Dodge comes in third after Chevy and Ford in the American truck market. The 2006 Dakota shows us why with sub-par fuel efficiency, poor interior materials and poor acceleration capabilities. However, for towing is ok with the Dakota, which can pull over 7,000 lbs (with available tow package), and the V8 models do have some decent power behind them.

The Dakota comes in two models - The Club Cab and Quad Cab. The Club Cab is an extended cab with hinged rear doors that don’t open unless the front doors are open. It features a 6.5-foot bed, and seats up to five (albeit snugly.) The Quad Cab shortens the bed by a little over a foot, but offers four regular doors and seats six.

The ST, SLT, and Laramie badges are available for both models. All engines are 3.7-liter V6s, although larger engines are available - with enticing manufacturer’s discounts. Choose from two-wheel-drive, four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive.
Prices range from about $20,000 to $30,000. Packages can add up, as Dodge often requires the purchase of one package to buy another, so thousands can add up quickly.

For a fast truck experience, be prepared to spend a lot more money on modifications for this vehicle, because it’s not a speed racer, even with the High-Output 4.7-liter V8. A step down to the available 230-horsepower V8 will find decent power, but passing is a problem nonetheless. The V6 engine is very underpowered for the weight of the truck, meaning the V8 Dakota is a better pick for people who like to cruise and who tow lots of toys.

All versions begin with the standard-across-the-board single overhead cam (SOHC) 3.7-liter V6 engine that boasts 210 horsepower (at 5,200 RPM) and 235 lb.-ft. of torque (at 4,000 RPM). Optional engines start with that SOHC 4.7-liter V8 which offers 230 horses (at 4,600 PRM) and 290 lb.-ft. of torque (at 3,600). The High-Output engine boasts 260 ponies (at 5,200 RPM) and a hefty 310 lb-ft of torque (at 3,600 RPM).
It runs right around $1,600 more and is not available in the ST editions. You’ll also need the optional five-speed automatic transmission for the High-Output engine (which runs at $75 more for the Laramie but - ouch - another $1,170 for the SLT).

The transmission for the ST and SLT models is a six-speed manual, although automatic is available. The Laramie offers as standard a four-speed automatic transmission, with a five-speed automatic transmission available.

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The label "Heavy Duty" applies to this series of big and powerful work trucks for the upward expansion of Dodge's line of Ram trucks.

Constructed on a strong chassis that's modular in design to allow multiple configurations for cabin size and box length, heavy-duty Ram trucks dominate the road with powerful engines designed to pull far more than their weight and tow class-topping loads.

The collection consists of two weight designations with 2500 (three-quarter-ton) and 3500 (one-ton) series. Cabs conform to two-door Regular Cab and four-door Quad Cab.

Two transfer cases -- one with manual shifting and the other with electric shift -- go to the 4WD versions. Standard engine is a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 pumped to 345 hp. A 5.9-liter in-line-six Cummins turbo-diesel is optional at 325 hp with superior tow capacity of 16,400 pounds.

Dodge's SUV measures almost as large as some full-size wagons so there's room in the expansive cabin for seven passengers on three banks of seats. New for 2006 editions of Durango is a 60/40 split-and-fold third-row seat for three, power to motivate the liftgate at the tail, a remote starter device, standard 17-inch aluminum wheels and for enhanced safety roll-sensing curtain-style side air bags plus electronic stability program (ESP) equipment.

Powertrains range from a 3.7-liter V6 to a 4.7-liter Magnum V8 and the powerful 5.7-liter HEMI V8 with MDS to boost fuel economy by 20 percent. This year the 3.7-liter six or 4.7-liter eight will burn ethanol or gasoline, or a mixture of the two fuels. And that HEMI MDS V8 applies to a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) Durango or the optional four-wheel-drive (4WD) version with electronic shifting into 4WD high and low range plus all-wheel-drive (AWD) mode.

The body of Magnum takes the shape of a station wagon, although the beltline is high with a long roof tapering at the rear and squeezing windows to narrow proportions. Front and rear overhangs are whittled way and the big wheels on front and back corners convey an impression of strength and high performance.

Three engines propel Magnum through three trims tagged as base SE, luxurious SXT and sporty R/T. Magnum SE has a dual-cam 2.7-liter V6 with 190 hp. Magnum SXT draws from a high-output 3.5-liter V6 for 250 hp. Magnum R/T scores Chrysler's 5.7-liter HEMI V8 that makes 340 hp through an electronic automatic five-speed transmission teamed with the AutoStick shifter. And the V8 has a MDS (multi-displacement system) that can switch seamlessly to fuel-saving four-cylinder mode.

A rear-wheel-drive (RWD) format is the norm for Magnum, but optional all-wheel-drive (AWD) traction works on SXT and R/T.

Excessively long at the prow and slinky low for a two-seat cockpit with a raucous ten-cylinder engine exerting overwhelming muscle from a herd of horses, the SRT10 Viper from Dodge is America's most powerful sports car. It delivers 500 hp with 525 lb-ft of torque out of 505 cubic inches in engine displacement.

For 2006 the roadster convertible version is joined by a new coupe edition sporting a double-bubble roofline, door window glass, special wrap-around taillamps and a body color scheme in Viper Blue with Stone White race stripes.

A heavy-duty six-speed manual transmission is standard for both the coupe and roadster, along with aluminum components for the four-wheel independent suspension plus huge Brembo disc brakes tied to a four-wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS). Wheels -- 18-inch up front and 19-inch in the rear -- support Michelin zero-pressure run-flat tires.