CD Article: 2009 Dodge Journey

[CD_Editor]

First Drive:


Starting at just $19,995, the mid-size Dodge Journey is "a great value" says contributor Bob McHugh. Available in five or seven passenger versions, the Journey "fills a void in the Dodge line-up left by the elimination of the short-wheelbase Caravan."

 More:
Read the article | View the photos | All The First Drives

[carcrazy]

I looked at it at the Auto Show: the exterior is OK, but the interior design is plain fugly. The pricing is interesting; at par with the US.

[PJungnitsch]

Equip them both with Air/Auto/ABS/SAB and the Journey is actually cheaper than a Caliber, another case of the price slide in new models with better US/Can pricing and formerly optional safety features standard.

They might sell a lot of these, especially if the short wheelbase Caravan buyers (and tons of those were sold) adopt them.

[Car guy - Big Time]

 These are great cars, with well made quality materials. I felt like I was driving a $ 50,000+ vehicle, while it was $ 42,000. It was rediculously smooth, lots of power, luxurious and extremly quite. I'm serious planning on purchesing this vehicle, and trading my Mercedes E500 in. I am looking for all of the above featires but with greater interior flexability and room.

[safristi]

DODGE is onna JOURNEY all right...ta HELL and Back...to Philadelphi aye aye to "ELL AY and back again baybee.....classic ROCK and between a hard place ...Detroit....

[stickshift]

I looked at it at the Auto Show: the exterior is OK, but the interior design is plain fugly. The pricing is interesting; at par with the US.

It's a far nicer interior than what Chrysler's been putting into most of their vehicles recently. Not perfect, but definitely better.

[safristi]

wot NO more DODGEY interiors...how will i recognize ONE? ;Doh yeah TRANNY substantially

[Cortina]

Looks like an updated 90's Caravan. Dispite that. I really like the way Dodge Journey looks I must admit.



Before.



After.

[Greg B.]

That is the cheapest-looking, most unattractive dashboard I've ever seen. It looks like a child's toy.

[lucid0703]

A great move.
Exterior is at least good-looking if not attractive, interior now (at least in pictures) looks much better than older Chryslers. I hate the new dashboard, though. As Greg B mentioned, it looks like something from ToysR'Us.
Other than that, I like it.

[Thinking Out Loud]

Nice to see some additional competition in the 'micro-van' market.  Makes three products now in this category with the M5 and the Rondo of 3-row seating.

I haven't seen one in person yet against which I can compare to my 5 on size - looks notably bigger?!??

Read commments about interior.....would have to see one in person - the pictures and the design of the dash layout are hard to image in these colours.

Good option tho to the now-extinct SB Caravan and Pacifica......

[Mitlov]

These are great cars, with well made quality materials. I felt like I was driving a $ 50,000+ vehicle, while it was $ 42,000. It was rediculously smooth, lots of power, luxurious and extremly quite. I'm serious planning on purchesing this vehicle, and trading my Mercedes E500 in. I am looking for all of the above featires but with greater interior flexability and room.

Good move!  I recently traded in my space shuttle for a Kia Rio, and I couldn't be happier.

PS--If you would pay $42,000 for a Journey, I have a couple cars I'd like to sell you

[Wetson]

These are great cars, with well made quality materials. I felt like I was driving a $ 50,000+ vehicle, while it was $ 42,000. It was rediculously smooth, lots of power, luxurious and extremly quite. I'm serious planning on purchesing this vehicle, and trading my Mercedes E500 in. I am looking for all of the above featires but with greater interior flexability and room.

Chrysler employee???

The exterior styling is attractive... the dashboard is downright FUGLY.

[carcrazy]

Nice to see some additional competition in the 'micro-van' market.  Makes three products now in this category with the M5 and the Rondo of 3-row seating.

I haven't seen one in person yet against which I can compare to my 5 on size - looks notably bigger?!??

Read commments about interior.....would have to see one in person - the pictures and the design of the dash layout are hard to image in these colours.

Good option tho to the now-extinct SB Caravan and Pacifica......

Journey doesn't really compete with Mazda5 and Rondo. It's a mid-size CUV I would say. Bigger than the RAV4, Rogue, Outlander, CRV (on the outside at least), I would compare it with the Santa Fe before anything else.

[Cortina]

Good move!  I recently traded in my space shuttle for a Kia Rio, and I couldn't be happier.

 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Interior styling looks Lincoln-like. Looks fine to me, but I can see how it could be a love-it, hate-it proposition. Very interesting package, with super pricing.

[mrthompson]

Why are the HVAC controls ABOVE the stereo?   

[airbalancer]

Why are the HVAC controls ABOVE the stereo?   

Why not
I probably use the HVAC controls more then radio controls

[mrthompson]

You're likely in the minority.

[stodge]

I use the radio controls a lot - I change channels after almost every song because the local stations have terrible music and terrible DJs.