Skip to main content

Ram won’t build a new Dakota, but we’d prefer a Jeep pickup truck anyway

2011 Ram Dakota
Image used with permission by copyright holder
After years of neglect, the midsize truck is segment is showing signs of life, largely thanks to the redesigned 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon twins.

Yet the launch of two new trucks from General Motors hasn’t exactly lit a fire under its Detroit rivals.

Recommended Videos

Ram, for one, has no interest in reviving its midsize Dakota. Originally sold as a Dodge, it went out of production in 2011 after years on the market without significant updates.

A new Ram midsize pickup would be too expensive to develop, brand boss Bob Hegbloom said in a recent interview with Automotive News (subscription required).

He said buyers want a truck that may have less capability than a full-size model, but is also smaller, costs less, and delivers better fuel economy.

With full-size trucks like Ram’s own 1500 EcoDiesel edging closer to 30 mpg highway, Hegbloom said a smaller truck would need to achieve at least 35 mpg, and that will cost money.

828542cv2005_001-1500x998
Image used with permission by copyright holder

While small trucks of yore achieved great fuel economy because they were, err, small, newer models are actually pretty big vehicles. That means they require more advanced technology to get good fuel economy.

GM will add a four-cylinder diesel engine to the Colorado and Canyon options list this year, and Nissan is mulling something similar for the next-generation Frontier.

However, adding a diesel or incorporating other fuel-saving technologies edges prices too close to full-size rigs for Ram’s taste.

Still, it’s possible Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) will eventually offer a midsize truck, but from another brand.

Earlier this year, Jeep CEO Mike Manly discussed the possibility of a Wrangler pickup, saying it would fit well into the brand’s lineup.

Converting a Wrangler would seem to be less expensive than engineering an all-new vehicle, although Manly said adding a bed would still bring substantial costs.

It’s also unclear whether FCA bosses would tolerate Jeep building a pickup, which is is supposed to be the sole purview of Ram.

Yet a Wrangler pickup could be a real crowd pleaser.

The next-generation Wrangler is expected to feature significant fuel economy improvements, which could make meeting any corporate truck targets easier.

Plus, it’s a cool vehicle that fans have been waiting to see for years, and one that would fit perfectly into the “lifestyle vehicle” image many modern truck buyers have.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and EVs offer big incentives as year nears its end
chrysler dodge jeep ev incentives record my24 hybrid gallery 04 exterior desktop jpg image 1440

It’s no secret that automakers and dealerships typically climb over each other to offer the best incentives before the year ends. But this year’s sales season is expected to be particularly competitive, with slowing sales translating to greater urgency to clear inventory.

According to research from Kelley Blue Book, the respected vehicle-valuation firm, overall incentives on new vehicle sales were up by 60% in October compared to the previous year.

Read more
Jeep, Ram EREVs will get 690-mile range with new Stellantis platform
A 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger sits in a vineyard.

Stellantis, the giant automotive group, is betting big on extending the range of both its hybrid and fully electric vehicles (EVs).

Last month, the company, which owns the Jeep, Dodge, and Ram brands in the U.S., invested nearly $30 million into an advanced wind tunnel at its research center in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The goal is to study airflow around a vehicle’s wheels and tires to further optimize its EVs and boost their range.

Read more
Self-driving vehicle rules set to loosen under Trump, report says
self driving looser rules trump screenshot 2024 10 at 54 56 pm 6708947b14810

Tesla “has been very clear the future is autonomous,” CEO Elon Musk said in October, shortly after unveiling the Cybercab, Tesla’s self-driving robotaxi.

It now seems that Musk, who was recently nominated to lead a newly-created "Department of Government Efficiency," is sharing his crystal ball with the incoming Trump administration.

Read more