2010 Dodge Dakota Review
2010 Dodge Dakota Review





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Used Dakota for sale
Dodge Dakota model years
Dodge Dakota types
- Crew Cab
- Extended Cab
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Abundant and innovative interior storage, available V8 power, best-in-class towing capacity, comfy seats.
Cons
- Industrial interior, limited body styles, expensive when loaded with options.
What’s new
The 2010 Dodge Dakota gains revised suspension tuning for an improved ride and better handling. Other changes for 2010 include the discontinuation of the six-speed manual transmission and the reduced availability of the TRX4 and Laramie models to just the crew cab body style.
Edmunds says
When it comes to towing, the 2010 Dodge Dakota is still top dog among midsize pickups. Unfortunately, the competition trounces the Dakota when it comes to affordability and refinement.
Vehicle overview
When the Dodge Dakota debuted in 1987, it bridged the gap between compact and full-size pickups. The midsize pickup was born, and since then, other car companies have followed suit. Over time, consumer tastes have become more refined, with shoppers expecting more from pickup trucks than just pure utility. In recent years, however, the Dakota has lagged behind the competition in that regard.
Dodge hopes to remedy some of that with the 2010 Dakota. Previous models suffered from a harsh highway ride that transmitted every road imperfection to the passengers' posteriors. This year, refinement comes in the form of revised shock absorbers and springs to deliver a more compliant ride.
Fortunately for the Dakota, some of its best attributes return unchanged. Topping that list is the Dakota's class-leading towing capacity, which tops out at 7,200 pounds thanks to a brawny V8. Also receiving high marks are the pickup's innovative rear under-seat storage bins and comfortable seating. But there are still some downsides to the Dakota, notably its cut-rate interior. Even by pickup truck standards, the cabin is woefully behind the times and saddled with plenty of cheap plastics and flimsy switchgear.
As a workhorse, though, the 2010 Dodge Dakota still stands tall. Only the Chevy Colorado and its GMC Canyon twin come close, but they still lack the Dakota's towing and hauling capabilities. On the other hand, when it comes to interior refinement, the Dakota is bringing up the rear behind the likes of the Honda Ridgeline, Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma. Unless your truck will be pulling a trailer for the majority of its miles, we think you'd be happier in any of the alternatives.
Performance & mpg
A 3.7-liter V6 is standard on every 2010 Dodge Dakota, producing 210 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque. A four-speed automatic is the only transmission available with this engine. Rear-wheel drive is standard on all Dakotas, with four-wheel drive being optional (standard on the TRX4). Fuel economy registers an EPA-estimated 15 mpg city/20 mpg highway and 17 mpg combined for rear-drive models, while four-wheel-drive mileage drops slightly to 14/15/18 mpg. When properly equipped, maximum towing capacity with the V6 is 4,950 pounds.
Optional on all but the base ST is a 4.7-liter V8 that produces 302 hp and 329 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed automatic is standard. In performance testing, a 4WD Dakota Laramie crew cab with the V8 accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 7.6 seconds. Estimated fuel economy with the V8 and 2WD is 14/19/15 mpg. Opting for 4WD drops those numbers by 1 mpg. When properly equipped, a V8 Dakota can tow 7,200 pounds.
Safety
Rear-wheel antilock brakes are standard, while an optional Safety Group provides four-wheel ABS and full-length side curtain airbags. In government frontal crash tests, both the extended- and crew-cab Dakotas earned a perfect five stars for driver and front passenger protection.
In side-impact tests, the Dakota crew cab without side curtain airbags earned five stars for the protection of both front and rear passengers. The Dakota scored a second-best "Acceptable" rating in frontal-offset crash testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In the IIHS's side-impact test, a crew cab without side airbags received the second-worst rating of "Marginal."
Driving
With the standard V6 under the hood, power delivery is merely adequate and feels rather anemic compared to V6-powered models from Nissan and Toyota. For those with frequent towing or hauling needs, the bigger V8 is the only engine that should be considered. The previous year's suspension delivered a harsh ride and the steering had a numb and lifeless feel, though in off-road conditions, the Dakota soldiered on unabated. The 2010 Dodge Dakota looks to remedy its on-road woes with upgraded springs and shock absorbers, but we have yet to put the new suspension through its paces. With any luck, on-road comfort will improve while the off-road abilities remain.
Interior
In general, pickup trucks aren't expected to have high-quality interiors, but even by this low benchmark, the 2010 Dodge Dakota disappoints. However, we do like the bigger Ram 1500's cabin, and with any luck, some of those features will trickle down to the smaller Dakota. Until then, buyers will have to contend with a cheap, industrial cabin feel, with surfaces and switchgear made out of low-budget plastics.
On the upside, the Dakota's interior design is mostly straightforward. Switchgear is where you'd expect it to be, while the climate controls and the standard stereo are easy to use. The Laramie's optional audio and navigation touchscreen is a different story, as its smallish screen and frustrating menus make simple tasks difficult.
The standard bench seats are very comfortable, while the available power seats offer a wealth of adjustability. The crew cab's comfy backseat bottom features a 60/40 split, and when raised provides a flat loading surface. In all but the ST, that surface features a pair of milk-cratelike boxes that pop up to hold various loose items -- a thoughtful and useful touch.
2010 Dodge Dakota models
The 2010 Dodge Dakota is a midsize pickup truck that is available in either extended or crew cab body styles, each of which has only one bed size. Four trim levels are offered, from the base ST to the Big Horn (known as Lone Star in Texas), TRX4 and Laramie trim levels. The TRX4 and Laramie models are only available as crew cabs.
Standard features for the ST include 16-inch steel wheels, a dual-position tailgate, foglights, air-conditioning, front bucket seats, a front center console, two rear folding seats (extended cab only), a rear under-seat storage system (crew cab only), cloth upholstery, a tilt steering wheel and a CD player stereo. The Big Horn adds 17-inch alloy wheels, body-colored bumpers and front fascia, full power accessories and cruise control. Big Horn options include full-swing rear doors, a sliding rear window, utility bed rails, a power driver seat, remote engine start, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, and an upgraded six-speaker Alpine stereo with a six-CD changer and satellite radio.
These items are standard on the TRX4, along with 16-inch alloy wheels, off-road tires, skid plates, an anti-slip differential, a trip computer and special front seats with bigger side bolsters. The Laramie also adds the Big Horn's optional items plus 18-inch alloy wheels, chrome exterior accents, automatic headlights, a bedliner (optional on the Big Horn and TRX4), heated front seats and leather upholstery. Larger outside heated mirrors and rear window defrosters are available on all Dakotas except for the ST.
The Big Horn and Laramie extended cabs can be equipped with a front bench seat in place of the standard buckets. Optional on the Laramie and TRX4 are Bluetooth and a navigation system that includes digital music storage and a touchscreen stereo interface.

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Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2010 Dodge Dakota.
5 star(62%)
4 star(20%)
3 star(15%)
2 star(0%)
1 star(3%)
34 reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.63 out of 5 stars
Surprised!
Elkdog, 11/19/2010
2010 Dodge Dakota TRX 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (4.7L 8cyl 5A)
It had been (12) years since I had owned a Dodge Dakota but I always liked them. The 2008 I purchased with the TRX package, 4.7 liter V-8, and crew cab is super nice. It rides nice, has great performance, and gets pretty good gas mileage. This truck is much nicer than any I have owned from Chevy, Ford, and even the previous Dodge Ram and (2) Dakota's. This truck blows them out of … the water...what else can be said? I am surprised!
4.25 out of 5 stars
2nd dakota
bluedak, 12/18/2009
2008 Dodge Dakota SLT 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (3.7L 6cyl 4A)
Bought this 08 crew cab to replace my 01 ext. Cab due to growing family. I loved my 01, and this one is starting to grow on me. The new 4.7 has much more power than the prior version. I have 28k on the truck, and no mechanical problems yet. I guess my 2 gripes with the 08 are the interior feels a little cheap (few rattles from arm rest and more plasticky overall than my 01). And the 05 … to current dakotas sit too low to the ground, esp. Compared to Tacoma and frontier. But I like it overall and would buy my 3rd Dakota in the future. Mpg 16-17 in mixed driving, similar to my 01 4.7, except with about 70 more hp.
5 out of 5 stars
Great Truck
builder04, 12/26/2008
2008 Dodge Dakota BigHorn 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (3.7L 6cyl 4A)
This is my 3rd truck in 5 years, and I must say my favorite. I bought the v6 because I drive so much and its better on gas. Love the looks of this truck, and the interior is like a luxury car. Never liked the exterior of the Dakota till the 08 came out. They are giving 08's away, mine was 10k off MSRP. The quad cab is very roomy, drives and handles way better than my 06 Titan. This … is the top of the small truck class. I looked at and test drove a Canyon Z71 and a Nismo Frontier, and I was surprised that I liked The Dakota so much better.
4.75 out of 5 stars
Dakota truck
Dale, 11/21/2008
2008 Dodge Dakota Laramie 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (4.7L 8cyl 5A)
Having done the research for a bigger engine to pull with, I decided on the SLT, V8, 4WD with 4 doors. Like the new design for exterior, and upsized engine. Lots of power, and average MPG is around 17.5 with the auto. transmission. First thing I noticed was trailer lights not working properly. A computer glich. This turned out to be a small recall. The truck came with a trailer harness … when purchased. Now the blower motor quit and the interior lights. A wiring cluster behind the dash for the odometer has my HVAC wiring running through it. Why would they run a 40 amp fan through this? I've been driving Toyotas since 1983. Considering going back to Toyota before my warranty expires.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2010 Dodge Dakota, so we've included reviews for other years of the Dakota since its last redesign.
2010 Dakota Highlights
Crew Cab
ST
- Combined MPG
- 17 MPG
- Cost to Drive
- $241/month
- Seating
- 5 seats
- Drivetrain
- rear wheel drive
- Engine Type
- Gas
- Towing & Hauling
- 7,050 lbs.
- Warranty
- 3 years / 36,000 miles
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5PassengerNot Rated
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Side Impact TestNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintAcceptable
- IIHS Small Overlap Front TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front TestGood
More about the 2010 Dodge Dakota
Used 2010 Dodge Dakota Overview
The Used 2010 Dodge Dakota is offered in the following submodels: Dakota Crew Cab, Dakota Extended Cab. Available styles include ST 4dr Extended Cab SB (3.7L 6cyl 4A), ST 4dr Crew Cab SB (3.7L 6cyl 4A), ST 4dr Extended Cab 4WD SB (3.7L 6cyl 4A), ST 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (3.7L 6cyl 4A), TRX 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (4.7L 8cyl 5A), Laramie 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (3.7L 6cyl 4A), BigHorn 4dr Extended Cab 4WD SB (3.7L 6cyl 4A), BigHorn 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (3.7L 6cyl 4A), BigHorn 4dr Extended Cab SB (3.7L 6cyl 4A), LoneStar 4dr Extended Cab 4WD SB (3.7L 6cyl 4A), LoneStar 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (3.7L 6cyl 4A), LoneStar 4dr Extended Cab SB (3.7L 6cyl 4A), BigHorn 4dr Crew Cab SB (3.7L 6cyl 4A), Laramie 4dr Crew Cab SB (3.7L 6cyl 4A), and LoneStar 4dr Crew Cab SB (3.7L 6cyl 4A). Pre-owned Dodge Dakota models are available with a 3.7 L-liter gas engine, with output up to 210 hp, depending on engine type. The Used 2010 Dodge Dakota comes with rear wheel drive, and four wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 4-speed automatic.
What's a good price on a Used 2010 Dodge Dakota?
Shop with Edmunds for perks and special offers on used cars, trucks, and SUVs near Ashburn, VA. Doing so could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Edmunds also provides consumer-driven dealership sales and service reviews to help you make informed decisions about what cars to buy and where to buy them.
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Should I lease or buy a 2010 Dodge Dakota?
Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.
Check out Dodge lease specials
Check out Dodge Dakota lease specials
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