1995 Dodge Dakota Review, Prices, Photos

1995 Dodge Dakota Review, Prices, Photos

1995 Dodge Dakota Review, Prices, Photos

1995 Dodge Dakota (continued)

Walkaround

Changes to the Dakota for 1995 are confined to a few minor cosmetic revisions, revised padding for the 60/40 split bench seat and the addition of a natural gas fuel option. Otherwise, this is a familiar face, looking very much as it has since 1991.

The Dakota is offered in four trim levels: Base, which is self-explanatory; Work, packaged more for payloads than for pleasure; Sport, which is the model we tested; and the more luxurious SLT. Payloads depend on engine choice and range from 1250 lb. to a hefty 2600 lb.

Three engines are available. The smallest is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder rated at 99 hp at 4500 rpm, and 132 pound-feet of torque at 2800 rpm. Next is a smooth 3.9-liter V6 rated at 175 hp at 4800 rpm, and 225 lb.-ft. at 3200 rpm.

However, nothing exceeds like excess, and the engine we tried was the 5.2-liter Magnum V8 the only V8 available in a compact pickup rated at 220 hp at 4400 rpm, and 295 lb.-ft. of torque at 3200 rpm. That’s the most muscle you can pack into a pickup in this size class. The V6 engines offered in Ford and General Motors compact pickups offer respectable power but the Dodge V8 has a definite edge over both.

The V8-powered Dakota is not exactly a fuel miser, but life could be worse. The Environmental Protection Agency has estimated the Dakota will get 15 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway. Some of the Dakota’s V6-powered competitors have better mpg ratings, but they can’t match the V8’s hauling power.

Our Dakota Sport had a 5-speed manual transmission and 2-wheel drive. Manual transmissions make the most of an engine’s power, but it’s not as critical with the V8 because power is abundant.

This is one engine that still delivers plenty of grunt when it’s allied with an automatic, and the Dakota’s optional 4-speed automatic transmission makes all-around driving – particularly stop-and-go a little easier.

On the other hand, the V8 delivers enough low-end thrust to make shifting almost redundant. With no load on board, the Dakota gets moving as easily in second gear as it does in first; the V8 will do that easily.

The manual transmission’s shift linkage was relatively smooth, but the shifts themselves were long. This is a truck, after all. The clutch take-up was friendly enough that even manual-transmission novices should have no trouble.

Interior Features

The Dakota is available in either Standard Cab or Club Cab, in 2- or 4-wheel drive. Either short (6.5 ft.) or long (8 ft.) cargo beds are available. The Dakota Sport model we drove was the Standard Cab with the short bed.

This combination provides enough room for driver and passengers, but there isn’t much leftover space with the seat extended to the end of its travel. Only the tiniest of drivers will have any storage room behind the seat of a Standard Cab.

Beyond that, the Dakota’s interior is rather standard fare. The basic driving controls are easy enough to find, but this somewhat dated design isn’t setting any new ergonomic standards. Instruments and materials are average. Chrysler could take a few lessons from Toyota on this score.

However, here, as elsewhere, Chrysler continues to take a leadership role in passive safety. This is one of the very few pickups that includes a driver’s airbag.

The seats are softish and a bench means three people could squeeze in, assuming the middle person is willing to share legroom with the gear-shift lever on a manual.

1995 Dodge Dakota Review, Prices, Photos