We have another comeback, we might be seeing a 2024 RAM Dakota on the road again. The Dakota is a well-known name among truck fans. It was unfortunately discontinued due to some unfortunate events back in 2011. There were rumors recently that RAM was planning on bringing it back. Indications pointed to a debut of the Dakota back in 2021, but instead, RAM went with their half-ton RAM 1500. So that didn’t happen and we were all disappointed. There are many trucks that could serve as an inspiration for the Dakota. One of them being Jeep Gladiator. The upcoming Dakota will have plenty of competition in its category.
As it has become the most popular and populated segment of the pickup industry. There is Ford Ranger, Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon, and many others. If the truck appeared now, it would still stand a shot against so many competitors. But it would need to check all the boxes and do many things properly in order to come out on top. The powertrain would have to be updated most definitely. The Interior would be outdated by now so new technology and design are needed. There are a lot of proxies from which they can borrow the style. Let’s take a look at all the info we have.
2024 RAM Dakota Styling and Interior
Inside of the 2024 RAM Dakota is looking stylish as ever. There is new seating in place and brand-new upholstery with leather. Contrast stitching for some extra style points. There will be room for five passengers with plenty of legroom. The instrument panel is blessed with a large 13-inch infotainment system. The dashboard is fully digital and can be customized to track anything you wish. There is no massaging feature, but we get heating and ventilation on the seats. Safety tech will include lane change alerts, pedestrian detection, automatic brakes, and hands-free driving. This software will help drivers to relax a bit behind the steering wheel.
The exterior of the 2024 RAM Dakota will be looking similar to its predecessor. No need to change the classic look. Perhaps introduce some minor tweaks to improve aerodynamics and ergonomics. This helps a lot with handling and fuel economy. Wheel rims are lightweight and 18 inches in size. We might even get all-terrain tires with the basic trim. The front fascia is big and shiny, with a lot of air intakes to cool the engine down. The cargo bed is the standard size.
Engine and Specs, Electric Truck Rumors
The 2024 RAM Dakota still hasn’t confirmed the powertrain lineup. We don’t know if it’s going to be a single offer or several engines. We wouldn’t be surprised if there were several engines on the plate. That seems to be the way RAM likes to do things if history has anything to do with it. And some would even argue that more is better since every powertrain can offer a better niche fit. Pickups aren’t simple workhorses anymore, and some people might just want it for the looks. Which is absolutely fine by us, and they wouldn’t need a big and strong engine. But nevertheless, there are many rumors and speculations that in fact do give us a prime suspect for the powertrain.
Some officials have speculated that the RAM Dakota might be based on a Gladiator. Although the look would differ, the engine and build wouldn’t. And the Gladiator is a mighty beast at that. It is built for the off-road but performs admirably on the paved tarmac. The possibility of a powerful V8 engine is probably out of the question. This is due to Dakota not being too large and not needing such immense power. Also, there are stricter regulations coming in very soon, so it wouldn’t make sense to bless the Dakota with such a thirsty engine. Therefore, we can expect a 3.6-liter V6 engine. This one is used on many of Stellanti’s North American pickups. It is a proper and reliable choice when workhorses are in question. It comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission which is very common today.
Both all-wheel drive and rear drive are an option. But we guess that most people would prefer sending power to all four wheels. There are some other engines that might fit the bill as well. There is a 3.0-liter V6 which can produce 260 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. This extra bit of wheel spinning comes in handy off the road. The Dakota will most likely be blessed with an off-roading trim as most mid-size pickups have. A Rebel trim is a probable choice, but perhaps RAM has something up its sleeve. No full electrification for now. It was speculated but RAM didn’t make any big announcements so we won’t be holding our breath.
There should be a new platform in place to accommodate all the components. A battery pack of at least 150 kWh should be incorporated. This would probably outmatch the current performance and with a dual electric motor setup, it would excel. But we will have to wait a while for that. But keep your ear out for any new details pertaining to the Dakota revival. If it is similar to the Gladiator, expect a 7500-pound towing maximum and 1600 pounds hauling.
2024 RAM Dakota Fuel Economy
There are no official fuel economy numbers for the 2024 RAM Dakota. This is due to it not taking any test runs yet. But we hope that soon we will have more information. We can expect around 24mpg combined driving based on its size.
Price and Release Date
The upcoming 2024 RAM Dakota is bound to hit the road later this year. Probably the last quarter. There is no trims info or the price for that matter. But we suspect that the price will be starting around $30000 for the basic trim. Also, the competition is fierce with this being the most populated pickup segment.