But now they're moving into the mainstream as well - equipped alternatives to both pickups and SUVs. First into the compact market was Nissan, with its 2000 Frontier Crew Cab. Now comes Dodge with the Dakota Quad Cab, which also is classified as a compact but is a midsize truck. As such, it delivers more interior room and a bigger cargo box, along with the extra towing and hauling power that comes with the availability of V-8 engines. In the modern idiom of plush pickups, the Dakota Quad Cab is quiet on the highway, with little intrusion of mechanical, road or wind noise.
Seats are plush and comfortable up front.
The Quad Cab, unless it's beset by truly trashed road surfaces, feels planted and solid, though of course it won't outrun a sports sedan on twisting roads. The back seat is reasonably comfortable for average-sized people, but there is no excess of knee or head room and passengers are forced to sit bolt upright. Although reasonably comfortable for short periods, it's not a place for long trips. The rear doors have windows that wind all the way down. Like other Dakotas, the Quad Cab is not particularly economical to operate.