Dodge enters the crossover market

Email|Print|Single Page| Text size – + By Mike Hanley

Cars.Com / April 26, 2008

The Dodge Journey is an all-new crossover that is available in five- and seven-seat versions. You can opt for a four-cylinder or V-6, and choose from front- or all-wheel drive. The Journey, which is new to dealerships, will face some serious competitors, including the Ford Edge, Hyundai Santa Fe, Subaru Tribeca, and Toyota Highlander.

Crossovers are becoming an increasingly popular segment of the market, and the Journey gets Dodge into the game. It comes with a number of standard safety features and is available with amenities you may have seen in other Dodge models, such as a Chill Zone beverage cooler in the dashboard, YES Essentials stain-resistant seats, and a MyGIG music system.

The Journey is recognizable as a Dodge thanks to its crosshair grille bordered by rectangular wraparound headlights. The large front and rear fender flares accent wheels that are as large as 19 inches. The Journey measures 192.4 inches long overall, 72.2 inches wide and 69.9 inches tall with the available roof rack. The lift gate has a small spoiler.

There is standard seating for five and optional seating for seven with the two-person third-row seat. Dodge's Grand Caravan minivan offers what the company calls Stow 'n' Go or Swivel 'n' Go seating, but the Journey offers a new Flip 'n' Stow system. Essentially, it is a storage bin under the front passenger seat cushion that's revealed by tilting the cushion forward. There are also separate bins under the floor in the second row.

The second-row seat can slide forward and backward, and integrated child booster seats are available. The second row can also fold flat into the floor for more cargo room. Additionally, Dodge's Tip 'n' Slide feature allows the second row to slide forward and out of the way so it's easier to get into and out of the third row. Cloth seats are standard, with YES Essentials fabric and leather as options.

Available features include a navigation system, backup camera, rechargeable flashlight, remote-start system, Bluetooth-based cellphone connectivity, and a back seat entertainment system.

The model's base engine is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that produces an estimated 173 horsepower. Two V-6 engines are available - a 186-horsepower (estimated), 2.7-liter V-6, and a 235-horsepower (estimated), 3.5-liter V-6. The four-cylinder and 2.7-liter V-6 drive a four-speed automatic transmission, while the 3.5-liter V-6 uses a six-speed automatic. The Journey comes standard with front-wheel drive, but models with the 3.5-liter V-6 can also be equipped with all-wheel drive.

Also standard are all-disc antilock brakes, side-impact airbags for the front seats, three-row side curtain airbags, a tire pressure monitoring system, and an electronic stability system.

Base list price

$19,360 to $27,670

Base invoice price

$18,218 to $25,503

EPA fuel economy

City: 16 to 19 miles per gallon; Highway: 22 to 25 miles per gallon

Engines

173-horsepower, 2.4-liter I-4

235-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6

Transmissions

4-speed automatic w/OD

6-speed multi-speed automatic w/OD and auto-manual