2011 Dodge Journey Fort Lauderdale

See Our New 2011 Dodge Journey Fort Lauderdale, FL

2011 Dodge Journey Design

The Journey is bigger than it looks. In overall dimension, it is actually longer than such seven-passenger crossover competitors as the Toyota Highlander, Subaru Tribeca and Hyundai Veracruz. The Journey's size translates to plenty of interior cargo room, but the design isn't as space efficient as some of its competitors.

Beneath the grille, the Journey has a larger air intake than the Grand Caravan. Actually, it runs the full width of the vehicle and is flanked on either side by integrated fog lights on Crew, R/T and Lux models. Around the sides, the Journey features pronounced wheel arches and a creased character line that starts at the top of each headlight, angles upward, and wraps completely around the vehicle. The roofline flows nicely from the windshield, curving down slightly front to rear. The B- and C-pillars are blacked out to, as Dodge puts it, give the look of a car-like greenhouse and an SUV-like lower half.

Handling of the 2011 Dodge Journey

The new 3.6-liter V6 is standard in all 2011 Journey models except the Express. The 3.6-liter V6 is plenty modern, but the tuning choices Dodge made with the throttle and 6-speed automatic transmission often leave it feeling unresponsive. Power is decent from a start, but the transmission shifts up as quickly as it can, meaning power is no longer readily on tap. It requires a deep stab of the throttle to coax a downshift and you practically have to floor it to get a two-gear downshift needed for highway passing. The problem is exacerbated by numb throttle response. We also found that with front-wheel drive, those foot-to-the-floor blasts can cause some torque steer (felt as a slight tug on the steering wheel) that temporarily disrupts fine steering control.

The engines are comparable to the handling: Capable but not as good as the best in the class. The base four-cylinder, Chrysler's 173-hp 2.4-liter World Engine, is loud in the Journey and delivers too little power in this 3800-pound package. The four-cylinder will certainly get you and your kids around town, but passing will require some planning and it's not rated for towing. With a 0-60 mph time of somewhere between 11 and 12 seconds, a four-cylinder Journey is one of the slower vehicles in its class.

2011 Dodge Journey Lineup

Journey Mainstreet and Mainstreet AWD add leather-wrapped steering wheel, Sirius satellite radio, floor mats, rear cargo cover, and P225/65R17 tires on aluminum wheels.

Journey R/T and R/T AWD upgrade to dual-zone automatic climate control, 6-way power driver's seat, 4-way power fold-flat front passenger seat, 8.4-inch touchscreen, SD card slot, UConnect Phone wireless cell-phone link, voice recognition, outside-temperature indicator, automatic day/night rearview mirror, compass, illuminated visor mirrors, 115-volt power outlet, conversation mirror, automatic headlights, fog lights, removable/rechargeable LED flashlight, and P225/55R19 tires on aluminum wheels. It deletes the roof rails.

Journey Express comes with cloth upholstery, cruise control, air conditioning with dual-zone manual climate control, Chill Zone beverage storage bin, AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo with six speakers, 4.3-inch touchscreen, auxiliary input jack, USB port, power windows, power heated exterior mirrors, power door locks, remote keyless entry, tilt/telescoping steering wheel with audio controls, driver's seat height adjustment, 60/40-split-folding second-row seat, automatic-off headlights, theft-deterrent system, roof rails, and P225/70R16 all season tires on steel wheels.

Interior of the 2011 Dodge Journey

The driver's seat offers plenty of head and leg room for just about any occupant. The view is generally unobstructed front and rear. The Journey's unique storage and convenience features, however, are what really make it shine. All Journeys have a dual-level glove box with Dodge's Chill Zone up top. Chill Zone uses the air conditioning system to keep up to four soda cans cool.

Cargo space expands to 67.6 cubic feet with all the seats down, which is average for the class but bested by the Toyota Highlander and even the smaller Honda CR-V. Loading cargo shouldn't be tough, as the liftover height is relatively low. It would be nice, however, if the tailgate had a separate opening glass. As an added bonus, a removable, rechargeable flashlight is included in the rear cargo area in higher line models.

Both the five- and seven-passenger Journeys have a shallow under-floor storage bin that extends from the rear of the vehicle forward to just behind the last row of seats. That means the five-passenger version has considerably more space under the floor than the seven-passenger version. The cover for this bin is reversible, too, with carpet on one side and plastic on the other. The plastic will allow for worry-free stowage of items such as muddy boots.

Conclusion

The changes made to the Dodge Journey for 2011 make it better in every way. Though it still isn't particularly sporty, it's better controlled and reasonably carlike. The four-cylinder engine still lacks refinement, but the V6 doesn't, though it could use better transmission programming. Inside, the Journey has one of the nicest interiors in the class, as well as an intelligent design with family-friendly entertainment and versatility features. For the young family on the go, the Journey will offer a pleasant ride, plenty of room, and enough space and entertainment options to keep the kids comfortable and occupied

Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com