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2008 Dodge Dakota Quality Review

July 24, 2008

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Only two adults will fit comfortably [in rear seats]
ConsumerGuide

Comfortable, well-bolstered bucket seats
Autoblog

Cheap, hard plastics
Car and Driver

Dakotas are about average on overall quality
Cars.com

The 2008 Dodge Dakota has a more spacious interior than many compact trucks, but materials and poor fit and finish aren’t as good as those on some competitors.

"Crew cabs offer three-abreast rear seating, but only two adults will fit comfortably," says ConsumerGuide about the 2008 Dodge Dakota. "Headroom and legroom is adequate for adults under 6 ft, but taller riders will want more legroom," they add, noting that forward-facing jump seats are really targeted toward "those under 5-ft-3 because legroom is scarce." They comment, however, that entering these cramped quarters is made easier by the doors that swing open to a 170-degree angle. “All Dakotas offer comfortable seating and simple controls,” Edmunds states, while Autoblog notes the Dakota’s "comfortable, well-bolstered bucket seats."

Storage inside the 2008 Dodge Dakota and in its bed is ample. “The Quad Cab is the way to go if your truck will serve as a family vehicle, but unfortunately, it has a short 5-foot, 4-inch bed and Dodge offers neither a longer bed length nor a factory bed extender,” Edmunds writes. “Club Cabs have 6-foot, 6-inch beds.” Cars.com calls the Dodge Dakota 2008 model's storage space "average," but ConsumerGuide says the Dodge Dakota has "ample center-console and door-pocket storage." Automobile appreciates the "expanded passenger compartment" and "storage cubbies," while Car and Driver points out the Dakota has "an additional (open) storage bin above the glove box."

The Dakota’s interior wins no awards for fit and finish. “Despite the interior update for 2008, plastics remain low in quality,” Edmunds reports. Autoblog mentions that the dash, center console, and doors are made of "cheap plastic." Car and Driver agrees, saying the Dodge Dakota contains "cheap, hard plastics" and that it is hard to distinguish from old and new models in this regard. ConsumerGuide adds "some controls lack a quality feel" and the "interior materials look and feel budget grade."

However, ConsumerGuide also notes, "road noise is impressively hushed." And while "Some windrush is apparent at highway speeds," Car and Driver agrees that "road and tire noises are kept far from one's ears."

Conclusion

The 2008 Dodge Dakota has more storage than most compact trucks and comfortable seating, but its materials lack a high-quality feel.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:Only two adults will fit comfortably [in rear seats]ConsumerGuideComfortable, well-bolstered bucket seatsAutoblogCheap, hard plasticsCar and DriverDakotas are about average on overall qualityCars.com The 2008 Dodge Dakota has a more spacious interior than many compact trucks, but materials and poor fit and finish aren’t as good as those on some competitors. "Crew cabs offer three-abreast rear seating, but only two adults will fit comfortably," says ConsumerGuide about the 2008 Dodge Dakota. "Headroom and legroom is adequate for adults under 6 ft, but taller riders will want more legroom," they add, noting that forward-facing jump seats are really targeted toward "those under 5-ft-3 because legroom is scarce." They comment, however, that entering these cramped quarters is made easier by the doors that swing open to a 170-degree angle. “All Dakotas offer comfortable seating and simple controls,” Edmunds states, while Autoblog notes the Dakota’s "comfortable, well-bolstered bucket seats." Storage inside the 2008 Dodge Dakota and in its bed is ample. “The Quad Cab is the way to go if your truck will serve as a family vehicle, but unfortunately, it has a short 5-foot, 4-inch bed and Dodge offers neither a longer bed length nor a factory bed extender,” Edmunds writes. “Club Cabs have 6-foot, 6-inch beds.” Cars.com calls the Dodge Dakota 2008 model's storage space "average," but ConsumerGuide says the Dodge Dakota has "ample center-console and door-pocket storage." Automobile appreciates the "expanded passenger compartment" and "storage cubbies," while Car and Driver points out the Dakota has "an additional (open) storage bin above the glove box." The Dakota’s interior wins no awards for fit and finish. “Despite the interior update for 2008, plastics remain low in quality,” Edmunds reports. Autoblog mentions that the dash, center console, and doors are made of "cheap plastic." Car and Driver agrees, saying the Dodge Dakota contains "cheap, hard plastics" and that it is hard to distinguish from old and new models in this regard. ConsumerGuide adds "some controls lack a quality feel" and the "interior materials look and feel budget grade." However, ConsumerGuide also notes, "road noise is impressively hushed." And while "Some windrush is apparent at highway speeds," Car and Driver agrees that "road and tire noises are kept far from one's ears." ConclusionThe 2008 Dodge Dakota has more storage than most compact trucks and comfortable seating, but its materials lack a high-quality feel.  2008 DODGE DAKOTA STYLING | [7 out of 10] Car and Driver: "The front end is where the dramatic transformation has taken place" ConsumerGuide: "Deserves a look for its refinement" Automobile: "The Dakota's cosmetic changes are mostly limited to the front end" The 2008 Dodge Dakota ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The mid-size pickup market isn't hotly contested, and excluding the HUMMER H3T, the players are all kind of stale. The V-8 in the 2008 Dodge Dakota gives it a distinct advantage in power over the five-cylinder Chevy and GMC mid-size twins, as well as the six-cylinder Tacoma, Frontier, and Ridgeline. However, the imports offer quality and dynamic performance advantages over the Dodge. New for 2009, only the HUMMER H3T Alpha model offers a V-8, and at nearly $40,000, it's much pricier than the Dodge.

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See the Dodge Dakota in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997

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