What you will receive with the Dakota, regardless of trim level, is an interior that's been designed and executed with a workforce
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| What you will receive with the Dakota, regardless of trim level, is an interior that's been designed and executed with a workforce ethic. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
Beneath its chrome-laden grille and vast hood is the only available V8 in its class. While the HEMI V8 isn't part of any option package, unfortunately, the two available 4.7-litre Magnum V8s with their 230- and 260-horsepower ratings certainly do the trick. But just because a V8 is available doesn't make the Dakota the king of power; the gold and silver medals go to the Japanese, namely the Nissan Frontier's 265-horsepower V6 and the Toyota Tacoma's 260-horsepower V6.
Where the Dakota really makes up ground is in torque, where the V8's cubes ooze out the twisting force needed to tow heavy loads. Mated to the engine is a choice of either a six-speed manual gearbox (not available with Laramie or H/O V8), or as was tested, a
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| Beneath its chrome-laden grille and vast hood is the only available V8 in its class. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
The torque figures for the V8s are 290 and 310 lb-ft respectively, enough to allow the Dakota Club Cab 4x2 to lead its class by towing as much as 3,243 kg (7,150 lbs) and hauling a max payload of 789 kg (1,740 lbs) with special 3.92 rear axle and H/O engine. The Quad Cab 4x4 is capable of towing up to 3,107 kg (6,850 lbs) and hauling 662 kg (1,460 lbs) - slightly less, but more than high enough to cart around sacks of concrete, loads of wood, or even a three-piece girl-rocker band plus equipment. A 210-horsepower 2.7-litre Magnum V6 with 230 lb-ft of torque is also available, but it pales in comparison to the great eights.