2013 Honda Accord V6 Touring: Driven
The Honda Accord is now in its ninth generation, and as we reported in our First Drive of the 2013... Read More
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six-speed automatic that teams with the V-6 can be hesitant to kick down when you need more power
the steering is a world or two better
The Journey's brakes have an odd feel to them
PERFORMANCE | 7 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
six-speed automatic that teams with the V-6 can be hesitant to kick down when you need more power
Kicking Tires
the steering is a world or two better
Motor Trend
The Journey's brakes have an odd feel to them
Kicking Tires
Forget about the Journey if you're set on the idea of a four-cylinder or top-drawer fuel economy. Their loud, coarse 173-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and four-speed automatic are dawdling and disappointing in nearly every respect.
Otherwise you should head straight to one of the V-6 versions, as they're excellent and refined. Chrysler's 3.6-liter 'Pentastar' V-6 makes 283 horsepower and is hooked up to a six-speed automatic for much better responsiveness. The six-speed automatic can take some of the polish off the package, though: in some versions we've driven, the automatic juddered and hesitated before it downshifted.
The Journey's handling is reasonably responsive. The Journey's suspension loads and unloads confidently, like a lower and leaner vehicle than it is, and there's none of the excessive bounding or wallowing when you hit a bump mid-corner with some taller crossovers. The ride quality remains a strong point, with the proper damping and roll control for a family vehicle. And while the hydraulic-assist steering system gets it right with weighting, the rather quick steering ratio feels a little out of place.
The steering is very quick for a family vehicle, and doesn't deliver the feedback it needs. Ride quality remains a strong point, however, with the proper damping and roll control for a family vehicle; although keep in mind that wheel sizes now range from 17-inch to 19-inchers and those largest wheels don't soak up the impacts quite as well. In any case, braking is strong, though.
Conclusion
The 2013 Journey accelerates strongly and handles well--provided you get the V-6.
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