I just wish Chrysler would stop designing their vehicles with such wide door sills. Climbing in the Journey isn't that bad, but when you get out, it's always a reach and a half for your foot to touch the ground, and you'll dirty your pant leg if you're not careful.
In back, the hatch opens high and is easily closed with a rubber-padded grab handle. With all the seats up, there isn't much room back there, but folding the 3rd-row seat down gives 1,049 litres of cargo space; fold the 2nd-row too, and you'll obtain 1,915 litres of space. In comparison, the Toyota RAV4 offers 2,074 L, the Ford Escape offers 1,877 L and the Chevrolet Equinox can hold 1,943 L of stuff.
Unimpressive fuel consumption
The 3.5-liter V6 produces 235 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque, while mated to a 6-speed automatic with manual mode. Although Dodge calls this engine "High Output", it's actually about 30 horses short than the competition's similar-displacement V6s.
Launch the Journey R/T AWD from a standstill, and the 6-speed bangs through its gears while keeping the engine in full boil; 100 km/h is achieved in 8.3 seconds, while the quarter-mile mark flashes by in 15.9 seconds at 138 km/h.
The engine/tranny duo is a little slower during re-acceleration, though; mash the throttle to pass, and the automatic stumbles a little, trying to figure out which gear is best, and often double-downshifts, which wastes precious time.
Fuel economy is not great; I'm driving under 100 clicks on the highway, and I've got a very light right foot this week, yet I'm still averaging 14.7 L/100 km. My calculations are better than the trip computer's readout, which is saying that I'm at 15.3. In some cases, downsizing doesn't always mean saving fuel.
As for handling, it stays planted on the road, but I don't feel that this crossover really deserves an R/T badge on its posterior. The ride quality is pretty good, and apart from some suspension noise over rough pavement (and a dash squeak), the Journey is a great highway cruiser.
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| There are numerous storage points spread across the cabin, including under the front passenger seat cushion. |
In back, the hatch opens high and is easily closed with a rubber-padded grab handle. With all the seats up, there isn't much room back there, but folding the 3rd-row seat down gives 1,049 litres of cargo space; fold the 2nd-row too, and you'll obtain 1,915 litres of space. In comparison, the Toyota RAV4 offers 2,074 L, the Ford Escape offers 1,877 L and the Chevrolet Equinox can hold 1,943 L of stuff.
Unimpressive fuel consumption
The 3.5-liter V6 produces 235 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque, while mated to a 6-speed automatic with manual mode. Although Dodge calls this engine "High Output", it's actually about 30 horses short than the competition's similar-displacement V6s.
Launch the Journey R/T AWD from a standstill, and the 6-speed bangs through its gears while keeping the engine in full boil; 100 km/h is achieved in 8.3 seconds, while the quarter-mile mark flashes by in 15.9 seconds at 138 km/h.
The engine/tranny duo is a little slower during re-acceleration, though; mash the throttle to pass, and the automatic stumbles a little, trying to figure out which gear is best, and often double-downshifts, which wastes precious time.
Fuel economy is not great; I'm driving under 100 clicks on the highway, and I've got a very light right foot this week, yet I'm still averaging 14.7 L/100 km. My calculations are better than the trip computer's readout, which is saying that I'm at 15.3. In some cases, downsizing doesn't always mean saving fuel.
As for handling, it stays planted on the road, but I don't feel that this crossover really deserves an R/T badge on its posterior. The ride quality is pretty good, and apart from some suspension noise over rough pavement (and a dash squeak), the Journey is a great highway cruiser.
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| The 3.5-liter V6 produces 235 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque, while mated to a 6-speed automatic with manual mode. |