota pickup that delivers 302-horsepower, a 31 percent gain, plus 329 foot-pounds of torque, 13 percent more.

Is Paris Hilton in charge of product planning?

Dodge is the only automaker to offer a V-8 in a midsize pickup. But it’s rated at 14 m.p.g. city/19 m.p.g. highway with two-wheel-drive and 13/18 with four-wheel-drive. While the power comes at a price, Dakota thus remains an alternative to a full-size V-8 Ram.

“With the V-8, the Dakota still holds the family and tows up to 7,500 pounds. Without the V-8, you have to go to a higher-priced, lower-mileage full-size truck that might not fit in your garage,” said Mark Kudla, senior manager of Dakota marketing.

Mileage gains from a hybrid or diesel would offset losses from a V-8. Suspect we’ll see a diesel before a hybrid, just not sure when.

Dakota gets a major upgrade inside and out for 2008. For some reason, Dodge was bothered that people referred to Dakota as a “baby Ram” because it looked so much like its big brother. Except for thinner chrome strips in the grille and lower front fenders, the 2008 maintains the family resemblance complete with the chrome Ram head in the grille.

Not looking like your bro is fine when he’s ugly, but the bold Ram look says Dakota is strong enough to do any chores demanded of it. What’s wrong with that?

Dakota comes with an extended cab and a pair of swing-back rear access doors plus the longest cargo box in the segment at 6 feet 6 inches, or crew cab with swing-open doors in back and a 5-foot-3-inch cargo box. Both offer two-wheel-drive or dial-up four-wheel drive with a low setting for off-roading.

Dodge then confuses things with ST, SXT, SLT TRX/T, Sport and Laramie trim with different satin, chrome or body colored grilles. No need for so many versions.

We tested the SLT extended cab with the base 3.7-liter, 210-h.p. V-6 and 6-speed manual. Fairly good oomph moving away from the light, but it’s obvious why a V-8 is offered when passing or climbing steep inclines. With the 3.7 there was lots of downshifting to pass or crawl up those inclines.

The 6-speed manual has a floor-mounted shift lever so long it blocks the dial-up 4WD controls as well as the heated-seat and climate-control buttons.

Dakota is supposed to be a heavy hauler, so don’t expect sedan-like ride and handling. On uneven road surfaces, the suspension can get a little jittery. With 4WD, the cab sits a little higher than with 2WD. That ensures good down-the-road visibility, but also means you feel a tad high in the saddle on dry open roads. Expect some body sway into and out of sharp corners.

The rear access doors swing back so far they nearly hit the cargo bed. The wide opening means easy loading/unloading cargo. But it’s not that suited to people — particularly those note shaped like grocery bags. Only little kids can slip in without contorting the limbs. Two mini seats lift and lock against the seat backs to create more cargo space, but there’s no leg room for adults, unless the driver and front-seat passenger pull their seats up to the dash.

The crew cab has larger rear seating area plus a nifty new industry novelty, Crate ‘N Go, a pair of collapsible plastic crates that resemble the containers that hold kids’ milk cartons at schools. They hide on the floor under the rear seats. Lift the seats, pull up the plastic walls, and you have a crate to hold groceries or kids’ gear. The crates remove to take in the house or store in the garage — and look for them soon in other Chrysler vehicles. In the extended cab, you get two plastic hooks along the cabin wall to hold grocery bags.

The cargo bed is huge and the tailgate has two settings, part- or full-way down. But the tailgate is heavier than the hood so hold on tight when lowering it. And the bed is so long remember to allow enough room for it when you pull into or out of the parking space.

On the plus side, a $245 plastic bed liner does make loading/unloading easier and preserves the metal.

Other nice touches include bottle holders and stowage bins in the rear access doors; YES essentials cloth fabric on all seats that resists stains and odors yet can be heated for those in the Snow Belt; and holders for cups with or without handles, iPod and/or cell phone and coins.

The SLT 4×4 tested starts at $26,900 and includes air conditioning; power locks, windows, mirrors and driver’s seat; AM/FM stereo with in-dash CD/MP3 players; rear-wheel anti-lock brakes; Sirius satellite radio; tilt steering; and fog lamps. Options included split front bench seat with center armrest storage at $275, heated front cloth seats at $245 and 18-inch chrome wheels with off-road radials at $895.

A safety group adds four wheel ABS, side impact air bags upfront and curtains front and rear for $640, a package that would be wise to add, though it would be wiser if Dodge made it standard. Automatic transmission runs $1,170, remote start $185 and the 4-liter V-8 $985.

2008 Dodge Dakota SLT extended cab 4×4

Price as tested: $28,565 *

Wheelbase: 131.3 inches

Length: 218.5 inches

Engine: 3.7-liter, 210-h.p. V-6

Transmission: 6-speed manual

Mileage: 15 m.p.g. city/19 highway

THE STICKER

$26,900 Base

$895 18-inch off-road radials with chrome wheels

$275 Split bench seat with center armrest storage upfront

$250 Heated front cloth seats

$245 Cargo box liner

* Add $645 for freight.

PLUSES:

Redesign.

Dial-up 4WD with off-road low setting.

Able to tow 7,500 pounds.

Longest bed in midsize segment.

Only V-8 in segment.

MINUSES:

Needs V-8 power not just to tow but also to pass and climb.

Minuscule rear-seat room.

Four-wheel ABS an option.