Four high-performance package offerings join the Dakota portfolio: TRX, TRX 4 Off-Road, R/T and Night Runner. When fitted with the $850 TRX 4 Off-Road package (available on Dakota SLT and Laramie 4x4 models), the Dakota is dressed in items that are aimed at making off-road treks a problem-free experience. Dakota’s TRX4 Off-Road’s extra heavy-duty shock absorbers, skid shields, four-wheel drive transfer case, anti-spin differential, BF Goodrich off-road tires, 750-amp battery and other specialized treatments serve as a purposeful compliment to a pickup that was completely re-designed in 2005. Dakota features the mid-size pickup truck segment’s only V8 engines: a 4.7-liter with 230 horsepower and 290 in peak torque, and a 4.7-liter high output version with 260 horsepower and 310 of peak torque. (Dakota also offers a 3.7-liter V6 that produces 210 horsepower and a peak torque of 235.) Dodge Dakota’s Quad Cab is an exceptionally roomy environment for six passengers. The rear seat, when folded, provides 37.1 cubic feet of stow space behind the front seats as well as a five-foot-four-inch truck bed. Dakota’s interior presents itself as a successful study in functionality, including a straight-forward instrument cluster of three gauges, and an audio and climate control zone accented by buttons and dials that are right-sized for large hands or gloved hands. The bottom line: Dakota is devoid of unnecessary, space consuming gadgets. Dakota Quad Cab with V8 engine mated to a five-speed automatic transmission tallies per gallon fuel numbers of 15 city/20 highway. The Warren, Michigan assembled 4x4 Dakota Quad Cab SLT has an MSRP of $26,095.