I've been wanting to buy a new truck for a couple of years now. I keep putting it off because I heard that Dodge was bringing the Dakota back. I would prefer a mid size truck over a full size so I was hoping the Dakota would be back soon. However, I can't seem to find anything definite on it's return. Articles I've read indicate it could be anywhere from 2025 to 2028. Does anyone here have any insider information on an actual return date for the Dakota?

I also thought it was out this model year, Maybe 2025 or mid-model year?

I'll guess we'll never see it and if we do there will be nothing mid-size about it. Have you seen the 'mid-size" Colorado/Canyon or the Ranger/Maverick stuff or even a Tacoma?

I took these pics several years back. My '93 Dakota vs a Colorado. The Colorado looks like a full size truck compared to my Dak!

I doubt it'll be a full frame truck like the dakota use to be, IF its coming back it'll probably be a unibody deal like the Maverick unless they flip around the gladiator frame and use that, but then it would compete against it and we all know they'd never allow that to happen, which makes me think more maverick than real truck. Look up the Ram Rampage, thats probably it

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/...-us-as-a-ford-maverick-rival-220937.html

Id rather search out a clean 87-96 model. I've had several and 1, 99 and much prefer the original version. I'm hanging on to my 96 club cab 318 4wd for all that it will give me...... Still runs like a charm with over 1/4 million miles

I've recently seen a few really clean looking earlier Dakotas on FB Marketplace in the $6,000 - $7,000 price range. What they look like in real life compared to the pictures may well be a different story, but that price range is higher then I'm wanting to spend on that era of truck.

The talk was it was supposed to be based off the Gladiator platform?

They are losing market share by delaying it, the little trucks are popping up everywhere. Rode in and got to drive a Co-Workers' Ranger: I was impressed.

But, speaking of Gladiator, apparently they are not selling and discounts can be had, maybe take one for a drive and see what you think?

I also heard that it would be based upon the Gladiator, but that begs the question; why not just buy a Gladiator?
You can get the "hardtop" and just never remove it if you don't want the "topless" feature, of course.
I can't imagine that a Dakota based upon that platform would be much cheaper, even if it had a fixed roof (full frame, solid axles or even with IFS, it would be expensive to produce).
I would think that the CUSW of the Jeep Cherokee could be adapted to a mid-size unibody pickup, with more similarity to the Maverick...

JS

Theres a Dakota For Sale near my local track , its the last version body style before they stopped production. Its a quad cab if I remember correctly and has a cap on the back . Price says $5799 I don't know much else about it . looks pretty clean if anybody is interested I can try and get more info. BTW I don't know the seller or am I trying to sell it for the owner .. just saying I saw it for sale

I hear that the New Dakota will be the current truck they sell in South America (Brazil) - ugly as hell.

From my vantage point owning a '93, an even bigger issue with the earlier Dakotas is parts availability, specifically the electronics. The computers are getting harder and harder to find and only used ones are available. When I needed a computer for my truck, I had to source it from ebay. Then there are the different sensors. I had to replace the IAC on mine, but the parts house replacement wouldn't work with the truck's computer. I had to source a Mopar specific one (ebay again) to get my truck to run correctly. I always say that the electrical, not rust will be the downfall of my truck.

I love my Dakota, but they just do not have the (aftermarket) support of a Ranger or even S-10.