Summer and family vacations stir up some great memories. Gliding along the interstate in the back of an Estate Wagon LTD or Polara Wagon used to be an annual rite for a lot of Midwestern families. Since none of these vehicles have been manufactured in almost 20 years, I found myself weighing the available choices to drive while visiting the land of the M-O-U-S-E in Florida.
A full-size SUV would work, but that would be a thirsty proposition. A minivan or compact sedan would be OK, but I wanted to try something different. So I picked up an all-new 2009 Dodge Journey mid-size crossover to haul the Taylor clan aound Orlando and Daytona Beach, Fla. I wanted to see just how well Dodge’s affordable entry in the hot mid-size segment fared on a vacation.
With a starting price of $19,985 the Journey should land on a lot of shopping lists of buyers who are looking for a mid-size SUV/crossover. However, drive-by shoppers may view Journey’s styling as too minivan/wagon-like, or confuse it with the Caliber as some fellow vacationers did.
The Taylors put a sporty R/T version with almost $4K in options through its paces during a humid week in Florida. With the comfort/luxury options, the price soared to $29,880.
Dodge labels the Journey as a “right-sized” crossover, but I must be “wrong-sized” as I would have preferred a bit more room for the third row passengers. The kids viewed the scramble behind the second-row seat to reach the cozy confines of the third row as an adventure. Adults riding in the back will hit you with: “Are we there yet?”
The rest of the Journey is more a more pleasant experience. As I always relay to vehicle buyers: It’s not how you look in a vehicle, it’s how you fit. Dodge didn’t want to try and turn a minivan into an SUV -- that’s been done without success. Instead Dodge designed a crossover with a practical, flexible interior that features some of the interior tricks typically associated with a minivan while putting it in a true sporty crossover package.
Journeys come standard with five-passenger seating, and only uplevel SXT and R/Ts offer third-row (small) passenger seating. Taking a cue from the Caravan, Journey offers available Flip ’n Stow in-seat storage. This is a great feature as the front passenger seat cushion flips up exposing a 10.75 x 8.75-inch bin. We used it to conceal valuables when parked and for stuff that was not needed while on the road. The rest of this rig is filled with cup holders, consoles, bins, pockets, compartments and hooks to secure/hold all kinds of gear. Neatly concealed under the second-row floor mat are two standard in-floor storage removable bins that can hold 12, 12-oz. cans with ice or other items. Beverages are also covered up front with the standard Chill Zone, which is basically a glove box ice box.
Behind the wheel, I liked the setup and positioning of the controls. The dash and center stack have a tall, minivanlike design that I did not mind. Dodge included a soft-touch dash surround, two-tone interior and added a few chrome appointments, but the Journey also had a lot of hard plastic. Build quality was above average with no noticeable rattles, ill-fitting pieces or gaps.
For passenger access, the second set of doors open a full 90 degrees to aid entry, but make sure you instruct the kids on their proper operation, or you’ll scratch your vehicle and dent the vehicle next to you. Once inside, passengers can take advantage of the stadium seating, which eliminates the “bathtub” feeling on long trips. The second row seats also slide fore/aft almost 5 inches to help you “space out” siblings or adjust for greater comfort. Speaking of comfort, the seats did not look cushy but proved to be supportive, and we did not get fatigued during long stretches. Those banished to the third row of seats can recline the seatback up to 6 degrees.
A final note on seating is that you should seriously consider the YES Essentials stain-resistant, odor-resistant, anti-static seat fabric -- even if you don’t have kids. This is an interior saver available on SE models and standard on the SXT model. Journey R/Ts feature standard leather seating surfaces.
If you have to carry items instead of passengers Journey’s second row along with the available fold-flat front passenger seat flat offers as much as 9 feet of straight load space. Behind the third row is a handy in-floor concealed storage bin that worked great for wet/sandy beach towels. Journey offers a total cargo capacity of 67.6 cubic feet-behind the front seats.
The Journey is relatively new, so I had a few fellow vacationers (driving minivans) ask me what it was -- especially after witnessing the amount stuff I kept pulling out of all the storage areas. Dodge calls the styling bold and muscular, but the people I talked to thought it looked too much like the Caravan or a pumped up Caliber.
I’ve stated previously that I don’t like minivans. The reason being is that they are just not fun to drive. The Journey is based on Chrysler’s D-segment architecture using a stretched version the Dodge Avenger’s platform. So, it is a front-wheel-drive vehicle, and it features a four-wheel independent front suspension with MacPherson struts and a multi-link rear suspension. The test vehicle came equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD) on demand and standard four-wheel disc anti-lock brakes (ABS).
Power and performance are dirty words right now as gas mileage is king. Well, for those of us that like our zap in the form or horses and not kilowatts the Journey can oblige. Base models are saddled with a 2.4-liter four-popper. Journey SXT and R/T models feature a standard 3.5-liter V-6 engine that produces 235 horsepower and 232 lb.-ft. of torque coupled with a six-speed automatic transaxle backed with Auto Stick and a performance-oriented suspension. Mileage comes in at 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway on front-wheel drivers and 15 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway on AWD models. The combination of the 3.5 and six-speed will permit a towing limit of 3,500 pounds.
On the road, the 3.5-liter provided ample power from a standing start or to pass without any noticeable strain. The ride was smooth and traveling through several areas with road construction did not illicit any bad behavior or rough ride. Overall, the Journey returned a quiet ride with minimal road noise, vibration and harshness. The R/T test vehicle was shod with19-inch wheels/tires that are for cruising and not off-roading.
Journey comes with driving/safety aids such as Electronic Stability Program (ESP), which applies selective braking or throttle reduction to control oversteer or understeer. Journey’s Brake Assist ensures maximum braking action during emergency stops and worked flawlessly. Traction Control reduces the throttle and/or applies selective braking to optimize traction during acceleration -- you don’t even know the system is in operation.
Two features I did not get to test were Electronic Roll Mitigation, which determines when the vehicle is in a potential roll over condition and applies appropriate braking force to reduce or prevent roll over, and the Trailer Sway Control, which helps maintain vehicle and trailer stability by again applying selective braking action.
So, where does Journey rank within the mid-size segment -- above mid-pack. The R/T V-6 is the way to go for sporty looks and driving. The storage and passenger seating configurations for up to seven are big plusses. The pricing model works with a lot of buyer’s budgets, and there are plenty of standard safety and driving aids. The fuel economy along with the interior materials could be better, and the styling doesn’t pop. Journey does face some strong competition from GM, Nissan and Toyota.
Ultimately the Journey proved to be a very capable and handy travel companion that fit my style. Everyone had plenty of space, storage room was excellent, and the ride was pleasant, especially with the three-zone temp controls.
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