Midsize Pickup Buying Guide DC

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This guide is a compiled list of the top-performing 2008-model year midsize pickups in J.D. Power and Associates' key automotive research studies. The studies include the 2007 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), the 2007 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, and the 2007 Initial Quality Study (IQS). All models are listed alphabetically by manufacturer.

Dodge Dakota: Marketed for more than two decades, the Dodge Dakota took home the IQS award last year, ranking highest in its segment. That honor reflects the Dakota's design quality, as well as the number of defects and malfunctions experienced by buyers during the first 90 days of ownership. Facelifted for 2008, the Dakota features a restyled hood, grille, fenders, and headlights. A new 4.7-liter V-8 engine delivers 302 hp (up 31 percent compared to its predecessor) and is E85-compatible. Inside are a new instrument panel and console, and heated seats are available. Offered in six trim levels, the Dakota comes with an extended cab or crew cab body.

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Ford Explorer Sport Trac: Based upon Ford's Explorer SUV, the Sport Trac adds a short cargo box at the rear, thus combining attributes of a passenger carrier and a modest-capacity crew cab pickup. Sport Trac ranked among the top three models in its segment in the 2007 APEAL study, which assesses owner satisfaction with a vehicle's design and performance. Ford's Sync voice-control communications/entertainment system is available on 2008 Explorer Sport Tracs, which get a new standard drop-in storage bin. Curtain air bags, fog lamps, and a power rear window now are standard on both trim levels. Sport Tracs may have either V-6 or V-8 power. A new Adrenalin model features special exterior touches....

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