2005 Dodge Dakota Club Cab 4X4 Laramie Road Test

But the all-new 2005 Dodge Dakota is not your average midsize truck either. Offering not one, but two V8 engine choices, two

The all-new 2005 Dodge Dakota is not your average midsize truck. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

cab styles, five trim levels and a list of great standard features, the completely redesigned Dakota offers a wide variety of configurations for the truck buyer. My tester was the club cab, with small rear-hinged secondary doors on each side. While both the club cab and quad cab feature four doors, the former model's rear access doors can only be opened when the front doors are open, the same setup as on my Toyota Tacoma tester not too long ago.

My test Dakota came with the base V8 engine, the 4.7-litre, 16-valve, SOHC, Magnum with five-speed automatic transmission that produces 230-horsepower and 290 lb-ft of torque. An optional 4.7-litre, High Output V8 producing 260 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque is available for those who want the extra grunt, or on the other hand, a non-Laramie version of the truck can be purchased with a base 3.7-litre

My test Dakota came with the 4.7-litre, 16-valve, SOHC, Magnum V8. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

V6 with 210-horsepower and 235 lb-ft of torque.

I felt my tester's 230 horses and 290 lb-ft of torque were all that was needed and more when it came to city driving. Being an inexperienced off-roader, I didn't venture off the paved streets, nor did I tow the boat that I don't have, so it's hard for me to say how amazing this truck is at such duties without experiencing all of its capabilities first hand. But more and more people are purchasing trucks, not just as practical boat-towers, stuff-haulers or off-roaders, but for driving around the city. While I really like a good-looking, boat-hauling, off-roading truck, I am not in a field where its practicality would be put to the test on a regular basis. But as a city truck, it's pretty good.