The Dodge Journey Is Awful, but What Will Replace This Discontinued Crossover?
The SUV market is saturated with options, some great and some not so great. But one stands out, and not for a good reason. The Dodge Journey has been chugging along for a decade, but it hasn’t been able to keep up with the competition, even after 11 years in the race.
Dodge finally discontinued this compact crossover SUV, and it doesn’t surprise anyone, including MotorTrend. Let’s look at what made the Journey so lackluster.
Where did the Dodge Journey go wrong?
On the market for over a decade, the Journey has done little to compete with others in its class. Dodge installed a 2.4-liter four-cylinder under the hood that generated only 173 hp. That’s not much for a crossover that seats seven.
Thanks to its weak engine, the Journey can tow no more than 1,000 pounds. If you’re planning to haul a snowmobile or an ATV on a trailer, this vehicle won’t do it for you unless your toys are lightweight. Plus, the Journey doesn’t possess much power to accelerate. This SUV’s 0-to-60 split is a sad 8.8 seconds.
The Dodge Journey isn’t known for storage space either. It offers 10.7 cubic feet behind the third row. If you bypass the backseats, you can get an admirable 67 cubic feet, but you won’t be to haul more than one passenger.
Was it ever any good?
The Dodge Journey has always been just an average SUV with really only one thing going for it: the price. It’s one of the most affordable crossovers on the market.
When it first rolled off the production line in 2009, the Journey didn’t impress reviewers, including MotorTrend, all that much. They thought it was OK, but nothing made it stand out in the crowd of other crossovers.
However, in 2012, after a redesign, the Journey contended for MotorTrend‘s Sport Utility of the Year. It didn’t win, but it brought hope that the Journey was finally on a course to make a name for itself.
In 2017, MotorTrend reviewed a V6 version, which somehow impressed the publication a bit, but there wasn’t much else to recommend it. Now that engine is no longer available.
The best part of the 2020 model is the $25,000 starting price. It’s more affordable than other SUVs of its caliber. But, alas, it doesn’t offer many features.
The Journey comes to an end
After a decade, Dodge finally decided to end the Journey’s production run. The few improvements the manufacturer had made weren’t enough to overcome the vehicle’s shortcomings.
Though Dodge announced the Journey’s retirement, the automaker hasn’t yet mentioned what, if anything, will replace it. Axing its compact crossover leaves a huge void, especially considering Dodge also discontinued the Grand Caravan. The only family vehicle remaining in the automaker’s lineup of muscle cars and pickup trucks is the midsize crossover Durango.
Whether Dodge will replace the Journey with a more competitive compact crossover remains to be seen. In the meantime, you’re better off avoiding the Journey and choosing one of its competitors.
