Dodge Jorney R / T 2016 Review
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The Dodge Journey combines the rugged looks of an SUV with the functionality of a passenger vehicle.
Despite being a very minor player in Australia, the Dodge brand has been around for just over 100 years and is still one of the most recognizable names in the world.
For most of its life, Dodge was owned by Chrysler until the collapse of this other American icon during the GFC saw them both snatched up by the Italian giant Fiat. The Dodge Journey is a close relative of the Fiat Freemont.
Over the past decade, several Dodge models have appeared and disappeared in Australia - only one remained - Journey. While it certainly has the looks of an SUV, it doesn't have a 4WD option, and in our opinion, that makes it appealing to people.
Potential family buyers should be aware that third-row seats, previously standard, now cost $1500.
Built in Mexico to a fairly high standard, the Journey has good paint and panel fit, though not quite up to Asian-made standards. Three models are offered: SXT, R/T and Blacktop Edition.
Design
There’s plenty of interior space within the Journey. The front seats are firm and comfortable and provide the sort of high driving position we like.
On R/T and Blacktop models, both front seats are heated. The second and third row seats are slightly higher than the front two, which improves visibility for these passengers. This, together with the five large head restraints, interferes with the rear view of the driver.
The second row seats use the Tilt 'N Slide system, which folds and slides forward for easier access to the third row seats. As is usually the case, the latter are best for pre-teens. For younger children, there are built-in booster seats built into the second row outer seat cushions that fold back into the cushions when not in use.
Despite the fact that Journey is almost five meters long, it is quite easy to maneuver around the city.
Three-zone climate-controlled air conditioning is standard on all models, as is a six-way power driver's seat. Seats in the SXT are upholstered in cloth, while those in the R/T and Blacktop are upholstered in leather.
In seven-seat mode, trunk space is limited to 176 liters, but this is not unusual for this type of car. The third-row seats were split 50/50 at the rear – with both folded down, cargo space increased to 784 liters. The trunk is well lit at night and comes with a detachable rechargeable flashlight.
ENGINES
While the Fiat Freemont comes with a choice of three engines, including a diesel, its Dodge twin only comes with a 3.6-liter V6 petrol, which is also one of the Freemont's options. Peak power is 206kW at 6350rpm, torque is 342Nm at 4350rpm but is 90 percent of that from 1800 to 6400rpm. The gearbox is a six-speed manual Dodge Auto Stick.
safety
All Dodge Journeys are equipped with seven airbags, including curtain airbags located along all three rows of seats. As well as conventional stability control and traction control systems and brakes with ABS and emergency brake assist; electronic roll mitigation (ERM), which detects when a rollover is possible and applies braking force to the appropriate wheels to try and prevent it; and trailer sway control.
Features
The centerpiece of the Journey Uconnect multimedia system is an 8.4-inch color touchscreen in the center of the dashboard. As is often the case, it takes time to learn how to use the various features, but everything works well after that. It is important to note that it is large and logical enough to minimize the time during which the driver's attention is distracted from the road.
On the open road, the big Dodge rides with ease and is perfect for any long journey.
The Uconnect system can be controlled with voice commands, and Bluetooth sync is relatively easy. There is a single USB port which is located in front of the center console and takes a bit of fiddling to find. The R/T and Blacktop also have an SD card slot on the dash.
For rear seat passengers, the R/T and Blacktop have a foldable rooftop screen that allows you to play DVDs in the front or connect your device with RGB cables in the back. It comes with wireless headphones.
Driving
Despite the fact that Journey is almost five meters long, it is quite easy to maneuver around the city. The image of the standard rear view camera is displayed on the 8.4-inch color screen and certainly pays off in difficult situations. The R/T variant we tested also came with Dodge ParkSense rear parking assistance, which uses ultrasonic sensors in the rear bumper to detect movement behind the car and sound an alarm.
On the open road, the big Dodge rides light and is perfect for any long-distance journey (sorry!). The downside is fuel consumption, which is 10.4L/100km - we finished our weekly test at 12.5L/100km. If this is a serious problem, a Fiat Freemont diesel can be used as an alternative.
The call is not exciting. While it's clearly not a sports car, the Journey is competent enough that unless the driver does something really stupid, they're not likely to get in trouble.
Dodge Journey is an attractive and versatile vehicle which can move people and their gear easily and comfortably. It is packed full of practical features that make it a real pleasure to travel in.
Click here for more pricing and specs for the 2016 Dodge Journey.
Do you prefer the Journey or the Freemont? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
