The medium-sized pickups are still coming, too. Enter the 2024 Dodge Ram Dakota. This truck has been ready for an update for quite a while. This news comes as a nice surprise for Dakota fans. Especially because there were rumors circulating that RAM wanted to scrap the project. This would probably mean introducing a new mid-size pickup into the fleet.
It looks like they went the easy way and are simply going to redesign the Dakota further. This bodes well for interior and exteriors that are ready for a refresh. Some styles are outdated, as is technology. Making it aggressive is priority number one in this market. Let’s take a look at what we can expect with the new Dakota.
Interior Based on the Ram 1500 Truck
We will get a refreshed interior with the 2024 Dodge Ram Dakota. This means better upholstery and improved seating with several fun features. such as heating, ventilation, perhaps even massaging on higher trims. Infotainment is a touchscreen of 13 inches in size. It has all the standard connectivity.
The Dashboard will be digital as well. We are glad RAM is looking towards the future. There will be plenty of safety features on the new Dakota. It will be interesting to see if those include hands-free driving. Both Ford and GM have their own software. RAM may invest in its own and provide more pre-mapped roads than competitors.
Dodge Ram Dakota Looks Quite Modern
The outside is poised to remain the same. We still get a sturdy-looking 2024 Dodge Ram Dakota. The truck is aggressive and mean. It is ready for off-road as is. It has adaptable air suspension and under armor skids to protect the body.
Bumpers are prominent but with a good approach angle. Nothing will get stuck under the pickup. The cargo bed is a standard 5.5 feet long and it has a multifunctional tailgate. Some trims even have camo paint.
Engine Rumors and Specs
This does come as a bit of a shock, but there won’t be too many changes under the hood. After all, the 2024 Dodge Ram Dakota will continue to be sold with the same powertrain. This means the fans will have to settle for a choice of several engines. We get a 3.6-liter V6 that gives around 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Not too bad for a mid-size pickup. Then we have the most expensive version of the Dakota. It is a diesel 3.0-liter V6 with an automatic transmission.
Some fans argued that they would love a manual transmission, but we will have to wait and see if RAM listens to their prayers. This engine can produce 260 horsepower with 440 pound-feet of torque. Some people might recognize the engine from the Jeep Gladiator pickup. If it is good enough for a mountain climbing Gladiator, it will be good enough for Dakota as well. The extra torque will surely come in handy off the road. There has been no official confirmation of a hybrid or fully electric powertrain.This does come as a bit of a surprise. Most manufacturers are racing to put a battery pack in their trucks. But RAM seems unaffected by this.
Perhaps they are not worried about 2030 emission regulations for a reason. But a dual electric motor setup would do wonders for the Dakota. They could also borrow an engine from the Wrangler. That hybrid can produce 375 horses. Fully electric trucks aren’t so far away as some believe. They just need to change the platform. There are plenty of good ones out there. The platform must accommodate all the electric components for the powertrain. The battery shouldn’t be smaller than 150 kWh if they want to compete with Ford’s and GM’s creations.
Fuel Economy
The new 2024 Dodge Ram Dakota isn’t the cheapest to run, but it does offer some value when it comes to mileage. You can count on getting 14.6 mpg for combined driving. This number would be much better if there was a hybrid powertrain under the hood.
2024 Dodge Ram Dakota Launch Date and Price
Expect to see the famous mid-size pickup on the road later in 2023. summer or perhaps even autumn if supply chain issues continue due to the pandemic. The 2024 Dodge Ram Dakota will cost around $25000, which is good value for a starting trim.
Manual Transmission would be great. last a long time.
The note on Gas mileage is concerning… when I have a 1998 Dakota SLT, (extended cab) 5.2L (318cid) with 5-sp manual. averaging 18 and high is 23 mpg.
Some of the extended cab photos I seen on these types of web sites are to my liking.