Devoid of minivan-style sliding doors, the Journey offers the next best thing: wide-opening doors and sliding second-row seats that make access to the rearmost quarters easy.
I’m telling you, if it were not for some questionable materials, I would have found nothing to say against this convenient and intelligently thought-out interior.
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| The R/T model’s 235-horsepower V6 is a real blessing. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
Fuel-thirsty engine
The R/T model’s 235-horsepower V6 is a real blessing, especially with the sophisticated 6-speed automatic transmission with Auto/Stick manual mode. I’ve already spent a frustrating week behind the wheel of a base, 4-cylinder Journey, which felt wheezy and struggled under acceleration.
No such thing here, although I’m sad to report that the burly V6 proves to be a heavy drinker. It obviously stands to reason that a more powerful engine burns more fuel, but I believe that engineers could have improved efficiency without overly affecting performance.
On the road, the Journey possesses all the ingredients of a solid family-oriented vehicle. The steering is pleasantly sharp, the brakes, while disappointing in terms of stopping distances, still provide safety and confidence, and the smooth suspension favors ride quality over handling, something that puts a damper on pure driving excitement but makes for comfortable trips when fully loaded.
Journey wrap-up
During my test week, our videographer was shopping for a new family ride and I got him behind the wheel of the Journey for a quick spin. While this vehicle is far from perfect in many regards, it still has a lot to offer.
My colleague hasn’t purchased his new car yet (I suspect he merely wants a taste of the various models we’re trying out), but my recommendation is the same: the 2010 Dodge Journey R/T would make his wife and kids pretty happy.
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