2002 Dodge Dakota - A Key Player in the Canadian Light-Truck Market
Like its mid-size Durango SUV sibling, the Dakota pick-up is in a niche of its own. It is slightly smaller than the Dodge Ram 1500 and full-size competitors from GM, Ford and Toyota while larger than the majority of lightweight contenders. Its unique size, optional V8 power and four-door convenience are good reasons why it's one of Canada's most popular pick-up trucks.
The Dakota's imposing highway truck grille and swooping front fenders look menacing in the rearview mirror. A regular cab comes standard but for those who want a solid, value-priced work truck with a little more room inside, the new SXT Club-Cab offers graphite bumpers, fascia, grille and fender flares, plus sixteen-inch alloys, A/C and CD player. A roomy Quad-Cab combines SUV passenger room and pick-up truck versatility. Whether choosing regular, Club or Quad Cab models, all trim levels are available. These include the base Sport, Sport Plus, SLT and SLT Plus, with either 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrain configurations.
The Dakota is much like the Durango SUV inside with a car-like instrument cluster, comfortable bucket seats and fairly good quality materials throughout. The available options are too long to list, but some of the highlights are 6-way power adjustable, heated leather seats, dual zone temperature settings, tilt steering, cruise control, heated, fold-away power mirrors, power windows with remote power locks, and an 8-speaker Infinity sound system that can be adjusted via steering wheel controls.