Dodge Journey R/T CRD 2009 Review

Dodge Journey R/T CRD

Road Test

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory and delivery charges): $46,990
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): Metallic paint $450
Crash rating: Five-star NHTSA
Fuel: Diesel
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 9.3
CO2 emissions (g/km): 223
Also consider: Honda Odyssey (more here), Kia Carnival (more here), Citroen C4 Picasso HDi (more here)

Overall rating: 3.0/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 2.5/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 4.0/5.0
Safety: 3.0/5.0
Behind the wheel: 2.5/5.0
X-factor: 4.0/5.0

About our ratings

It hasn't been a good time for Dodge and its siblings in the Chrysler Group. But with US reorganisation bankruptcy proceedings now over and the new Fiat leadership taking charge, the future looks a lot brighter for the American brand.

But with the effect of Fiat's involvement still years away from hitting the roads, Dodge is left to solider on with its current line-up. And after spending a week in the Journey R/T CRD that might not be such a bad thing.

The Journey is one of the new generation of segment-bending crossovers that have become so popular in recent years. It looks like a SUV but is only available in front-wheel drive; consequently Dodge is pitching it as a 5+2 seater peoplemover. That means there is plenty of competition across both segments with which the Journey can compete. For the purposes of this review, however, this author considers the Journey firmly in the peoplemover camp meaning the most direct comparisons are with the Honda Odyssey, C4 Picasso and the like.

The Honda is widely considered the dynamic class leader with its focus on 'car-like' handling while the market leader on sales year-to-date is Kia's Carnival. According to the May VFACTS sales figures, the Journey has secured 6.5 per cent share in the segment, putting it fifth in the class.

There is a lot to like about Journey -- plus the inevitable not so pleasing aspects -- but on the whole the Dodge is near the top of the peoplemover shopping list.

Starting with the styling there is certainly no mistaking where the Journey was born and raised. It is an unashamedly American car with a big, beefy exterior with classic Dodge features including the crosshair grille and flared wheelarches.Styling is of course a subjective matter for each individual but there is a consensus in the office that the Journey is about as good looking as a seven-seat peoplemover can be. It certainly has a road presence unlike any other in the segment and looks at home next to more aggressively styled SUVs.

In terms of size and space, the Journey impresses on both counts. Our road test coincided with a large contingent of interstate family visitors and the Journey was able to swallow all passengers and luggage for the airport run.

At the same time it didn't feel as big or cumbersome as some other seven-seat SUVs. In large part that is due to its front-wheel-drive system. Some may questions Dodge decision to drive only the front wheels but going off the beaten track wasn't a priority for Dodge designers. By opting for two-wheel drive the Journey is blessed with a competitive turning circle and reasonable agility in low speed situations encountered in the urban environment (such as shopping centre carparks).

Although it is fitted with seven-seats Dodge doesn't refer to the Journey as a 'seven-seater' instead calling it a 5+2. In basic terms the difference means the Journey is designed to carry five people in comfort and up to seven in certain situations. If you occasionally pick up a couple of extra kids or need to transport seven adults a short distance, then the Journey is up to the job. If you are looking to regularly move seven adults you are better off looking at a Chrysler Grand Voyager.

While Dodge is among the minority of car companies that refer to its car as a 5+2, in truth most seven-seat peoplemovers and SUVs have similar interior space. Dodge should be given credit for its honesty.

But there are some areas that let the Journey down, most notably the engine and interior quality. It's no secret that the US Government's Auto Task Force didn't hold back when delivering its verdict of Chrysler LLC. The Task Force slammed the company's interior quality as lagging behind the rest of the industry.

There's also no question that the Journey's dashboard plastics lack the same quality found in most European and Asian competitors. But having said that the layout is simple and straightforward to use and Dodge has found an amazing number of places to use for storage -- including under the front passenger seat! Alas, the leather seats themselves feel cheap and unsupportive. 

Our initial road test (here) highlighted the deficiencies with the V6 petrol engine but our test car was fitted with the Volkswagen-sourced 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel. While hardly an engine to win awards with its unrefined note and slow pull through the revs, it actually has some strong points once you look a little deeper.

The most obvious advantage is the bottom-end torque that allows for smooth getaways from stationary. It is the high-revving nature of the Honda i-VTEC engine that counts so heavily against the Odyssey in this department, and in fairness to Honda, it is not alone in the segment either.

When the turbodiesel gets going, despite its small capacity, it pulls along steadily and without feeling laboured. Fuel consumption was good too with the average for the week hovering around 9L/100km mark during urban commuting and dropping well below that on a run down the motorway to the airport.

But the area where the Journey really starred during our road test was in an unfortunate real life safety demonstration. Understandably peoplemovers are not renowned for agility, but the Dodge showed genuine and impressive abilities in this department.

Heading north on Melbourne's six-lane Nepean Highway in the rain the Journey was slowed by a truck that turned across the northbound traffic from the southbound carriageway. At the same time a motorist in a Toyota Corolla decided to come from the left hand road behind the truck to join the southbound traffic.

Unfortunately for this author the Toyota driver failed to merge into the southern traffic and remained stationary, broadside in front of the Dodge. Despite the wet road and terrifyingly short distance between the front of the Journey and the side of the Corolla, the Dodge did just what it was supposed to do. The anti-lock brakes helped get the car slowed while still maintaining an ability to turn into the middle lane and avoid a nasty accident.

Aside from being indebted to the Dodge Journey for saving my bacon, the American peoplemover impressed in many areas and in the end moved near the top of our pile in the segment.

Unique and assertive styling, frugal and strong engine, spacious interior with good luggage space -- the Journey ticks a lot of boxes.

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