#3

in Compact Pickup Trucks

Based on analysis of 56 Dakota reviews and test drives.

MSRP: $22,560 - $31,630
Invoice: $20,804 - $29,037
MPG: 15 City / 20 Hwy
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U.S.News Scores

Overall:7.8
Performance:7.7
Exterior:7.9
Interior:7.4
Safety:6.9
Reliability:6.0
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Prices

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Exterior - What the Auto Press Says

The 2009 Dodge Dakota's styling isn't as popular with reviewers as some competitors'. While the Extended Cab models of the Dodge Dakota feature two small rear-hinged doors, Crew Cabs are outfitted with four independent, standard-size doors.

  • "There's never a good time for ugly. While the previous Dakota wore a face so contrived and misaligned it passed muster in a Grand Theft Auto III landscape, the re-skinned 2008 model looks right at home in...Grand Theft Auto IV. The freshened face has the right amount of parallel lines and refined treatments, but its face is generic, inoffensive and forgettable." -- The Truth About Cars
  • "No longer will the observant confuse a Dakota with a Ram. Forward of the front-door hinge, the 2009 Dakota is completely different than either its predecessor or its bigger sibling. " -- Kelley Blue Book
  • "Dodge gave the Dakota a front-end makeover for 2008. The edges are crisp and the styling elements are integrated well." -- Cars.com
Review Last Updated: 9/3/09