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2007 Dodge Dakota Full Review
Date Published: 5/28/08
2007 Dodge Dakota Review
Remote engine start is newly available on 2007 versions of Dodge's compact pickup truck. Dakota comes in two body styles. Club Cab extended cabs have a 6.5-ft cargo bed and rear-hinged back doors that do not open independently of the fronts. They seat up to five. Quad Cab crew cabs have a 5.3-ft bed and seat up to six. Dakota's standard engine is a 210-hp V6. Available are V8s of 230 and 260 hp. The 260-hp V8 comes only with automatic transmission. The other engines come with manual or automatic. Dakota is available with rear-wheel drive, 4-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive. The 4WD system should not be left engaged on dry pavement, but like the AWD system, includes low-range gearing. Traction control is unavailable. Rear-wheel ABS is standard, 4-wheel ABS is optional.

ST, SLT, and Laramie trims are offered. Curtain side airbags that cover both seating rows are optional on all. Remote engine start is optional on SLT and standard on Laramie. Other available features include heated cloth or leather front seats and a wireless cell phone link. Mitsubishi sells a retrimmed version of Dakota as the Raider.
Competition
Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 18 classes based on size, price, and market position. Compact Pickups offer a true-truck design in a relatively modest package. They are best suited for personal or light-duty use rather than commercial use, heavy hauling, or towing.

Our Best Buy is the Toyota Tacoma. Our Recommended picks are the Dodge Dakota and Honda Ridgeline.

New or significantly redesigned is the Ford Explorer Sport Trac.
News
Dakota should see further updates but no fundamental change for the next few years. A makeover on the current platform is said to be on for around model-year 2010. This may include replacement V6 engines designed for greater fuel efficiency, as well as a new 190-hp 4.2-liter diesel V6 being developed by Dodge and engine specialist Cummins.
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2007 Dodge Dakota Road Test
Pros Cons
Trailer-towing capability Acceleration (V6)
Fuel economy
rear-seat room (Club Cab)
Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings
Acceleration

2WD Club Cab, V6 auto. 4WD Club Cab, V6 auto. 4WD Quad Cab, V8 man. 4WD Quad Cab, V8 auto. Class Average
3 3 5 5 5

No opportunity to test Dakota with 260-hp V8. Dakotas with 230-hp V8 have good power with either transmission, but lack the expected passing reserves. V6 Dakotas and Raiders underpowered for anything but daily commuting and light loads. Note that Raider no longer offers a V8 engine. Towing capacity ranges from 3150 to 7150 lb.
Fuel Economy

2WD Club Cab, V6 auto. 4WD Club Cab, V6 auto. 4WD Quad Cab, V8 man. 4WD Quad Cab, V8 auto. Class Average
4 4 3 3 3.8

No opportunity to measure Dakota or Raider with V6. Test 4WD Dakota Quad Cabs with 230-hp V8 and automatic transmission averaged 11.6-13.4 mpg. V6 and 230-hp V8 use regular-grade fuel. Dodge recommends premium for 260-hp V8.
Ride Quality

2WD Club Cab, V6 auto. 4WD Club Cab, V6 auto. 4WD Quad Cab, V8 man. 4WD Quad Cab, V8 auto. Class Average
5 5 5 5 4.6

Smooth and composed in any configuration. Dakota and Raider suffer little of the bounding and jiggle typical of the class. Some choppiness over broken surfaces in 4WD models.
Steering/Handling/Braking

2WD Club Cab, V6 auto. 4WD Club Cab, V6 auto. 4WD Quad Cab, V8 man. 4WD Quad Cab, V8 auto. Class Average
3 4 4 4 3.9

Steering has direct feel, lacks typical truck sloppiness. Body lean evident in turns, but well-controlled for a pickup. All test Dakotas and Raiders had 17-inch tires. Four-wheel ABS a worthwhile investment over standard rear-only arrangement.
Quietness

2WD Club Cab, V6 auto. 4WD Club Cab, V6 auto. 4WD Quad Cab, V8 man. 4WD Quad Cab, V8 auto. Class Average
5 5 6 6 4.5

Road noise impressively hushed. Some wind rush at highway speeds. Well-muted engines sound refined in rapid acceleration, though V8s are quieter overall.
Controls

2WD Club Cab, V6 auto. 4WD Club Cab, V6 auto. 4WD Quad Cab, V8 man. 4WD Quad Cab, V8 auto. Class Average
5 5 5 5 5.9

Dakota and Raider share their dashboard design. Controls logically placed, readily accessible. Large gauges easy to read. Interior materials look and feel low grade. Hard shiny plastic covers most surfaces, and some controls lack quality feel.
Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

2WD Club Cab, V6 auto. 4WD Club Cab, V6 auto. 4WD Quad Cab, V8 man. 4WD Quad Cab, V8 auto. Class Average
7 7 7 7 5.3

Spacious cabin has plenty of head and leg room. Note that Raiders only offer a front bench. Dakota Quad Cab's available front bench seat will accommodate three occupants in a pinch.
Room/Comfort (rear)

2WD Club Cab, V6 auto. 4WD Club Cab, V6 auto. 4WD Quad Cab, V8 man. 4WD Quad Cab, V8 auto. Class Average
2 2 5 5 2.9

Crew cabs offer three-abreast rear seating, but only two adults will fit comfortably. Head and leg room adequate for adults under 6 ft, but taller riders will want more leg room. Extended cab's available forward-facing jump seats best suit those under 5-ft-3 because leg room is scarce.
Cargo Room

2WD Club Cab, V6 auto. 4WD Club Cab, V6 auto. 4WD Quad Cab, V8 man. 4WD Quad Cab, V8 auto. Class Average
4 4 5 5 4.1

Ample center-console and door-pocket storage. Folding rear seat adds to extended-cab utility.
Value within Class

2WD Club Cab, V6 auto. 4WD Club Cab, V6 auto. 4WD Quad Cab, V8 man. 4WD Quad Cab, V8 auto. Class Average
7 7 8 8 6

Dakota earns Recommended status for its refinement, available all-wheel drive, and curtain side airbags. It's a bit too big for easy daily commuting, but a V8 model is a terrific choice if you tow or do heavy hauling and don't want the bulk of a true large pickup truck. There's little reason to consider the Mitsubishi Raider built from this design; it doesn't offer a V8, AWD, or curtain side airbags.
Total Score

2WD Club Cab, V6 auto. 4WD Club Cab, V6 auto. 4WD Quad Cab, V8 man. 4WD Quad Cab, V8 auto. Class Average
45 46 53 53 46
Scores for all Compact Pickup Trucks

Low Score
31
Average Score
46
High Score
60
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2007 Dodge Dakota Prices & Equipment
Model Prices
Prices Updated: 04/23/2007
Trim Name Retail Price Dealer Invoice Destination Charge
2WD ST Club Cab extended cab $19,235 $17,654 $645
4WD ST Club Cab extended cab $23,485 $21,467 $645
2WD ST Quad Cab crew cab $21,935 $20,087 $645
4WD ST Quad Cab crew cab $24,885 $22,733 $645
2WD SLT Club Cab extended cab $23,120 $21,112 $645
4WD SLT Club Cab extended cab $26,070 $23,767 $645
2WD SLT Quad Cab crew cab $24,450 $22,326 $645
4WD SLT Quad Cab crew cab $27,400 $24,971 $645
2WD Laramie Club Cab extended cab $25,405 $23,145 $645
4WD Laramie Club Cab extended cab $28,285 $25,739 $645
2WD Laramie Quad Cab crew cab $26,705 $24,332 $645
4WD Laramie Quad Cab crew cab $29,585 $26,916 $645
Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker. Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options. The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.
NA = price note available, NC = no charge.
Rebates and Incentives
There are no rebates or incentives at this time.
Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.
Standard Equipment
ST
Powertrain
3.7-liter V6 engine, 6-speed manual transmission.
Safety
Dual front airbags, rear antilock brakes.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Air conditioning, power steering, cloth upholstery, front bucket seats, driver-seat lumbar adjustment, cupholders, 3-passenger split folding rear seat (Quad Cab), AM/FM/CD player, digital clock, tachometer, rear-hinged rear doors (Club Cab), front-hinged rear doors (Quad Cab), map lights, passenger-side visor mirror, variable-intermittent wipers, cargo-box light, carpeting.
Appearance and Miscellaneous
Rear privacy glass, painted bumpers.
Special Purpose, Wheels and Tires
Full-size spare tire, 245/70R16 on/off-road tires, 4WD adds: 4-wheel drive, 2-speed transfer case.
SLT adds to ST:
Comfort and Convenience Features
Tilt steering wheel, cruise control, 6-way power driver seat, center console, rear jump seats (Club Cab), 3-passenger split folding rear seat (Quad Cab), power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, full-swing rear doors (Club Cab), satellite radio, universal garage door opener, floormats.
Appearance and Miscellaneous
Sliding rear window, fog lights, color-keyed bumpers.
Special Purpose, Wheels and Tires
Alloy wheels, 4WD adds: 4-wheel drive, 2-speed transfer case.
Laramie adds to SLT:
Powertrain
4-speed automatic transmission.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Leather upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel w/radio controls, Alpine AM/FM radio w/in-dash 6-disc CD/MP3 player, remote engine start, automatic headlights.
Appearance and Miscellaneous
Bright bumpers.
Special Purpose, Wheels and Tires
255/65R16 white-letter tires, 4WD adds: 4-wheel drive, 2-speed transfer case, 265/70R16 all-terrain white-letter tires.
Optional Equipment
Major Packages
Retail Price
Invoice Price
Popular Equipment Group
2WD Laramie
$1,095
$964
4WD Laramie
$1,095
$964
Curtain side airbags, 265/60R18 on/off-road tires, chrome alloy wheels.
Sport Appearance Group
2WD Laramie
$325
$286
4WD Laramie
$145
$128
Body-colored bumpers and grille, bodyside moldings, 265/60R18 on/off-road tires.
SXT Group
ST Club Cab
$1,920
$1,690
ST Quad Cab
$1,870
$1,646
Tilt steering wheel, cruise control, center console w/auxiliary power outlet, rear jump seats (Club Cab), power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, alloy wheels.
Convenience Group
ST
$390
$343
Tilt steering wheel, cruise control.
R/T Group
SLT
$1,900
$1,672
Color-keyed grille, hood scoop, unique exterior trim, hood scoop, 265/65R18 on/off-road tires, chrome alloy wheels. Requires 4.7-liter High-Output V8 engine, 5-speed automatic transmission.
TRX Group
2WD ST
$1,095
$964
2WD SLT
$695
$585
2WD SLT w/4.7-liter High Output V8 engine
$395
$348
2WD Laramie
$365
$321
2WD Laramie w/4.7-liter High Output V8 engine
$70
$62
Limited-slip differential, special axle ratio, badging, front tow hooks, 265/70R16 all-terrain white-letter tires, alloy wheels (ST).
TRX4 Off-Road Group
4WD SLT
$1,195
$1,052
4WD SLT w/4.7-liter High Output V8 engine
$860
$757
4WD Laramie
$795
$700
4WD Laramie w/4.7-liter High Output V8 engine
$495
$436
4WD ST
$1,495
$1,316
Limited slip differential, front and rear antilock brakes, floormats (SLT, Laramie), heavy-duty engine and transmission cooling, heavy-duty battery, skid plates, heavy-duty rear shock absorbers, 265/70R16 on/off-road white-letter tires, alloy wheels (ST).
Sun and Wheel Group
SLT
$1,190
$1,047
SLT w/Sport Appearance Group, Laramie
$1,020
$998
Power sunroof, 265/60R18 on/off-road tires. NA Club Cab.
Sound Box Group
SLT Club Cab
$795
$700
SLT Club Cab w/Popular Equipment Group
$265
$233
SLT Club Cab w/Trailer Tow group or TRX4 Group
$735
$647
SLT Club Cab w/Trailer Tow group or TRX4 Group and Popular Equipment Group
$205
$180
Laramie Club Cab
$470
$414
Laramie Club Cab w/Trailer Tow Group
$410
$361
Alpine sound system, amplifier, subwoofer, tweeters, heavy-duty battery. NA w/front split bench seat, leather front bucket seats.
Sound and Wheel Group
Laramie Club Cab
$460
$405
SLT Club Cab
$1,135
$999
Sound Box Group plus 265/60R18 tires.
Chrome Edition Group
Laramie, SLT, ST
$995
$876
Chrome exterior trim, chrome tubular side steps.
Trailer Tow Group
ST
$455
$400
SLT, Laramie
$525
$462
4WD w/TRX4 Off-Road Group
$345
$304
Heated power mirrors (SLT, Laramie), heavy-duty engine and transmission cooling, Class IV trailer hitch, 7-wire harness.
Powertrain
4.7-liter V8 engine
Laramie, SLT, ST
$785
$691
Available only in Calif., Maine, Mass., N.Y., Vt.
Flex-fuel 4.7-liter V8 engine
Laramie, SLT, ST
$785
$691
ST, SLT require 5-speed automatic transmission. NA in Calif., Maine, Mass., N.Y., Vt.
4.7-liter High Output V8 engine
SLT, Laramie
$1,615
$1,421
Includes limited-slip differential. Requires 5-speed automatic transmission.
4-speed automatic transmission
ST, SLT
$1,135
$999
NA w/a 4.7-liter V8 engine.
5-speed automatic transmission
ST, SLT
$1,170
$1,030
Laramie
$75
$66
Requires a 4.7-liter V8 engine.
AWD transfer case
4WD SLT/Laramie
$395
$348
Limited-slip differential
Laramie, SLT, ST
$295
$260
Requires special axle ratio.
Special axle ratio
Laramie, SLT, ST
$40
$35
Safety
Curtain side airbags
ST, SLT
$495
$436
ST Club Cab requires rear jump seats.
Front and rear antilock brakes
Laramie, SLT, ST
$295
$260
Comfort and Convenience Features
Power sunroof
SLT/Laramie Quad Cab
$850
$748
Laramie Quad Cab w/Popular Equipment Group
$355
$312
NA w/curtain side airbags. Deletes curtain side airbags from Laramie Popular Equipment Group.
AM/FM radio w/in-dash 6-disc CD/MP3 changer
SLT
$300
$264
UConnect
Laramie, SLT, ST
$
$
Wireless cell phone link.
Rear defogger
ST
$160
$141
SLT, Laramie
$20
$18
Deletes SLT/Laramie sliding rear window. NA w/ST Popular Equipment Group.
Cloth front split bench seat
ST Club Cab
$990
$871
SLT
$275
$242
ST Club Cab w/Popular Equipment Group, ST Quad Cab
$690
$607
ST Club Cab includes upgraded upholstery, rear jump seats.
Leather front split bench seat
SLT
$760
$669
Laramie
$275
$242
SLT w/Popular Equipment Group
$710
$625
Includes leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Leather front bucket seats
SLT
$735
$647
SLT w/Popular Equipment Group
$685
$603
Includes heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Cloth front bucket seats
ST Club Cab
$1,040
$915
ST Club Cab w/Popular Equipment Group
$665
$585
Includes upgraded upholstery, rear jump seats.
Heated front seats
SLT, Laramie
$250
$220
NA w/front split bench.
Center console
ST Quad Cab
$75
$66
NA w/cloth front split bench.
Front floormats
ST Club Cab
$20
$18
Front and rear floormats
ST Quad Cab
$30
$26
Appearance and Miscellaneous
Chrome side steps
Laramie, SLT, ST
$525
$462
Bedliner
Laramie, SLT, ST
$245
$165
Engine-block heater
Laramie, SLT, ST
$35
$31
Black bodyside moldings
SLT
$75
$66
SLT w/R/T Group (credit)
$-25
$-22
Special paint
Laramie, SLT, ST
$150
$132
Premium paint
Laramie, SLT, ST
$225
$198
Special Purpose, Wheels and Tires
Skid plates
4WD
$170
$150
Black alloy wheels
SLT/Laramie w/Sport Appearance Group
$95
$84
SLT w/R/T Group (credit)
$-605
$-532
SLT
$440
$387
Includes 265/60R18 on/off-road tires.
Chrome alloy wheels
SLT
$895
$788
SLT w/Sound and Wheel Group
$555
$488
Requires 265/60R18 on/off-road white-letter tires.
265/70R16 all-terrain white-letter tires
SLT
$350
$308
265/60R18 on/off-road white-letter tires
SLT, Laramie
$100
$88
SLT requires Sport Appearance Group or chrome alloy wheels. Laramie requires Sport Appearance Group or Popular Equipment Group.
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2007 Dodge Dakota Specs & Safety
Vehicle Dimensions
Specification Dodge Dakota extended cab Dodge Dakota crew cab
Wheelbase, in. 131.3 131.3
Overall Length, in. 218.8 218.8
Overall Width, in. 71.7 71.7
Overall Height, in. 68.6 68.7
Curb Weight, lbs. 4261 4376
Cargo Volume, cu. ft. -- --
Standard Payload, lbs. 1750 1640
Fuel Capacity, gals. 22.0 22.0
Seating Capacity 5 6
Front Head Room, in. 39.6 39.9
Max. Front Leg Room, in. 41.9 41.9
Rear Head Room, in. 36.5 38.4
Max. Rear Leg Room, in. 32.1 36.4
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.
Engines
  sohc V6 sohc V8 sohc V8
Size, liters/cu. in. 3.7 /226 4.7 /287 4.7 /287
Horsepower @ rpm. 210 @ 5200 230 @ 4600 260 @ 5200
Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm. 235 @ 4000 290 @ 3600 310 @ 3600
Availability Standard Optional Optional
EPA City / highway mpg
     
6-speed manual