Home » Car Reviews » Dodge » Dakota » 2006 Dodge Dakota Compact Pickup Truck
2006 Dodge Dakota Compact Pickup Truck
…Continued
Not a Winner
Ride/Handling
Few buy a Dakota just for looks - especially with gas prices well over $3 per gallon -- or the 15/20 mpg rating.
But for towing, the Dakota has some serious power. Depending on the package, towing capacity is between 3,150 to 7,150 pounds. That's perfect for a summer vacation requiring a couple of personal watercraft or a dirt-bike trailer.
Other features on the Dakota's side are include a smooth ride - smoother than many others in its class - firm steering, relatively quiet cabin, and available antilock braking system (ABS) for rear-wheel-drive models.
For overall driving experience, however, the Dakota falls short, with cheap interior materials and hard plastic surfaces that scream 'generic brand.'
Safety
The sheer size of this vehicle affords a lot of safety in itself. But there's little else as far as standard safety features go. Dual front airbags are to be expected, while rear antilock brakes are a much-needed feature in the two-wheel-drive models. We'd like to see the optional safety package - which includes front antilock brakes in addition to the standard pair in the rear - become standard. $500 is really a lot to ask for something that's included in many other similarly priced cars and trucks.
Add side curtain airbags on all three versions for another $500 more.
Interior
For long trips or bigger occupants, the Dakota is ideal, offering a spacious interior with plenty of leg and head room in the front. However, the so-so room in the rear can realistically seat just two (small) adults. So be sure to take that into account before taking five adults across the country in a Dakota.
Interior storage, on the other hand, is ample, with a big center console and door storage pockets. Cup holders are smartly arranged, as are the controls (despite their slightly cheap feel - which seems to reverberate throughout the cabin.) And the rear seats fold down for extra cargo space in the Quad Cab - a big plus for people with stuff to move.
Seating is cloth for the ST and SLT, improving to leather seats - complete with 6-way adjustable driver's seat - in the Laramie edition. The ST Club Cabs have a front split bench seat, while ST Quad Cabs feature front bucket seats in front and three-passenger split folding seats in the rear. The SLT moves up to dual rear jump seats in the Club Cab; the Quad Cab remains unchanged in the rear seat from ST to SLT.
Don't expect a bumpin' sound system in the ST and SLT; that comes only in the Laramie edition, which features an Alpine AM/FM radio with in-dash 6-CD player and MP3 playing capabilities. The Laramie also brings satellite radio with one year of service prepaid, as well as a leather-wrapped steering wheel featuring radio controls.
The ST offers as standard map lights, visor mirrors and power windows, mirrors and door locks, while the SLT bumps it up with a tilt steering wheel, cruise control and remote keyless entry. The Laramie adds a universal garage door opener, automatic day/night rearview mirror and automatic headlights.
Exterior
The comfy, if unspectacular, interior doesn't match the exterior of the '06 Dakota which actually has a nice overall shape with few things to get offended about. The grille is typical Dodge, beefy and oblong; the optional sport package adds a lot to the looks with chrome trim on the front bumper. Club Cabs have rear-hinged doors that don't open unless the front doors are open; the Quad Cab gives four regular doors.
All STs (two-wheel-drive) come standard with a tinted back window and painted bumpers, however. Also included are a full-size spare tire, P245/70R on/off-road tires and 16 inch rims.
The SLT adds fog lights, bright bumpers and alloy wheels, while the Laramie offers P255/65R white-letter tires (two-wheel-drive). The four-wheel-drive Laramie brings in P265/70R all-terrain tires with white lettering.
Optional goodies include a sunroof ($850), Inferno Red paint ($225), Bedliner ($245) and chrome alloy wheels (between $600 and $800).
