Toyota Tacoma vs. Dodge Dakota Review

Cost
The destination charge is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle from its point of origin to the dealer. It costs roughly the same to get the Dodge Dakota to the dealership as the Tacoma. As far as fuel economy, the Toyota Tacoma beats the Dodge Dakota. The Toyota Tacoma is substantially less pricey than the Dodge Dakota when it comes to MSRP.

Utility
The Dodge Dakota will definitely prove more practical than the Toyota Tacoma for those of you with frequent kid-cargo. There's no clear winner between the Dodge Dakota and the Toyota with respect to hauling capacity. Towing is substantially more the Dodge Dakota's forte than it is the Toyota Tacoma's.

Convenience
You'll most certainly have to take the Dodge Dakota for a fill-up more often than the Toyota Tacoma because of its tank size and gas mileage.

Comfort
While the front cabin in the Toyota offers a bit more head room than the Dodge Dakota, there honestly isn't much of a difference. The ampler interior dimensions of the Dodge Dakota make it significantly roomier for your passengers than the Toyota Tacoma.

Dimensions
The Dodge Dakota is considerably more bulky than the Toyota Tacoma. The Toyota Tacoma's tank is almost the same size as the Dakota's, though the Dodge Dakota's is slightly bigger. The Toyota Tacoma fits in smaller parking spaces than the Dodge Dakota. The Dodge's longer wheelbase will likely result in a smoother, more stable ride; on the other hand, the Toyota Tacoma may give a more agile feel in daily traffic.

Performance
With that kind of horsepower, the Dakota is a true speedster.

Handling
With its tighter turning radius, the Toyota Tacoma is definitely more maneuverable than the Dodge, something to consider if you do a lot of city driving; on the other hand, bear in mind that a vehicle with a tight turning circle may feel a bit twitchy on the highway.

Drivetrain
The Toyota Tacoma's engine is significantly smaller than the Dodge Dakota's. Note that a smaller engine usually has to work a little harder; on the other hand, smaller engines typically get better gas mileage. The Dodge Dakota packs quite a wallop compared to the Toyota Tacoma with respect to torque, which is the force that lets you accelerate quickly.

Warranty
The Tacoma and the Dodge Dakota have the same basic warranty.