Truck yeah is the first thing that comes to mind while thinking about the 2023 Ram Dakota coming to fight the Ford Ranger. We’re always happy to see new trucks emerge and were delighted when the Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick arrived. Now the Ram Dakota is on the way to spice things up even more. 

The 2023 Ram Dakota is changing the midsize truck game 

According to Cars Authority, a source at Stellantis has confirmed that Project Dakota is in the works. This means that the 2023 Ram Dakota could soon emerge as a new midsize truck option. 

Remember the Dodge Dakota? The Dodge Ram Dakota was discontinued in 2011 due to the decreasing demands for compact trucks. The Ford Ranger went away for similar reasons. Then the Dakota platform was used for the Dodge Durango. 

Now after the Jeep Gladiator didn’t become as popular as expected, it’s time for Ram to step up to the plate to get a piece of the midsize truck market. Ram could quickly produce the new Ram Dakota without much cost, just in time for the new 2023 Ford Ranger to roll out. 

What to expect with the 2023 Dakota 

Stellantis hasn’t revealed much about the 2023 Ram Dakota yet. However, rumors suggest that the new Dakota will be a midsize option instead of a compact truck like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz. The Dakota will return to battle well-established competitors such as the Chevy Colorado, Toyota Tacoma, and Ford Ranger. 

Rumors suggest that the Dakota could be a body-on-frame truck, like the Honda Ridgeline. It could also ride on the Ram 1500’s platform. Sharing parts with the Ram 1500 could allow the Dakota to enter production faster. 

It’s possible that the Ram Dakota could share features with the Jeep Gladiator as well. We don’t think it will have Ram 1500’s V8 engine, but it is certainly possible. The 3.6-liter V6 gasoline engine makes the most sense. 

We hope the Dakota gains the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engine with 260 hp and 485 lb-ft of torque. If the Jeep Gladiator 4xe comes out this year, then the Dakota could also gain the same hybrid powertrain.

The most exciting rumors are about a high-performance Ram Dakota SRT model. The Maverick could have a race track trim as well. Of course, we expect an off-roading 2023 Ram Dakota trim to arrive as well. 

Will the new Dakota have good features? 

Yes, Ram is known for its high-quality comfort and convenience features. The 2023 Ram Dakota will likely borrow a lot from the larger Ram 1500, including upscale interior materials and advanced tech like the 12-inch infotainment system with Uconnect 5 software. 

It’s safe to expect modern amenities such as a large sunroof, ambient lighting, heated and ventilated seats, a wireless phone charger, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a digital gauge cluster. 

The Ram Dakota may adopt similar looks from the Ram 1500 with a matching grille design and LED headlights. It may have unique doors and fenders with different colors, bumpers, and wheel designs to set it apart. We will keep you updated as we learn more.