2028 RAM Dakota Pickup Truck: What We Know So Far

2028 RAM Dakota: People are saying that Ram’s Dakota pickup truck, which is a mid-size model, is about to make a comeback. The Dakota was a big player in the mid-size truck class until it was discontinued after the 2011 model year.

Since then, the market has witnessed a boom in goods and consumer interest. There isn’t much information available, but we suspect Ram might put a turbocharged four-cylinder engine or even the Hurricane turbo inline-six under the Dakota’s hood.

We think the Dakota will use a body-on-frame chassis like the Chevy Colorado and Ford Ranger, which is more like a truck than a car. The styling will probably be similar to the full-size Ram 1500 pickup.

We’ll provide more details about this story when we learn more about the new Dakota.

Next-Gen Highlights

When the Dakota returns to production, it will be a new pickup truck. That date is at least a few years away, though.

2028 RAM Dakota Report

People say the 2028 Ram Dakota midsize pickup truck is built using the BOF. Many people miss the Dodge Dakota, which will be replaced in 2027.

For its last two years of manufacturing, it was called the Ram Dakota. The midsize pickup is expected to hit stores in the 2028 model year. Reports say it will have a body-on-frame setup.

Initially rumored to be built on the STLA Large unibody platform, the 2028 Ram Dakota would make sense with its body-on-frame foundations. Mopar Insiders said that the midsize truck will start being produced at Stellantis North America’s Belvidere Assembly Plant in 2027, but they don’t say who they are.

But it’s not clear why Stellantis North America can’t change the Gladiator’s look to look like a Ram. Still, the Ram truck brand knows how critical midsize trucks are, as the base price of half-ton pickup trucks keeps increasing.

The most basic half-ton pickup vehicles are getting closer to the $40,000 barrier. The 2025 Ram 1500 is already more expensive than that. Ram charges $40,275 for a rear-wheel-drive Tradesman with a Quad cab, 6’4″ box, and a V6 engine from the outset.

The Gladiator also has the 3.6-liter Pentastar engine in question, but it doesn’t have 48-volt support. The 48-volt system, which is sold under the name eTorque, replaces the old alternator with a motor-generator coupled to a lithium-ion battery with NMC cells and 430 watt-hours of power.

The Dakotas’ long-awaited return will probably steal something from the next-generation Wrangler, perhaps a battery-electric motor with an extensive range. The UAW-Stellantis hourly labor agreement from 2023 says that manufacture of the J70 series Wrangler will start at the Toledo Assembly Complex around 2028.

2028 RAM Dakota Price

The 2028 Ram Dakota will cost between $35,000 and $48,000, depending on the trim and options. We don’t know yet what trims the Dakota will have or how much each one will cost, but we think Ram will follow the 1500’s rules and provide low-priced Tradesman and Laramie trims and higher-end Rebel and Limited trims.

We’ll keep you updated with more developments regarding the 2028 RAM Dakota, so bookmark our website for more RAM Dakota news and constant coverage of exciting RAM information.