Ram Dakota Expected To Be A "Real Truck"
Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis said the brand’s upcoming midsize pickup for North America will be built to deliver the kind of capability buyers expect, especially as it looks to fill the gap left by the discontinued Ram 1500 Classic.
Production is planned to begin in 2028, and the model is expected to target a starting price in the mid-$30,000 range, positioning it as an accessible volume seller.
Kuniskis emphasized that the new truck must seamlessly fit into Ram’s broader lineup without feeling like a compromise. “It’s gotta be a real truck,” he told The Drive, explaining that buyers moving between midsize and light-duty pickups shouldn’t feel a disconnect in capability or purpose.
To that end, Ram has confirmed the truck will ride on a body-on-frame platform, similar in philosophy to the Jeep Gladiator. That decision separates it from unibody-based lifestyle pickups and signals that towing and payload performance will be central to the design. Kuniskis stressed that the truck can’t simply be an SUV with a cargo bed added on, but must meet the expectations of traditional truck buyers.
While detailed specifications remain under wraps, Kuniskis suggested that electrification is under consideration. He acknowledged that hybrid powertrains are becoming an increasingly important part of the market and said Ram is evaluating whether a hybrid setup makes sense for the midsize segment. However, he made it clear that a V8 is unlikely to be part of the equation.
According to Kuniskis, the size and expectations of modern midsize trucks have evolved significantly, to the point where today’s midsize pickups rival full-size trucks from a decade or more ago. As a result, Ram doesn’t see a strong case for offering V8 power in this class.
With competitors like the Toyota Tacoma dominating the segment, Ram’s new midsize truck will need to balance price, capability, and efficiency to succeed. While several details are still to be finalized, the company’s intent is clear: this won’t be a soft entry into the market, but a truck designed to meet real-world demands.
This article was co-written using AI and was then heavily edited and optimized by our editorial team.
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