THERE’S STILL SOME LIFE LEFT IN THIS VERY FAMILIAR SUV
ROAD TEST: 2020 DODGE JOURNEY
The Dodge Journey is that old guy in the back corner of the accounting department. He’s been around so long that nobody knows when he started, and you keep expecting him to retire or be replaced — and yet he soldiers on.
We’ve been promised an allnew Journey a few times, but the 2020 model is still basically unchanged from when it first hit the pavement in 2009. You’re getting older technology, but you’re also getting it at a starting price that’s lower than most other three-row crossovers.
Although five trim levels were offered for 2019, the Journey shrinks to just two for 2020. That’s usually indicative of impending retirement, and my money is on it being dropped in favour of the upcoming Chrysler Voyager, a bargain-basement version of the Pacifica that’s likely to knuckle aside both the Journey and the aging Dodge Grand Caravan.
The Journey will now come only as the Canada Value Package and Crossroad. Pricing hasn’t been announced for 2020, but for 2019, those two trim levels start at $24,145 and $34,945 respectively.
I took the Crossroad for a quick spin at an event earlier this year.
Both models are powered by a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine that makes 172 horsepower and 165 pound-feet of torque, mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. The Journey’s previously-optional larger engine, the brilliant 3.6-L Pentastar V6 making 283 hp, won’t be offered. The V6 was required to order all-wheel-drive, so — you guessed it — the 2020 Journey powers only its front wheels. That keeps the price down, but with AWD so popular with Canadian buyers, it’s going to further limit the Journey’s appeal.
The smaller engine has lacklustre acceleration, although it works fine and is fairly quiet once you’re up to speed. The steering is light and visibility is good — key for a van that’s likely to spend a lot of time running errands and fitting into tight parking spots.
The Crossroad has a “touring” suspension, and the ride is smooth; the Canada Value Package, which I didn’t drive, is listed as “normal-duty” and so I expect will let a few more road imperfections up into the cabin.
There’s not as much interior space as in a full-size minivan, but the Journey is roomier inside than you might expect for its footprint. It’s fine when you’re putting young children in the back, although they’ll likely outgrow it if you keep the vehicle long enough. Both rows are easy to fold down for a flat cargo floor.
The Canada Value Package comes with a few niceties, including air conditioning, keyless entry with push-button start, heated mirrors, a backup camera and park assist, and oddly enough, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror. The Crossroad adds 19-inch wheels, LED tail lamps, three-zone automatic climate control, a sunroof, and FCA’s Uconnect infotainment system, with an 8.4-inch touch screen, plus leather upholstery and under-floor storage bins in the second row.
The Journey’s competitors are better vehicles, and anyone who buys it is shopping on price alone — but there are a lot of families on a budget. This Dodge gets them from A to B with decent interior space for a relatively low price, at least at the entry level. How long it’ll stick around is anyone’s guess, but for 2020 at least, there’s still some life in the Journey’s aging bones.