Dodge Journey History
By
LATEST ARTICLE
Chevy Volt Vs. Nissan Leaf: Compare Cars
For now, they're the only two mass-market electric vehicles on the road. So, which one should you... Read More
Chevy Volt Vs. Nissan Leaf: Compare Cars
For now, they're the only two mass-market electric vehicles on the road. So, which one should you... Read More
- #12LEADERBOARD RANK
- 4885ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
- 96COMMENTS POSTED
165 views
The Dodge Journey is a compact five- or seven-passenger crossover vehicle in the same size and price class as vehicles like the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4. Sharing some mechanicals with the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler 200, the Journey's actually built in Mexico, formerly alongside the Chrysler PT Cruiser hatchback.
Introduced for the 2009 model year, the Journey brought a new wagon style to the Dodge lineup--which was in the process of shedding its larger Dodge Magnum wagon. The styling evoked other Dodge vehicles in its aggressive front end, and carried more than a hint of the Jeep Grand Cherokee in its rear hatch. The interior proved to be more of a dated mess: the Journey's canted instruments and boxed gauges called up unhappy memories of the Dodge Omni hatchback of the 1980s.
Despite some miscues, the Journey came to market offering front- or all-wheel drive, with a choice of four- or six-cylinder engines, options for manual and automatic transmissions--a competitive-sounding package that fell short in smooth, ample performance. Carried over largely unchanged through the 2010 model year, the Journey had a 173-horsepower four-cylinder, a flat performer, and a 235-hp V-6 that wasn't much more encouraging in low-speed driving, though it was much more capable of passing maneuvers with less noise and angst. Decent ride quality matched up with acceptably responsive steering for a moderately pleasant driving experience. Fuel economy hit 19/25 mpg on four-cylinder models, and the V-6 front-drive Journey wasn't far behind at 16/24 mpg. The V-6 with AWD dropped to 15/23 mpg.
For the 2011 model year, Chrysler retuned the Journey's handling, replaced the old V-6 with a new 283-horsepower, 3.6-liter unit, and added a six-speed automatic. A new interior made for a striking update, while the Journey's sheetmetal was left mostly alone, with only minor tweaks to its grille and headlamps.
Functionally it was carried over, and remains a flexible compact crossover to this day. The Journey can seat up to seven passengers, but adults will fit best in the front two seats. The optional third-row bench is for two children, max. But elsewhere, the Journey does a minivan-like job at storing stuff. The second row slides for more legroom, and front seats have storage built in beneath the seat cushion--it has lots of bins and cubbies under the seats and between passengers, as well as in its door panels.
Safety is a strong selling point for the Dodge Journey. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) gives it four stars overall under its revised ratings system, while the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) calls it a Top Safety Pick. Standard safety equipment includes dual front, side, and curtain airbags; stability and traction control; and active head restraints and four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock control on all models. A rearview camera is available, as are integrated second-row child booster seats.
Like other Dodge utility vehicles, but distinctive in the entire auto business, the Journey offers three channels of satellite TV for back-seat passengers. it's kid-friendly stuff from the Nickelodeon empire--and it's a lifesaver on long road trips. Chrysler's uConnect multimedia controller is also available, as is Bluetooth, while a USB port is standard.
