2019 Dodge Journey

Overview

Not every new car has the latest technology and contemporary styling, and that includes the 2019 Dodge Journey. Too bad all-new vehicles with fresh designs and modern features can be expensive, especially three-row crossovers. While the Journey is an outdated option in this class, it remains a very affordable and practical alternative to fresher rivals. Despite an unspectacular interior and sloppy handling, the Dodge's configurable cabin and user-friendly infotainment are highlights. Neither of its powertrains are particularly appealing, but the V-6 version is much quicker than the four-cylinder and surprisingly fuel efficient. Still, the Journey's dearth of driver assists and dull driving experience will entice only those looking for a bargain.

What's New for 2019?

Dodge does little to make the Journey more competitive for 2019. However, the company has dropped the SXT trim and pared down the lineup to three models: SE, Crossroad, and GT. The change means more standard features and options on the entry-level Journey SE, which can now be had with the V-6 powertrain. Likewise, its front and rear ends have sportier styling as well as new fog lamps and LED taillights. All models are now available with Destroyer Gray exterior paint, among the other color choices.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The V-6–powered Crossroad model has 19-inch wheels, black exterior detailing, and a bright-chrome front-bumper accent, leather seating surfaces and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and three-zone automatic climate control. The Crossroad inherited these luxury features from the now-departed Crossroad Plus trim without seeing a hefty price bump, and it now represents the best value in the lineup.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Likes: Available all-wheel drive, comfortable ride on the freeway.
Dislikes: Dated and sedated base four-cylinder engine, can only tow up to 2500 pounds, poor handling.

The Journey SE and Crossroad trims come with an underpowered four-cylinder engine and a four-speed automatic transmission that's best avoided. Some extra cash can score you a more powerful V-6 and six-speed automatic transmission, but even that combination lags behind the competition when it comes to acceleration. The optional V-6 engine provides enough oomph in day-to-day driving, but you have to rev it out to get it to move. An automatic transmission that's reluctant to downshift further dulls its real-world performance.

There are not many three-row crossovers that are entertaining to drive, so their ride and handling are graded on a curve. Even so, the Journey's ponderous handling and unresponsive transmission leave it far from getting a good rating from us. The last GT model we drove supposedly had stiffer suspension tuning than other trims, but we were unable to detect it. It wallowed in corners with lots of body roll and imprecise steering. The benefit of this softness, however, is a comfortable ride on the freeway. The Journey's mushy-feeling brake pedal undercuts its decent results in our 70-mph-to-zero braking test.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

Neither of the Journey's two engine choices are fuel efficient. The four-cylinder engine has the worst EPA ratings among competitors with similar powertrains. The V-6 model with all-wheel drive that we tested did manage to outperform its EPA estimates in our real-world testing.

Interior, Infotainment, and Cargo

Likes: Standard three-row seating, straightforward controls, available 8.4-inch touchscreen and mobile hotspot.
Dislikes: Low-quality materials, no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, less cargo space than other three-row rivals.

The Journey's interior is far from upscale, but its simple controls are user-friendly. Getting anyone to fit in the third row—even children—requires those in the second row to compromise their legroom. Cheap-feeling bits such as a plasticky shifter and hollow-sounding interior door-trim panels are especially egregious on the priciest version. Several luxury features including a power-adjustable passenger seat, cooled seats, and heated rear seats are notable in their absence from the options list.

Although every model features an easy-to-use touchscreen, the system has fewer features than many other Dodge products. Likewise, the larger screen is responsive, but we wish Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were also offered here. There's also only a single USB port up front—not great for the device-happy spawn likely to inhabit the back seats.

Practicality is one of the few areas where the Journey shines: its interior is easily configurable and it has tons of cubby storage for odds and ends, even if its total cargo capacity isn't as large as some competitors. You can fold down the 50/50-split third row and the 60/40-split second row to expand the available cargo space, although the Journey offers the least amount of total cargo space of the vehicles in this class. In addition to the expected compartments in and around the console, there's also a generously sized bin under the front-passenger seat cushion, as well as two large underfloor compartments in the second row.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The Journey's lackluster safety report card reveals that it's not the best choice when it comes to sheltering your precious onboard cargo. Its crash-test results are not great, and—what's worse—it offers none of the advanced driver-assistance technology that is expected in other family haulers. The only available safety feature is rear parking sensors.

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Dodge's warranty coverage is average, and Journey buyers won't enjoy complimentary scheduled maintenance.

• Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance