Ram’s Upcoming Midsize Pickup Revives a Legendary Name
Ram is finally stepping back into the midsize pickup
segment, and it’s doing so with a name truck
fans already know and love: Dakota. After years of speculation, Ram CEO
Tim Kuniskis has all but confirmed that the brand’s long-anticipated smaller
truck will carry the
Dakota badge, a move that
instantly taps into nostalgia
while signaling something new is on the way.
During a recent media event, Kuniskis discussed Ram’s future plans while showing off several upcoming models
under embargo. In the Q&A session that followed, conversation naturally shifted toward Ram’s absence from
the midsize truck market—a gap that competitors like Ford, Toyota, and Chevrolet
have been successfully filling for years. While
executives usually avoid talking openly about future
products, Kuniskis
connected the dots clearly enough for enthusiasts to draw their own conclusions.
Why Ram
Needs a Midsize Truck Now
According to Kuniskis,
Ram currently lacks
a true volume truck at the $40,000
price point. That price bracket has become
increasingly important for buyers who want real truck capability
without stepping into
full-size pricing territory.
Kuniskis explained that the only
realistic
path back to that segment is through a midsize pickup.
This strategy aligns with Stellantis’ broader investment
plans. Earlier, Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa announced a massive $13
billion investment in the United States, part of which is dedicated to
bringing a new midsize truck
to market. When asked directly whether that
truck would be called the Dakota, Kuniskis gave a candid, almost playful confirmation—essentially
saying yes to what everyone had already guessed.
For longtime
fans, the Dakota name
carries weight.
It represents Ram’s earlier attempt to bridge the gap
between compact and full-size trucks, and reviving it now feels
both practical and symbolic.
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What We
Know So Far About the New Ram Dakota
While
official specs are still limited, a few key
details have already been
confirmed. Production
is scheduled to begin in 2027 at Ram’s Belvidere, Illinois assembly plant,
suggesting the truck will likely debut as a 2028 model year vehicle.
Under the hood, Ram is expected to offer multiple powertrain
options. These will
likely include traditional internal combustion
engines
alongside a plug-in hybrid variant, reflecting the industry’s gradual shift toward electrification
without
abandoning proven
technology.
Construction-wise, the new Dakota is expected to use body-on-frame architecture, putting it
squarely
in competition with trucks like
the Ford Ranger, Toyota
Tacoma, and Chevrolet Colorado. This choice
also aligns it with the larger Ram 1500, emphasizing
durability and real truck capability rather than
the unibody design used by
models like the Honda Ridgeline
or Ford Maverick.
One question that remains unanswered is whether Ram’s
10-year/100,000-mile warranty will apply to the Dakota. Kuniskis was cautious on this point, noting that the warranty was never
promised as a permanent offering. Still, he hinted that strong customer
response and rising competitive trade-ins could influence future
decisions.
A Smart
Move for Ram and
Truck Buyers
The return of the
Dakota couldn’t come at a
better time. Midsize trucks are more popular than ever, appealing to buyers who want versatility, capability, and
more manageable pricing. By reviving a familiar name and backing
it with
modern engineering, Ram
has a real
opportunity to make a strong comeback in
this space.
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