2009 Dodge Journey Review

PROS  Lots of passenger and cargo room, Reasonable prices, Easy to drive and park

CONS  Sloppy steering, Noisy, Cheap interior

The Dodge Journey was introduced in the summer of 2008 with several brash commercials proclaiming, "If you can dream it, build it." Perhaps the most outlandish of the commercials pitted a group of 20-somethings using a Journey to transport a 700-foot waterslide to the top of a hill on a Los Angles street. The crew then erected the waterslide, and, as expected, adults turned into children and mayhem ensued.

While the commercial did highlight some of the unique features of Journey, the new Dodge wasn't the star of the show. The spot aimed at positioning the vehicle as cool, hip, brash, and perhaps a bit outside the norm.

The Journey is Dodge's first crossover SUV, and the fresh advertising approach helped differentiate the it from the other, more established competitors. It's ironic that Dodge, king of the minivan, would need a crossover SUV, but many buyers are switching to this new breed of people mover as a replacement for station wagons and conventional SUVs.

If you think about crossover SUVs, they are just minivans in disguise. They sport three rows of seats for up to eight-passenger capacity, have roomy cargo holds, and are usually available with all-wheel drive. They meld the best features of the minivan and the brash attitude of an SUV into a more practical and efficient silhouette.

Class competitors include the Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Flex, GMC Acadia, Hyundai Veracruz, Mazda CX-9, Mitsubishi Outlander, Saturn Outlook, Subaru Tribeca, and Toyota Highlander.

Journey slots into Dodge's SUV lineup between the five-passenger Nitro and eight-passenger Durango. For comparison sake, it's shorter and lower than a Grand Caravan. Seating for five, on twin front buckets and a fold-down rear bench, is standard. Seven-passenger seating is available with the Flexible Seating Group that includes a split-folding third-row seat.

Three models are offered. The SE has a 173-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and four-speed automatic transmission. SXT and R/T have a 235-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine that mates to a six-speed automatic transmission. The SE is only available with front-wheel drive. SXT and R/T are available with front- or all-wheel drive. The all-wheel-drive system is not intended for severe off-road use and does not include a low range.

Standard safety features on all models includes antilock brakes with brake assist, stability control with rollover sensors, tire-pressure monitor, and dual-front, front-side, and curtain-side airbags. A rear-view monitor is optional.

The SE lists for $20,625 and includes air conditioning, tilt-telescope steering wheel, cloth upholstery, height-adjustable driver seat, center console, adjustable second-row split folding seat, heated power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, AM/FM radio with in-dash six-disc CD/MP3 changer, rear defogger, rear wiper/washer, automatic-off headlights, theft-deterrent system, and 225/70R16 tires.

SXT models start at $23,625 and add cruise control, six-way power driver seat, fold-flat passenger seat, keyless entry, satellite radio, trip computer, outside-temperature indicator, automatic day-night rearview mirror, compass, illuminated visor mirrors, automatic headlights, floormats, rear privacy glass, sport suspension, 225/65R17 tires, and alloy wheels.

The line-topping R/T starts at $27,285 and adds to the SXT dual-zone automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, leather upholstery, heated front seats, universal garage door opener, remote engine start, fog lights, performance suspension, and 225/55R19 tires.

Options include power sunroof, rear-seat entertainment system, navigation system, Bluetooth cell-phone connection, and Chrysler's uconnect multimedia system, which adds a 20-gigabyle hard drive for music and photo storage. Class-unique options include a beverage-chilling glove box and child-safety seat cushions that are integrated into the second-row seats.

All models carry a $675 destination charge and are assembled in Mexico.

Get Up and Go  Most buyers will want to avoid the SE's four-cylinder engine, it provides more noise than motivation and isn't as fuel efficient as you'd expect thanks to it's ancient four-speed automatic transmission.

The 3.5-liter V6 that's standard on the SXT and R/T is a more sensible choice, even if it adds a few thousand dollars to the sticker price. Though no fireball, the SXT or R/T will accelerate from zero to 60 mph in about 9.5 seconds, which is average for the class and acceptable in most situations. The engine provides good passing punch in the 30-50 mph range. The V6 isn't the smoothest, but at least it cruises quietly.

The six-speed automatic upshifts smoothly, but occasionally balks when called upon to downshift in passing situations. One moment power comes on with a bang and the next the shift is slurred. Thankfully, the six-speed comes with a separate shift gate for those inclined to do it themselves.

The all-wheel-drive system isn't intended for serious off-road use, but it's more than up to the task of all-weather urban driving. R/T's performance-minded tires don't provide much traction in the snow, so owners in northern climates might want to swap them out for a set of snow tires in winter.

The AWD R/T is EPA rated at 15 mpg city and 22 mpg highway. Those numbers don't impress, but they're on par with other seven- and eight-passenger crossover SUVs. One drawback to the Journey is that Chrysler recommends mid-grade gasoline for best economy and performance.

In routine city driving expect to average 16-18 mpg. If your commute includes a lot of highway driving, you might be able to eek out 20 mpg. In straight highway driving, it's easy to exceed the EPA's 22 mpg rating, but not by much.

On the Road  Regardless of trim level, Journeys ride with composure and ease. The SE has the softest suspension and rides with the most comfort but suffers from too much float and bounce. SXTs have a slightly firmer suspension that eliminates most of the float and some of the bounce. R/Ts are set up with more firmness, though the ride is never harsh. The AWD SXT might have the best balance of firmness and comfort for typical American tastes.

All models suffer from numb and unresponsive steering that saps the fun from enthusiastic driving. That said, Journeys have more twisty-road composure than most larger crossovers, conventional SUVs, and minivans. The softly sprung SE has too much body lean in turns, but SXT and, firmer-still R/T, are surprisingly composed when tossed into a corner or rounding a tight expressway on ramp. All models have solid and responsive brakes.

Neither engine would be termed refined, but at least the V6 cruises quietly. Thankfully, road and wind noise are well muted, providing a serene driving experience most of the time.

Behind the Wheel  The litmus test for any people mover is interior functionality. In this category Journey is packing a full house. Dodge engineers and designers crammed every inch of Journey's interior with thoughtful touches and clever features. Sadly, the innovative interior is marred by too much hard plastic and poor fit and finish.

Overly small gauges face the driver from behind the steering wheel. The center stack is nicely placed and angled for easy access. Unfortunately, it is awash with a dizzying array of buttons and knobs--especially on uconnect-equipped models. Thankfully, window, mirror, lock, and ancillary controls are well placed and illuminated at night. The navigation screen is large and easy to read. However, programming destinations isn't as intuitive as some touch-screen systems.

The front bucket seats are supportive and well shaped. R/T models have very firm cushions that might not be to everyone's liking. The standard tilt-telescope steering wheel makes it easy for most drivers to find a comfortable position.

Journey really isn't as tall as some crossover SUVs and that makes for easy entry and exit. At the same time, it doesn't offer the commanding view of the road that SUV owners have come to expect. In addition, thick rear roof pillars obstruct visibility to the rear.

Journey's second-row seats offer good leg and head room for average-size adults. Those over six foot may find themselves short in both counts, especially if the front seats are pushed all the way back. The optional third-row seats are for kids only and are difficult to access.

If you're looking for a crossover with ample interior storage, look no further than Journey. In addition to a deep center console and twin glove boxes, Journey boasts an available under-cushion front-passenger small-item compartment, two good sized foot-well storage compartments in the second row, and a large, deep storage tray beneath the rear load floor. Second- and third-row seatbacks fold flat, as does the front passenger seat. This creates a very large cargo area. Other nice touches include a pop-out flashlight built into the cargo area and a 115-volt power outlet.

Bottom Line  On the surface, Journey offers an appealing alternative for shoppers looking for a versatile vehicle that can meet the needs of today's on-the-go families. It's roomy, has more storage than you can shake a stick at, and is pleasant to drive. Unfortunately, Journey also comes with a few drawbacks. The interior has too much hard plastic, the base engine is underpowered, and V6 isn't as fuel efficient as it should be.

Thankfully, Dodge has priced Journey very aggressively against its crossover SUV competitors. A nicely equipped SXT can be had for less than $30,000, several thousand less than similarly trimmed competition. Dodge gave Journey all the characteristics of a top-notch crossover, it just needs to spend a little time at finishing school.