Dodge Journey 2008 Review

Because basically it has everything that opens and closes and a lot of it.

There are storage boxes on almost every free floor area, most with removable and washable liners that you can store dirty gear or anything you might want to add ice to. The glove box is split in two with a cooling zone to keep a couple of cans (or even a large bottle of wine) cold. All but the driver's seat folds down for more storage space, and the front passenger seat features a handy hard tray built into the backrest.

Secondary doors open 90 degrees to facilitate rear and rear access for people and cargo.

And if you opt for the optional $3250 MyGIG audio/navigation/communications system, which now comes with a 30GB hard drive, you can also get a $1500 second-row DVD player that opens down from the roof.

Reclining seats in the second and third rows, theater seats from which children can see all around, dirt-repellent upholstery and folding side mirrors for easier parking.

Plus, there's the lure of nice touches like heated seats and leather upholstery for the top-end version.

And all this in the style of an SUV with a Dodge grille in front? It's a football mom's dream.

And its manufacturer hopes that about 100 of them will show up each month to pick up one of the showrooms.

Dodge calls it a crossover between a passenger car, an SUV, and a passenger car.

But won't that cut sales of Chrysler's stablemate, the Grand Voyager passenger van?

Chrysler Australia managing director Jerry Jenkins doesn't think so.

“Grand Voyager is the king of all People Movers. This is for those who are interested in the best, with all the bells and whistles and comfort,” says Jenkins.

“The Journey is for active lifestyles looking for roominess, flexibility and utility in a stylish and affordable package.

“Not as much space and comfort as Voyager, but not the same price.

“Emotionally, great looks and an exciting different brand. On the rational side, great comfort, utility, safety, etc. Looks modern, modern, and will appeal to the mass market.”

transmissions

The Dodge Journey R/T comes with a turbodiesel paired to a new dual-clutch automatic transmission for $46,990, or a V6 petrol paired to the six-speed automatic previously used in the Avenger for $41,990, while the SXT only available with a petrol engine priced at $36,990.

The 2.0-liter turbodiesel develops 103 kW of power and 310 Nm of torque, and its consumption is 7.0 liters per 100 km.

The 2.7 liter V6 petrol engine develops 136 kW of power and 256 Nm of torque. Not surprisingly, gasoline consumes about three liters more per 100 km than diesel.

exterior

The quad halogen headlights, body-colored panels and grille accentuate the muscular styling that is a trademark of Dodge, although it has been toned down for the Journey.

The sloping windshield flows smoothly into the rear spoiler, highlighting the stainless steel roof rails and three large side windows. Short front and rear overhangs, sculpted wheel arches and semi-gloss B-pillars and C-pillars give the car a sporty look.

safety

A comprehensive airbag package kicks off the long list of Dodge Journey safety features, including ABS, ESP, electronic roll mitigation, trailer sway control, tire pressure monitoring, traction control, and brake assist.

Driving

The first thing you'll notice about the Journey's interior is the quality of the surfaces, which are vast improvements over some previous models. The plastic is soft - even in some places on the dash - and feels tighter all around.

And once you develop a sequence of handles, you can easily raise, lower, fold and stow the seats in a variety of ways.

Cargo space of 397 liters rises to almost 1500 when all seats are folded down and there is great room for second-row passengers, though the third row is too close to the floor to be comfortable for long legs.

Both engines are ready enough, but the V6 struggles with the Journey's 1750kg weight as you attack the hills, and it's likely to feel the extra weight if you're packed to capacity.

The turbodiesel provides better response, although it can be a bit noisy at idle.

There is a bit of body roll if you turn fast, but overall road behavior is pretty good at normal speeds for this type of vehicle, and it soaks up uneven bituminous surfaces easily until you hit the accelerator, which can make it unwieldy.

The steering was surprisingly light at low speeds, however, it didn't seem to add enough weight at the high end of the scale.

But it was all on interesting rural roads at top speed most of the time. And most Journeys will be urban, where features like lighter steering would be an advantage.

Buyers looking for an urban family warrior at a good price should choose the Journey.