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By Jeff Yip | Photos by the author and Dodge | 3/19/2008 | Dodge
The game of SUV/crossover-spotting just got tougher.
Meet the 2009 Journey, Dodge's entry in the crowded and action-packed crossover segment. Slotted between the Caliber and the Grand Caravan and based on the Avenger platform, the Journey is aimed at young couples and empty-nesters who want the utility of a minivan but dread the (alleged) drab image of a minivan. (Hmm. Isn't journey synonymous with odyssey?)
The base Journey, the SE, is a five-passenger vehicle with the attention-getting MSRP of $19,985 -- and that includes $625 destination. To come up with that "right-price" Dodge is understandably proud of, the Journey gets basic gear that's adequate for commuting.
We're talking about Dodge/Chrysler's 2.4-liter four, rated at 173 horses and 166 ft.-lb. of torque in the Journey, and a four-speed automatic transaxle. Also included are 16-inch tires and wheels, cloth low-back bucket seats with manual height adjustment and second-row 60/40 seating.
To be a player in this competitive segment (Honda Element, Ford Edge, Toyota RAV4), all Journeys come with air conditioning, power windows, locks, fold-away heated mirrors, tilt/telescoping steering, liftgate flood lamp, side-curtain air bags on all rows, even if you don't opt for the third-row seat. (Third-row seating is not available in the SE.)
Dodge says the next level up, the SXT, is the Journey most consumers will take -- and, after driving the SXT in city, highway and mountains, we have to agree.
The SXT bumps the price point to $22,985, but the extra three grand gets you a 235-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 with dual exhaust, six-speed auto transaxle with auto stick, touring suspension, 17-inch aluminum wheels, SIRIUS satellite radio (one-year subscription), upgraded YES Essentials fabric upholstery, six-way power driver seat, front-passenger fold-flat seat, LED flashlight, a clever passenger seat with in-seat storage, overhead console with convex observation mirror, cargo net, floor mats, trip computer with temperature and compass display, speed control, 115-volt AC auxiliary outlet and automatic-dimming rearview mirror.
Options are packaged in appearance, entertainment, seating, towing and convenience groups. Key items include 19-inch chromed or machined wheels and tires, performance suspension and steering, sunroof, UConnect hands-free communications, 368-watt stereo system with subwoofer, automatic/dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, second-row "Tilt ‘n Slide" seat, 50/50 third-row seat, rear A/C and heater, LED lighting for cup holders, front foot wells and map lights, back-up camera and engine oil cooler.
The top-of-the-line Journey is the R/T. Priced at $26,545, the R/T adds to the SXT equipment standard 19-inch machined wheels and tires (chrome is an extra cost item, leather-trimmed bucket seats, heated front seats, automatic, dual-zone climate control, Homelink garage door opener, upgraded armrest and door trim panels, full length floor console, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and steering wheel-mounted audio controls.
The Journey should reach showrooms by April. The SXT and R/T versions are available with all-wheel-drive.
The designers took the adage, "the journey is often more important than the destination," to heart. Not only are the second- and third-row (if so equipped) mounted stadium style, to give occupants a little more view outside, seats have been engineered to fold down using only one hand -- an important detail if you have a child, sack or small pet in the other. Speaking of children, booster seats for kids up to 4 ft., 9 in. are available that raise the child into the zone covered by the adult seat belt. And, we should note, there is no power liftgate available. That said, the liftgate was not difficult to shut and the inset grab handles are lined.
The Journey is pleasantly styled. From the B pillar forward, it shares a lot with the Avenger, Dodge points out. The "two-box" form factor doesn't leave much room for expression, but the back end of the Journey has a very nice contemporary look. The taillamps get a lot of credit for that.
Chrysler's team crammed a lot of user-friendliness into this crossover,with plenty places to stash stuff. In the floor behind the front-row seats is a storage compartment with latching lids that can hold a dozen 12-oz cans plus ice. Removable liners make cleanup easy. On Journeys without a third-row seat, there's a hidden storage compartment that can accommodate grocery bags.
The security-minded will appreciate that there are several places to store things out of sight. On SXT and R/T models, lifting the front passenger's bottom reveals a storage area. (Sorry, workaholics, it's too small to stash even the most compact laptops.)
Another cool idea -- literally -- is the "Chill Zone" -- a compartment in the glove box that holds two 12-ounce cans. The air conditioning is ducted through the can holder and it originated in Dodge's Caliber.
Out on the road, the Journey is impressive for its isolation of noise, vibration and harshness. Dodge's engineers took pains to ensure road noise is stopped in its tracks by using cutting-edge sound-deadening materials, adhesives and sealants at key points in the body structure.
The Journey is assembled in Toluca, Mexico. Hot stamped and high-strength steel is used in about a third of they Journey's structure for strength and weight management. Triple-sealed weather stripping around the doors, smaller door-to-body side gaps and brilliantly matched tires -- in our test vehicles, smooth-riding Kumho Solus KH16 225/55R-19s -- delivered a quietness you'd expect in a Lexus or other premium SUV. And the serenity definitely increased the enjoyment of the rocking tunes belted out by the SIRIUS radio and premium sound system.
While no sports car, the Journey handled with confidence. The SXT may be all you need, as it didn't porpoise or sway -- even in the gusty winds we encountered in the mountains outside Las Vegas. The AWD SXT seemed particularly well planted. If you're running solo or even just taking a test drive, you'll want to get the rear seat headrests down and out of the way as they really impede rearward vision.
Two areas that could use improvement are the look and feel of the interior plastics and the response of the V6 engine. At a time when other manufacturers are able to routinely wring 268, 275 and even 305 horses from their naturally aspirated 3.5-liter engines, the Journey's power isn't in the same ballpark. The deficit is underscored by the fact that the SXT AWD (without driver) weighs in at 4,212 pounds.
Fuel economy (city/highway); estimates for the Journey SE are 19/25, 16/23 for front-drive SXTs and R/Ts and 15/22 for AWD versions. For 2008, the mileage calculation methods are tougher and more realistic so ratings shouldn't be compared against older numbers. One factoid worth noting is that the AWD versions have larger fuel tanks: 21.1 gallons vs. 20.5 for the FWDs. While the 2.4-liter four is happy with a diet of regular 87-octane gas, Dodge says the preferred fuel for the 3.5-liter is 89-octane mid-grade.
Towing capabilities are 1,000 pounds with the four and 3,500 pounds with the V6 and the trailering group.
Specifications:
Base price: $19,985 (SE)
Engine: 2.4-liter DOHC four SE; 3.5-liter SOHC V6 SXT, R/T
Drivetrain: four-speed automatic (SE); six-speed automatic all others; front- or all-wheel-drive
Horsepower: 173 @ 6000 rpm, SE; 235 @ 6400 rpm, SXT, R/T
Torque: 166 @ 4000 rpm, SE; 235 @ 4000 rpm, SXT, RT
Fuel economy: 19/25 city/highway SE; 16/23 FWD; 15/22 AWD
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