I've found that what's true in the world of cars or sport utility vehicles does not  | | Mid-life update brings a striking new look for Dodge's mid-size pickup. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press) |
necessarily apply in the world of trucks. Unlike cars and SUVs, which have been downsizing, trucks don't tend to shrink, they only grow, and seemingly in spurts. Another anomaly is the divisions of the pickup segment. While cars can be had in subcompact, compact, mid-size, full-size and near-limousine size, all living in harmony amongst each other, there really isn't the same broad spectrum in the truck market, at least not here in North America. These days, trucks come in big and freakin' gargantuan (think of Ram Heavy Duty 3500 MegaCab Dually). With the Ranger on the chopping block, there are only two trucks on the market with inline-fours, the Chevrolet Colorado (and badge-engineered GMC Canyon twin) and the Toyota Tacoma, but the latter only in its most basic trim. In the world of pickups, there aren't any little dogs.
I don't suppose too many of the Dakota's buyers sit around and philosophize about size, because they're probably too busy working and playing. After all, why ponder when the Dakota is pretty much the healthiest and most capable of the midsize pickups. It's the biggest, it can tow the most and it also has the only V8 in the segment, all tidbits that can add up to make this Dodge an attractive buy. And now that it's been facelifted for 2008, it's arguably a better buy than before.
 | | The old Dakota looked like a Durango, but the new one has a much different look, with each model gaining an individual style. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press) |
What the Dakota received is, in many ways, a textbook case of a facelift. The entire front end is completely new, and is very easy to tell apart from the old model, unlike some of the milder refreshes that have occurred in the Dodge lineup recently, like the Viper, Magnum and Chrysler 300. Some folks don't like its new face, but I do. Its less boxy snout took a while to grow on me, mainly because in pictures and online, the “aero” look of the face didn't seem to match the unchanged chiseled fenders that are an integral part of the rest of the bodywork. In the metal the truck looks better, and unlike the old model, which I particularly liked in subdued hues, the new look takes on lighter colors like orange, yellow, bright red and bright blue quite well. Like the Ram and so many other pickup trucks, Dodge has a series of different grilles, bumpers and headlamps to suit the characters of different models, something I'll get into later. Being a “facelift” there really isn't much else to the exterior revisions, but for some new alloy wheels, and on some models a plastic spoiler above the tailgate deck to improve aerodynamics at speed.
Included in the update was a refresh on the interior too, but it doesn't stand out as much as the truck's exterior redesign. The  | | New dash is better laid out and organized. Heated bench seats, MyGig and more options available. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press) |
most notable difference to me was the new floor console, which has been completely reworked to provide plenty of additional bins for storing knick-knacks and clutter, plus the addition of three proper cupholders. Looking over to the right from the driver's side, Dodge has hollowed out the dash in front of the passenger creating an open cubby good for maps, gloves or commonly retrieved items. The armrest also has a little pop out enclosure meant for holding cell phones or MP3 players, much like that in the Dodge Caliber. What didn't strike me at first, at least until comparing it to last year's model, was that the entire dash and center console are different! The dash top has the same mini overhang as the Magnum and Charger, with new vents. I just wish the plastics were a bit better; they're as cheap as cheap can be. This, I understand, is a very affordable truck, but of course with the new Ram, Dodge claims to be setting the standard using softer-touch plastics, or at least plastics with nicer, matte grains, so why not include them here too?
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