2009 Dodge Dakota

Experts say you've got to stick with the V-6 if you want the Dodge Dakota pickup's best fuel economy -- 18 mpg in mixed driving (16 mpg city and 20 mpg highway) if you also opt for the six-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive. That's better than any nonhybrid full-size pickup, and even one mpg better than the compact Toyota Tacoma (*Est. $15,170 to $27,075) with its optional V-6, although testers never complain of a lack of power from the V-6 Tacoma.

The Dodge Dakota does offer a stronger engine: a 302-horsepower, 4.7-liter V-8. That solves the power problem, but it creates more tradeoffs in the process, reviewers note. It drives the midsize Dodge truck's fuel economy way down and the Dakota's price up to the point where you could buy a full-size pickup.

The Dakota's crash-test scores are a mixed bag. It earns perfect five-star ratings in government tests, which simulate a direct frontal crash and a car hitting the pickup in the side. But the Dakota doesn't do as well in crash tests at the nonprofit, insurance-industry-funded Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, ranging from "good" to "marginal" in tests that simulate an offset frontal crash (hitting only one side of the Dakota's front end) and a side crash with another pickup. Although the Dodge Dakota doesn't offer electronic stability control, its rollover potential is about the same as most other pickups', according to government tests.

Dakota trim, cab and seating options

Don't look for a regular cab on the Dodge Dakota -- it's not offered.  An extended cab includes a 6.6-foot cargo bed and can seat up to five, with an optional front bench (buckets are standard) and two rear flip-up, forward-facing jump seats that reviews say are best suited for short people and short trips. The extended cab has the usual narrow back doors, but they swing open nearly 170 degrees for easy access. The crew-cab Dodge Dakota includes a 5.4-foot bed and seating for five (with the standard front buckets) or six (with a front bench). On upper-level crew-cab models, the 60/40 split rear bench flips up to reveal Crate 'n Go collapsible milk crates beneath.

Testers say the Dodge Dakota crew cab's back seat is adequate for two adults under 6 feet, although three across would be a squeeze. They say the seats themselves are comfortable, but the tacky plastics that make up the bulk of the interior -- even on leather-seat models -- cheapen the cabin, especially when compared with the high-quality interiors offered in the Toyota Tacoma and Honda Ridgeline, not to mention the full-size Dodge Ram 1500 (*Est. $21,270 to $43,240) and Ford F-150 (*Est. $21,565 to $44,355).

The Dakota comes in four trim levels, all with a standard four-speed automatic transmission. The Dakota ST (*Est. $22,560 to $28,210) comes with basics such as air conditioning, a CD player and tilt steering, and it includes a dual-position tailgate to allow for longer items. A six-speed manual transmission is available on this trim, but higher trims offer a multi-speed overdrive automatic transmission instead.

The Dodge Dakota Big Horn (*Est. $23,710 to $29,355) -- called Lonestar in Texas -- adds standard features including power windows, locks and mirrors and keyless entry, plus the option to buy more extras such as satellite radio, stain-repellent seat fabric and the V-8 engine. The Dodge Dakota Laramie (*Est. $27,315 to $31,630) is the most luxurious, with 18-inch aluminum wheels, chrome trim and the option to buy heated leather seats. The Dodge Dakota TRX4 Off-Road (*Est. $29,985 to $31,045) includes features such as four-wheel drive, wider tires and fog lamps. As you might expect, four-wheel drive hurts fuel economy; figure around 15 mpg in mixed driving with the V-8 (14 mpg city and 19 mpg highway) or automatic transmission/V-6 combo (14 mpg city and 18 mpg highway). You can do 1 mpg better if you opt for the manual transmission with the V-6.

Reliability a question mark for the Dodge Dakota

The Dodge Dakota is not a reliable pickup, according to expert sources. It carries a three-year, 36,000-mile basic warranty and a lifetime limited powertrain warranty. The U.S. government now backs all Chrysler and General Motors warranties, as the two corporations struggle to survive the economic downturn.

ConsumerReports.org conducts the best comparison testing of the Dodge Dakota, but thorough single-truck reviews at Edmunds.com and TheTruthAboutCars.com also mention how the Dakota measures up to its rivals. A review at Kelley Blue Book is short but complete. Write-ups at Car and Driver and Motor Trend's Truck Trend are even shorter, but their expert judgments carry a lot of weight. J.D. Power and Associates bases its ratings on extensive owner surveys. We found crash-test ratings for the Dakota at IIHS.org and SaferCar.gov, and fuel-economy estimates at FuelEconomy.gov.