39. Dodge Dakota
There are full-size trucks like the Ford F-150 or Chevrolet Silverado and there are compact size trucks like the Toyota Hilux or Ford Ranger. However, during the late ’80s and ’90s, there was also a mid-size class of trucks led by the Dodge Dakota. As one of the industry’s leaders, Dodge noticed buyers of full-size trucks often didn’t need all that power and space. Also, the buyers of compact size trucks often needed more power and usability. They decided the solution was to build a mid-size truck. It would have smaller dimensions than a full-size Dodge but feature optional all-wheel drive.

It would also need a decent towing capacity and payload. They planned to price it between their big and small models to appeal to wider audiences. Dodge was right and in 1987, after they presented the Dakota, sales went up significantly. The Dakota was the first mid-size truck on the market. It was affordable and usable and had better fuel economy than bigger models. Although the Dakota wasn’t the only model on the market, it was the most successful. However, Dodge retired it in 2011 with no replacement so far.