2005 Dodge Dakota Club Cab 4X4 Laramie Road Test

Shifting from luxury to practicality, my test Dakota had the optional full-time electronic shift on-the-fly full-time

My test Dakota had the optional full-time electronic shift on-the-fly full-time transfer case making it easy to convert between the 4-high and 4-low gear sets. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

(part-time is standard) transfer case making it easy to convert between the 4-high and 4-low gear sets ($495). The available full-time all-wheel drive mode is the only system in its class that allows for four-wheel traction on all surfaces all the time without it having to be turned on and off.

The Dakota is equipped with front disc and rear drum brakes with antilock on the rear wheels only, but for an extra $520 you can have the recommended four-wheel ABS. Enhancing its on- and off-road performance is a set of P265/65R17 BSW all-terrain tires mounted

Fuel consumption is something I could whine about, but won't. It's a truck. What do you expect? (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

on a shiny set of 17-inch chrome cast aluminum wheels.

The Dakota's pickup bed and towing capacity also shine. Its bed has a length of 2.0 metres (6 feet 6 inches), and it can tow up to 3,243 kilograms (7,150 pounds) of cargo in Club Cab ST 4x2 configuration, giving it the title of Best-in-Class towing capabilities.

So it's the best in some ways, but not the best in others. Fuel consumption is something I could whine about, but won't. It's a truck. What do you expect? But I do raise the issue of parallel parking. It's not easy finding a spot that will accommodate the Dakota's length. While it's not impossible, it's difficult.