Man, this was close. Only seven-tenths of a point separated the first and second place contestants. But a win is a win. The victorious Dakota was the big bruiser in the group and the only truck available with V8 power. It was also considered the most handsome, with most editors pointing out the aggressive front end as their favorite design element. But being the best-looking, roomiest and most powerful rig in the group isn't enough to win this test — the Dodge's well-rounded personality was also key in securing its victory.

With the Dakota's weight of nearly 4,500 pounds, a V8 is a good option to have. The standard mill is a 3.9-liter V6 with 175 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque, which we felt would be overburdened by a four-wheel-drive crew cab pickup. Our test vehicle sported the Jeep Grand Cherokee's 4.7-liter V8, which became available last year in this model. Rated at 230 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, the husky motor coped well with the Dakota's heft, making the truck feel lighter than it was. Nearly all editors praised the V8's broad and smooth powerband. And the hearty growl that accompanied the acceleration was an extra bonus to an enthusiast's ears.

The engine's sound intensified the impression of performance; although the Dodge was the quickest amongst its competitors with a 0-to-60-mph time of 8.8 seconds and a quarter-mile run of 16.8 ticks, it was only 0.4 and 0.2 seconds quicker in each test, respectively, than the Ford Explorer Sport Trac, which just didn't feel this close to the Dakota according to our highly calibrated butts. But the beauty of the torquey V8 became evident when we conducted the same test with 800 pounds of sandbags in the beds. Loaded up, the Dodge beat the Ford in the 0-to-60 sprint by a wider margin, nearly a full second. And the numbers don't convey how unstrained the Dakota felt while hauling our spoils from Home Depot to the track and then back after testing concluded. Coupled to the V8 is a four-speed automatic, which in the words of one editor was "never caught off guard." Downshifts were quick and precise, and full-throttle upshifts were also handled efficiently and without fuss.

Braking performance drew mostly positive reviews. Most staffers felt the binders exhibited good pedal feel and progressive action, while one editor thought the pedal was a bit mushy. Though its unladen 133-foot stopping distance from 60 mph was not as short as the Toyota's and Nissan's 125-foot efforts, it's interesting to note that the Dakota wasn't affected nearly as much when the same test was performed with the 'bags in the beds. The Dodge's stopping distance increased by only 4 feet, as opposed to the Japanese trucks' that required 15 additional feet. And all the tested trucks had antilock brakes, so the variable of the test driver having to modulate the pedal carefully to avoid locking 'em up was removed.

The Dakota also boasted a well-sorted suspension. On-road, the supple tuning swallowed up bumps, yet didn't have the truck wallowing through the turns. And off-road, the big (265/70R16) tires and compliant suspension easily handled everything we threw at them, including severely rutted and rock-strewn trails. Only the Dakota's broad girth (compared to that of the others) made for some anxious moments when negotiating the narrower trails during our off-road testing. Otherwise, no sweat.

A comfortable ride, both on- and off-road, a roomy cabin and cushy seats made the Dakota the top pick when all the journalists carpooled for lunch. The back seat rivaled the Explorer Sport Trac for most accommodating honors. An ample seat bottom provided proper thigh support (some of the other trucks had us sitting with our legs tilted up with space between them and the seat), and plenty of room in every direction kept hungry rear-seat passengers from getting on each other's nerves.

Other cabin pluses include adjustable cupholders, simple climate controls, rear doors that swung open nearly 90 degrees and steering wheel-mounted stereo controls.

If one word could best describe the Dakota, comfortable would be it. Whether carrying five adults, cruising the interstate, transporting cargo or tackling off-road terrain, the Dakota was at ease no matter where it was or what it was asked to do.


Second Opinions:

Road Test Coordinator Neil Chirico says:
Even with the largest track, this vehicle performed extremely well off-road. It tackled huge rocks like they were pebbles.

Easily the most comfortable cabin of the group with luxurious leather seating and well-designed interior ergonomics.

On the downside, I don't think I'd like to deal with its poor fuel economy in today's market. And Dodge quality could be an issue, though the company's newer products do seem to be better. We've had few complaints so far with our long-term Dodge Grand Caravan.

The Dakota is probably the best of the group, if you need a real work truck.

Road Test Editor Ed Hellwig says:
With its burly tires, buff stance and purring V8 engine, the Dakota makes an impression before you even get inside. This is easily one of the best-looking trucks on the road. If I bought one, and I would in a second, I wouldn't change a thing.

A few hundred miles behind the wheel did little to change my opinion. The quiet V8 under the hood has great punch at any speed, with a slight absence of serious low-end grunt the only fault. The transmission shifts are so tight and smooth that I found myself toying with the throttle just to feel it snap from gear to gear.

The suspension is another unbeatable setup, soft enough for everyday driving, but plenty strong for rough trails and light towing. Combined with a noticeably stiff frame structure and beefy all-terrain tires, our test truck soaked up just about any obstacle with minimal intrusion to the cabin.

Inside, the Dakota continued to impress with comfortable seats, high-quality materials and a logical control layout. It's here that the midsize design makes the most difference, with plenty of room up front and usable seats in back. There's plenty of storage pockets up front, and the rear seats fold up for extra cargo space with a single lift of the seat cushion.

Like I said before, if I had to pick one truck to spend my own money on, the Dakota would most likely get the nod. Its combination of looks, power, passenger room and superior driving dynamics make it a truck that you look forward to driving, rather than just one that gets the job done.

Senior Editor Brent Romans says:
Of all of the vehicles in this test, only the Dodge Quad Cab was able to connect to my inner id. The Toyota, Sport Trac, S-10 and Frontier? Mere conveyances designed to be as practical and compromised as possible. But the Dakota? The Dakota had personality. I wanted to drive it. I wanted to mash the throttle to hear the rumbling V8. Make these silly cars in front of me on the freeway get out of the way. Full speed ahead. Grr! Fuel mileage? I don't care about stinkin' fuel mileage!

Well, let me qualify that. I don't care about it when I don't have to pay for it, which is the case when we conduct these tests. If I were considering a compact crew cab purchase, fuel consumption would play a bigger factor. Regardless, the Dakota would still be very high on my list.

This was the biggest truck in the test, but it didn't feel that way. The suspension amazed me in the way it could provide a nice ride quality on city streets, hustle the truck through corners and yet be flexible enough to hop over rocks and dirt. I also liked the Dakota's tough and aggressive exterior styling, big wheels and tires and the leather-trimmed interior.

I suppose it comes down to price. One can order a base Dakota Quad Cab on the cheap, but it doesn't come with much. By the time you add equipment (and I consider most of the equipment on our test truck to be worthy), the price jumps uncomfortably. If you buy one, watch those option boxes.

Stereo Evaluation - Dodge Dakota SLT Plus Quad Cab