Dodge Dakota reviews

2001 Dodge Dakota Interior Features

The Dakota gets an all-new interior for 2001. The instrument panel is easier to reach and easier to use, and almost all of the switchgear has changed. One example is the new rotary dial for the electronic transfer case, replacing the lever used previously. Door trim and carpeting are updated, as are the center and overhead consoles. Leather is now optional on Quad Cab. Dodge hopes the changes will ease the transition into a truck for first-time buyers who are used to the convenience and creature comforts of a car.

Visibility from inside the Dakota Quad Cab is outstanding. The driver sits high and there are no obvious blind spots. Optional 6x9-inch mirrors improve visibility rearward. The Quad Cab is roomy and comfortable. The front seat is a 40/20/40 split. The wide console works well as a storage area for miscellaneous junk, but it gets in the way when fastening seat belts. A pullout cup holder at the foot of the center section is a nice touch. For $200 you can replace the 40/20/40 split bench with high-back buckets with a center console.

The driver and front seat passenger had tons of legroom.

The rear doors open wide - about 37 inches. Getting in and out of the rear seat is aided by the fact that there is no cutout for the rear wheels (like there is in many sport-utilities). Head clearance and foot clearance, however, make getting out a bit more difficult.

Though roomier than any other compact truck, the rear seating area in the Quad Cab offers limited legroom. There's good knee room, but not a lot of foot space for stretching legs. Like most of the smaller crew cab pickups, the rear seat back is bolt upright, and not very comfortable. There's plenty of headroom in the rear seats, however. Children and smaller adults should be happy back there, but taller folk will find the space confining. Unlike some SUVs, the rear windows on the Quad Cab roll all the way down.

A better use for the rear of the Quad Cab is to fold the rear 60/40 split bench seats entirely out of the way for a nice, secure storage area. Not all compact trucks allow the seats to be folded out of the way like these on the Dodge. You can set up half of the rear seat for a passenger and still have room to tote stuff.

Controls are nicely placed and easy to operate. The $660 AM/FM/cassette/CD stereo offers superb sound through eight Infinity speakers spread around the cab. Our test truck came with the overhead electronic console with an eight-point compass and ambient temperature that are useful when traveling. It also features a trip computer and odometer that reports fuel economy and fuel tank range. The console is part of the Overhead Convenience Group ($1160) and includes compartments for sunglasses and garage door openers, auto-dimming rearview mirror and map lights.