The 2007 Dodge Dakota--positioned as a good compromise between compact pickups and full-size trucks--ranks as the only mid-size pickup with available V8 power, and has a best-in-class tow rating of up to 7,150 pounds, according to Dodge. The Dakota also has an extra five inches of bed width between the wheel wells compared to compact pickup competition, offering more usable bed space, yet with a relatively low bed wall height for easy loading. And the Dakota stands near the top in safety; it carries a five-star rating from the federal government in both frontal and side-impact crash tests and has available side-curtain air bags.
