Editors' Most Wanted Vehicles for 1999

Compact Pickup $10,000-$25,000

Winner: Dodge Dakota

The compact pickup segment is loaded with competent trucks. The Ford Ranger / Mazda B-Series twins are available with four-door extended cabs, the Toyota Tacoma is as reliable as a Swiss watch, and even the GM S-Series pickups offer substantial power for the money. But the pickup we most want in our garage is the Dodge Dakota. The Dakota provides a comfortable ride, a roomy cab, heavy-duty towing and hauling capacity, and capable performance both on and off the road. While it still doesn't offer more than two doors, its body is tight and rattle-free, and a quad-cab is coming soon. Plus, the R/T image truck appeals to our enthusiast roots. The R/T is a limited production sport truck, available only with rear driven wheels and a torque beast 5.9-liter V8 engine. A lowered suspension, fat wheels and tires, and gobs of power make the Dakota R/T as much fun to drive as many sport coupes.