With the upcoming 2028 Ram Dakota, the automaker will return to the midsize truck segment with major fanfare. And while we don’t know everything about this future model just yet, it’s been a very popular subject of inquiry. Without further ado, here’s everything we know about this much-anticipated pickup so far.
Key Takeaways:
- It’s official — Ram has announced that they will, in fact, revive their midsize truck, the Dakota, very soon.
- Although Ram has yet to reveal official specs for the U.S. version of the upcoming Dakota, the model released in Brazil features a 200-horsepower turbodiesel engine!
- While we can’t confirm any of the many rumors about future Dakota trim models or specs, we expect an ultramodern midsize truck.
- Right now, it looks like the Ram Dakota will be released for the 2028 model year!
Is Ram going to build a Dakota?
Yes! Although they have yet to make an official announcement, Ram confirmed the rumors in late 2025 — the automaker plans to revive its midsize truck for the U.S. market. What they have officially announced, on the other hand, is a version of the Dakota built for the Brazilian market, slated to arrive for the 2027 model year. It can give us some idea of what to expect!
How much horsepower will the Ram Dakota deliver?
Good question! And it’s something we’d also like to know. Unfortunately, though, Ram has yet to release the official spec sheet for the future Dakota. In fact, all we know from official sources is that the Dakota is slated to return as a midsize truck designed to compete with the likes of the Ford Ranger and Chevy Colorado. Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis also confirmed that the upcoming pickup will start in the $40,000 range.
On the other hand, we do know a few things about the Brazilian version of this midsize truck, including powertrain specs. There, the upcoming Dakota will feature a 2.2-liter turbodiesel inline four-cylinder engine, primed to deliver 200 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. It’ll be paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. If we’re lucky, we’ll enjoy a similarly sporty setup when the Dakota arrives stateside!
What else do we know about the upcoming Ram Dakota?
Again, not a whole lot. But we can look to the Brazilian version of the upcoming Dakota for some clues! The South American truck will initially be available as two trim models, the base Big Horn and premium Laramie Night Edition. (However, although the two-trim approach is par the course for Ram’s international releases, we can probably expect a few extra options for American drivers.)
When will the Ram Dakota be released?
Hopefully, soon — at the moment, we expect this midsize truck to arrive in mid-2027 for the 2028 model. As soon as we learn more details on the upcoming Ram Dakota, we’ll update this page accordingly. For real-time updates, give our reps at Thunder a call (or text). When the Ram Dakota officially becomes available, Thunder CDJR will help you be among the first to order one!