The Dakota is available in either Standard Cab or Club Cab, in 2- or 4-wheel drive. Either short (6.5 ft.) or long (8 ft.) cargo beds are available. The Dakota Sport model we drove was the Standard Cab with the short bed.This combination provides enough room for driver and passengers, but there isn?t much leftover space with the seat extended to the end of its travel. Only the tiniest of drivers will have any storage room behind the seat of a Standard Cab. Beyond that, the Dakota?s interior is rather standard fare. The basic driving controls are easy enough to find, but this somewhat dated design isn?t setting any new ergonomic standards. Instruments and materials are average. Chrysler could take a few lessons from Toyota on this score. However, here, as elsewhere, Chrysler continues to take a leadership role in passive safety. This is one of the very few pickups that includes a driver?s airbag. The seats are softish and a bench means three people could squeeze in, assuming the middle person is willing to share legroom with the gear-shift lever on a manual.
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