like the Dodge approach to truck building. It's roomy, comfortable and

full of the kinds of features, big and small, that can ease getting down

the road.

Our Dakota had the optional front bucket seats, but the standard seat

is a bench, split into three parts on a 40/20/40 basis. The center portion

(of the standard bench) has a folding back that also serves as a center

armrest and includes a quite large, multi-function storage console. With

the bucket seats, there's a huge center console that's subdivided for tissue

paper, maps and cassettes or CDs. And for us, the front bucket seats were

comfortable and offered good lumbar support.

Some other neat touches: three cupholders in the forward portion of

the center console, in three sizes, for a two-liter bottle, 20-ounce bottle

and soft-drink can--just right for Papa Bear, Mama Bear and Baby Bear.

In the Club Cab, the rear seat cushions are split 60/40, to allow carrying

combinations of additional people or cargo. The rear cushions fold up,

revealing a flat floor so your suitcase or toolbox will stay upright.

Under those rear seat cushions are two storage compartments; one houses

the jack and tools and provides a little storage space, the other is a

fairly generous storage bin. In addition to the front cupholders, there

are cupholders in the quarter panels for the rear-seat passengers. Order

the automatic transmission and the place where the manual transmission

lever would poke through the floor becomes yet another little tray for

loose odds and ends.

But there were some little things we thought our Dakota lacked. For

example, no visor vanity mirror--maybe somebody at Dodge figured truck

passengers don't do makeup on the way to the Tex-Mex restaurant. The headrests

are non-adjustable, a real comfort issue.

The passenger seat doesn't fully recline. Fold the front seats forward

to allow access to the rear, and there is no memory feature to allow the

front seats to be easily returned to their former position. No grab handle

above the passenger door to ease climbing in.

Something else that's missing is the option of a third door, to make

access to the rear easier. The Chevy S-10 and GMC Sonoma are the only trucks

in this general class that offer this option, but we expect to see it on

the next Ranger, due later this year.

Back on the positive side, there's a must-have feature for trailer-towers:

the optional 6x9-inch mirrors are the biggest we've ever seen outside a

truck stop, provide a big boost in rearward vision, and cost only $160.

You can't reasonably expect an extended cab pickup to offer stretch-out

room for rear-seat passengers. But the Dakota Club Cab is wide enough for

three adults, and with cooperation from those in front, the three in back

should find the trip livable at least to the football stadium parking lot.