No wonder the Dakota was eventually discontinued. Gas mileage was roughly the same as the RAM. I hear the prices were not too far apart either.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bycla...ucks2003.shtml

2003 Dodge Dakota Pickup 2WD 6 cyl, 3.9 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular Gasoline
View MPG Estimates Shared By Vehicle Owners

16 City
17
Combined
17Highway
2003 Dodge Dakota Pickup 2WD 6 cyl, 3.9 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
View MPG Estimates Shared By Vehicle Owners

14 City
16
Combined
19Highway
2003 Dodge Dakota Pickup 2WD 8 cyl, 4.7 L, Automatic 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
View MPG Estimates Shared By Vehicle Owners

14 City
16
Combined
18Highway
2003 Dodge Dakota Pickup 2WD 8 cyl, 4.7 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
14 City
15
Combined
19Highway
2003 Dodge Dakota Pickup 2WD 8 cyl, 5.9 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular Gasoline
12 City
14
Combined
16Highway
2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD 6 cyl, 3.7 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular Gasoline
View MPG Estimates Shared By Vehicle Owners

14 City
16
Combined
18Highway
2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD 6 cyl, 3.7 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
View MPG Estimates Shared By Vehicle Owners

14 City
16
Combined
19Highway
2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD 8 cyl, 4.7 L, Automatic 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
View MPG Estimates Shared By Vehicle Owners

13 City
15
Combined
18Highway
2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD 8 cyl, 4.7 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
13 City
15
Combined
18Highway
2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD 8 cyl, 5.7 L, Automatic 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
View MPG Estimates Shared By Vehicle Owners

13 City
14
Combined
17Highway
2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD 8 cyl, 5.9 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular Gasoline
View MPG Estimates Shared By Vehicle Owners

12 City
13
Combined
16Highway
2003 Dodge Dakota Pickup 4WD 6 cyl, 3.9 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular Gasoline
View MPG Estimates Shared By Vehicle Owners

13 City
14
Combined
16Highway
2003 Dodge Dakota Pickup 4WD 6 cyl, 3.9 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
14 City
15
Combined
18Highway
2003 Dodge Dakota Pickup 4WD 8 cyl, 4.7 L, Automatic 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
View MPG Estimates Shared By Vehicle Owners

13 City
14
Combined
17Highway
2003 Dodge Dakota Pickup 4WD 8 cyl, 4.7 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
View MPG Estimates Shared By Vehicle Owners

13 City
15
Combined
17Highway
2003 Dodge Dakota Pickup 4WD 8 cyl, 5.9 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular Gasoline
11 City
13
Combined
16Highway
2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD 8 cyl, 4.7 L, Automatic 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
View MPG Estimates Shared By Vehicle Owners

13 City
14
Combined
16Highway
2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD 8 cyl, 4.7 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
12 City
14
Combined
16Highway
2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD 8 cyl, 5.7 L, Automatic 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
View MPG Estimates Shared By Vehicle Owners

11 City
13
Combined
15Highway
2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD 8 cyl, 5.9 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular Gasoline
View MPG Estimates Shared By Vehicle Owners

11 City
13
Combined
15Highway

 

My MPG is better than whats listed. But, I didn't get the Dakota for it's MPG anyways.
Moved to "General Discussions"

 

Only truck that can get decent mpg is diesel. Why do you think I got rid of my 98? I was getting on a good day of 12mpg with the 5.2 and had limited cab space and towing capacity. Towing 12,000lbs I can still manage 10-12mpg. I average about 16mpg and Im also am making 420hp to the wheels which is almost 200 more hp than what the 318 makes at the crank. Would I solely go back to a dakota?... No. Tho if I had the need for an extra truck I would get a v8 dakota. I loved mine for what it was and impressed me a lot.

 

I'm averaging 16 mpg too. Of course, my 4.7 does not have that kind of HP, but I do have Atlanta city traffic to contend with.

 

Mine is a '97 Dakota, 3.9 5-speed manual trans. I have seen 18 city and 21 highway, but not often.

 

I'd have to find the ticket, but I crossed the scales around 43-4500 pounds. A ram is around 6200 if I had to guess. The drivelines are the same, the only difference is that the rams get slightly taller tires and weigh 2000 or so more pounds. So yea, at most, there's probably only 2-3 real-world MPG difference. The 3.9 was always poorly geared for the application so that's why it gets worse/even MPG to the V8's, it has to work so much harder.

 

I got my Dakota because of its size. A Ram is nearly impossible to get into my machine shed doors of less than 7' in width unless you fold the mirrors and even then it's a task. Not to mention it's more maneuverable in traffic in spite of it being a 4 door and MUCH easier to park. It's a loaded 4x auto and I like it. Just my humble opinion.

 

Last year I drove from Texas to Tennessee in my 98 with a 3.9 with a 5 speed. If I kept it at 65 MPH or under, I averaged 26 mpg. Great truck. Love my Dakota.