There are multiple reports spreading around that the 2025 RAM Dakota will also debut in the US market. Originally, it was introduced just for South America, but because of the growing popularity of small pickup trucks in the US, Dodge will also offer the Dakota for the US market.
Dodge Dakota or RAM Dakota, in the final two years of production, was first introduced in late 1986. And it was produced until 2011 when it was discounted because of low interest in compact pickup trucks. But in the last few years, the market has demanded small pickup trucks, especially with hybrid powertrains. An upcoming new generation of Dakota will be introduced first in South America, followed shortly by the US premiere. This will be the second small pickup truck in the RAM lineup. The first truck will be Rampage. And they will share a lot of technical features and have a lot of visual similarities.
2025 RAM Dakota Specifications
Dodge will offer a 2025 Ram Dakota with multiple engine variations. That will include normal internal combustion and Hybrid variations. Also, there are rumors that Dodge may offer a 2025 Dakota with a powerful turbo V6 powertrain. For the starting motor, we think Stellaris or Dodge will pick a turbo inline-four engine with a displacement of 2.0 liters and 280 horsepower. For the Hybrid powertrain, there is not much choice, so turbo gasoline 1.4 liters with a small electric engine look like the best option. Also, there is news that a 2.0-liter hybrid is coming, but this is all based on unofficial rumors. For the most potent variation, Stellaris will probably choose a pint-sized 3.6-liter V6 engine. This most potent powertrain will be able to produce 310 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque and will be available only in top-tier trim.
There will be multiple transmissions available; they will range from a 6-speed manual gearbox to a 6- and 8-speed automatic. The 2025 RAM Dakota will also be offered with all-wheel drive as an option, and standardly, it will come with front-wheel drive. For towing capacity, Dakota’s predecessor was best in class. So we guess that the 2025 RAM Dakota will continue to be the most capable puller in the class of small pickups. For the towing capacity, we expect to see more than 7000 pounds, and the payload capacity should be around 1500 pounds.
2025 RAM Dakota Hybrid
As we already mentioned, the Hybrid Dakota will come with a small 1.4-liter inline-four engine with a small electric motor. That engine will come in two variations: a weaker 140 horsepower and a stronger 160 horsepower. There are also rumors that the Stellaris may offer a powerful 2.0-liter engine paired with an electric motor. That will be able to produce nearly 300 horsepower. But these are not official rumors. With this engine in 2025, the Ram Dakota Hybrid should achieve best-in-class fuel economy. We need to wait for the release date to see the exact numbers.
For the exterior, there will not be any big changes from the normal version of Dakota. A few minor changes will include hybrid badging on the body of the truck and a few minor body modifications so the chassis of the truck can accommodate an electric motor and a small battery.
2025 RAM Dakota Exterior and Interior
The upcoming 2025 Ram Dakota will feature a modern design with plenty of technology and safety features inside the cabin of the truck. It will be built on a unibody chassis, and it will be smaller than the Rampage. But a lot of design features will be shared with Rapmage. Like headlights, taillights, and grille. Also, Dakota will probably come in multiple cab variations that will include dual cab configurations and a more work-oriented single cab.
For the interior, we expect the use of good-quality materials with plenty of technological features. But in low-level trims, we expect the use of cheaper materials that will reduce the total cost of the truck. Standardly, trucks will come with a pretty basic infotainment system, but on higher trims, they can come with a 12-inch infotainment system.
Price and Release Date
The Dakota will probably go on sale after Rampage because 2025 Rampage has already been introduced to the public. So we expect to see a new generation of Dakota at the end of 2024.
The starting price has not been officially released, but we expect it to be near $32.000 for the base model and go up to $40.000 for top-tier trim with a powerful V6 engine.
For the final words, we have to say that we expect huge success from the 2025 RAM Dakota. The reasons for that are many, but we will just mention the huge selection of engines. Best-in-class towing capability. And a huge selection of additional equipment.
Also, there are a lot of contenders for the spot of a best-selling pickup truck in the US, so the battle for customers will not be easy.
Read our post about the 2024 model of RAM Dakota.