2005 Dodge Dakota 4WD Club Cab Laramie Road Test

Apparently Size Does Matter

The 2005 Dodge Dakota pickup is a little big in the britches to still be considered a compact truck. Sure, it's the

The 2005 Dodge Dakota pickup is a little big in the britches to still be considered a compact truck. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

smallest pickup Dodge presently builds, but at 5,558 mm (218.8 in) in length and equipped with four doors, four-wheel drive and a powerful V8, it hardly fits into the compact segment. The only thing longer in its class is the new Toyota Tacoma Crew Cab long box, which pulls the tape to an astounding 5,621 mm (221.3 in).

Along with greater size, 2005 brings the Dakota stylish new sheet metal, improved front and rear suspension, a stronger boxed frame, the availability of full-time all-wheel drive and a significant boost in power thanks to a high-output Magnum V8. My top-of-the-line Laramie tester featured the Club Cab body, which is considerably smaller than

I am quite pleased with the Dakota's makeover; like a reality TV-show contestant, it has gone from dowdy to howdy! (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

Dodge's four-door Quad Cab. Interestingly though, the two are identical in length, with a smaller box size the trade-off for the Quad's larger living space. The Club Cab's cargo box is 1,981 mm (6.5 ft) in length, versus the Quad's compact 1,615 mm (5.3 ft)-long cargo box.

This year's design firms-up the Dakota's soft exterior lines with lines more angular and in line with Dodge's current 'Ram' styling characteristics. The remake also pays homage to the Durango SUV's recent restyling, which makes sense given that the Dakota is based on its well-refined platform. I am quite pleased with the Dakota's makeover; like a reality TV-show contestant, it has gone from dowdy to howdy!