DODGE JOURNEY

The 2011 Dodge Journey has been modified from its previous design in order to provide a better, more competitive choice for the SUV crossover fan. While it doesn’t offer the same cargo space as some other crossovers, and it doesn’t have the legroom in the third row seating for taller adults, it is a good value with some good features that can be found to be highly family friendly.


Complaints regarding the 2010 Dodge Journey were taken seriously and there have been some good upgrades. One of the first items on the list was the engine. The 2010 model had downright wimpy acceleration. The new 2011 model sports a more powerful 3.6 liter 283 horsepower V-6 engine. Improving acceleration was just the beginning, but it was highly necessary.

The five available models (Express, Mainstreet, Crew, R/T, and Lux) give consumers more choices and offer a variety of standard features that have truly helped to improve the 2011 Dodge Journey in the eyes of the consumer and vehicle critics alike. The base model comes with 16 inch steel wheels, cup holders that light up for easy access during night driving, heated outer mirrors, side rails for the roof rack, keyless entry as well as keyless ignition, power accessories, two zone air conditioning, telescoping steering column, and a touch screen interface that is just over 4 inches wide. The stereo system offers 6 speakers, a USB port, iPod capacity, and audio jack for auxiliary options.


With each model you will find that you get more standard features that are often innovative and add to the overall appeal of the vehicle. The 2011 Dodge Journey offers two basic engine choices but only an automatic 4 speed transmission. The lowest performing engine will provide a 2.4 liter 4 cylinder engine with 173 horsepower and 166 pounds of torque. For its class, this is still a little underpowered and most consumers tend to step up their engine size. At this size, the fuel efficiency is around 19 miles per gallon in the city and 25 miles per gallon on the highway. The 3.6 liter version is much more popular and gets about 17 city miles to the gallon and 25 highway miles to the gallon for the front wheel drive option. All wheel drive versions are closer to 16 city miles and 24 miles per gallon along the open road.

Safety features include innovations like driver side knee airbags, side airbag curtains for all three rows, and active head restraints for the front seats. The rollover sensor and the traction control are also standard for the 2011 Dodge Journey.


For the traveling family some of the smart ideas that make the Dodge Journey a great idea include rear doors that open up to 90 degrees to make the retrieval of small children a much easier experience. With the second and third rows folded all the way, the cargo capacity is still only about 68 cubic feet, which is rather slim for a crossover. However, with seating for 7 and cool innovative ideas, the Dodge Journey is certainly one of the more impressive overhauled crossovers of the season.