The Ram Dakota is back and HotCars could not be more excited. This great truck is not only returning to the market, but it is seeing some serious upgrades that will make it a top-tier competitor to cars like the Ford F-150 or any Chevrolet truck.
Details about the truck are still extremely limited, Ram is keeping the finer details as hushed up as they can to avoid giving any competitors an undeserved advantage. But, with bits and pieces of information floating around a prudent investigator can puzzle together some very interesting details about the Dakota. Here is why many are stoked for the Dakota’s return in 2022.
8 It Is The First Dakota Released Since 2011
Dakotas were incredibly reliable trucks, but heavy machines like them saw a dip in sales after the 2008 market crash. Originally sold as the Dodge Ram Dakota, Dodge ended production in 2011.
Now that Ram and Dodge have been split into two different nameplates by their parent company, Fiat-Chrysler, the company sees an ample opportunity to reintroduce this popular truck into the market.
7 It Is Rumored To Have Between 240 And 285 HP
Details about the truck’s specs are still hard to come by, but what is known is that the car will likely have a straight-six engine and that means the truck's horsepower is likely to be anywhere between 240 and 285.
This is the average horsepower for most Ram/Dodge trucks presently on the market. It would also be appropriate to assume when one remembers that the Dakota could hit up to 300 horsepower in the right conditions, and this was in 2011 when the truck was discontinued.
6 It Will Accommodate Both Hybrid And Diesel Power
Another reason to get excited is that the truck will also be more eco-friendly and fuel-efficient than previous Ram trucks, especially the 2011 model which was a bit of a gas guzzler and could only get 15 MPG in the city. The new Ram Dakota is a testament to the eco-savvy times car manufacturers are operating under these days as the car should be able to accommodate either Hybrid or diesel power thanks to what the company calls “eVolt” technology.
Few trucks have yet to go fully electric, but this is a good start and something truck lovers should be paying attention to, especially as more manufacturers pledge to become carbon-neutral.
5 It Resembles The Reliable Ram 1500
Fans of the truck who are eager for its arrival have noticed some things about the Dakota that give them a reason to be even more excited. While the original Dakota was noticeably reliable, the predecessor to the new Dakota, the Ram 1500, is one of Ram’s most famously dependable trucks.
The two trucks bear a striking resemblance to one another, with the Dakota as a slightly more compact version with a smaller bed and cab.
4 It Will Be Reasonably Priced
Trucks can be expensive, especially ones that have features like hybrid capability, diesel engines, or the other features that make for a good working vehicle.
Fortunately, the Ram Dakota is on track to be a very accessible and affordable car, meaning the working men and women who will need it to tow and haul can rest easy that it won't break them at the bank. The Ram Dakota will likely cost between $30,000 - $40,000.
3 Its Interior and Infotainment System Were Completely Redesigned
Cars have changed a lot ever since 2011, and the new Ram Dakota will reflect that. Digitized infotainment systems and widescreen central computers are now a key component to any good car, even ones built for off-roading or heavy-duty work and hauling.
While details are still sparse we do know the truck will most likely have a 12-inch central computer screen and all the standard infotainment options. It is also said to have a wider interior with more passenger leg and headroom.
2 It Will Likely Have More High Tech Safety Features
While nothing has been confirmed, among the things that are now far more standard in cars and trucks of all kinds is the addition of digitized and electronic safety features like collision warnings, lane wandering correction, and backup cameras, to list just a few.
What standard safety features the Ram Dakota will have is still unknown, but any consumer is safe to assume that the truck will have safety features that were not accessible to the 2011 models.
1 It Borrows Features From Its Predecessor, The Ram 700
In addition to looking very similar to the reliable 1500, the 2022 Ram Dakota is supposed to also have borrowed a lot from another predecessor, the Ram 700. It would make sense for the Dakota to have similar features to the 700, both trucks are attempts by the company to give truck owners a variety of sizes (the 700 is Ram's first “subcompact” truck).
No matter what the truck has or does not have, it is an undeniable fact that the Ram Dakota is back in action and the market better be ready for it. Ford and Chevy Trucks might get a run for their money for the first time in a long time.