Dodge Journey crossover: Quite appealing
— -- Quite an accomplishment, Chrysler's Dodge Journey.
It's a crossover SUV based on the Dodge Avenger sedan. Even though the two share unseen hardware, they're not at all alike and won't steal sales from one another. And because Journey is a new vehicle, it represents additional sales for dealers and the brand.
Journey also manages to more or less replace the lame-duck Chrysler Pacifica in the corporate product mix, as well as be the company's reasonable stand-in, without the boring-parent stigma, for the discontinued Dodge and Chrysler short-wheelbase minivans.
Journey's swing-open rear doors rather than van sliders make all the difference in image and appearance, but they still can be opened very wide (if you have room) for exceptional access.
The first Journeys hit showrooms in February; only now is the pipeline full.
Notable is that Journey continues the move toward higher-class interiors seen in many of the company's recent Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products.
The test vehicles were a loaded, $35,000, all-wheel-drive preproduction R/T and a sparser, $23,000, front-drive, regular-production SXT. The SXT seemed like a roomy family hauler with a pleasant array of features at bargain price: No need to cram in like sardines for that eight-state road trip or settle for bottom-feeder execution to save the family budget.
The R/T seemed like a relatively value-priced alternative to the pricier Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. The Journey also offers an optional third-row seat that's not available at any price in the Ford Edge, probably its most direct rival.
On the minus side, Journey offers no fuel-sipping alternative power plant, such as Highlander's hybrid drive, in this era of fuel-induced hysteria.
There "could be" a fuel-economy powertrain for the U.S. eventually, says Larry Lyons, Chrysler vice president in charge of most vehicle development. He notes that foreign-market Journeys use a Volkswagen diesel approved for sale in the U.S. (VW's bringing it here soon.) But he won't say if he's hinting or teasing.
What stuck out:
•Styling. Nifty. Trim, taut. Not ruined by exterior uglification items such as spoilers, spats and running boards. Journey reminds you of a minivan (implying space and convenience), but doesn't quite look like one (ducking the strong anti-van prejudice of many buyers). How's that for walking the line?
