It is said every journey starts with one step. So just what trip is Dodge hoping to achieve with the Dodge Journey?

 

It's hardly a fashion statement and apart from the distinctive Dodge cross hair grille it blends into the streets like an over-sized chameleon. What Journey lacks in style it makes up for in function.

If this wagon/people mover had been produced 20 years ago by Dodge it would have been powered by a massive, gas-guzzling V8. It's certainly large enough at 1750kg to warrant a decent size engine.

As it is, under the bonnet is like the rest of the vehicle: the emphasis is on functionality. It will get you from A to B in comfort.

Forget performance. It's family-adequate from the choice of two engines, a 2.0 litre CRD turbo diesel and a 2.7 litre V6.

The Journey boasts 7 seats in what we'd call a five plus two configuration. Having said that the ease of entry to the third row of seats is good and two medium size adults easily squeeze in for short trips. Leg room is the issue with the floor depth limited. Short legs are an advantage.

Journey is chock full of functionality for families. There's enough (hidden) storage spaces to secrete the Crown Jewels, air conditioning vents for all three seating rows and cup holders everywhere.

In particular we liked the front passenger seat which flips up to reveal a storage space under the seat. Until now most makers have boasted slide out drawer under the front pews. The only drawback is that you can't access the storage area while someone is using the seat. But, it is clever and innovative.

There's an optional fold down DVD screen for rear seat passengers and they also get to play with their own air conditioning controls. There are four individual roof-mounted air conditioning vents for the five passengers in the second and third rows, so there's no chance of getting hot under the collar. The third row of seats fold down to create a large cargo area. With the seats in place cargo space is limited.

The driving experience is bland, apart from noticeable torque-steer in first gear at full pelt after the turbo cuts in. Despite it's sluggish 0-100 kmh acceleration at 13.2 seconds, it's annoyingly easy to squeal the front tyres.

With six airbags, ABS brakes and Electronic Stability Program, Journey ticks off all the safety boxes.

A part of the Journey we did not enjoy was a trip to a function one evening.

On returning to the car the battery was as flat as the Australian economy.

It took a mobile mechanic 90 minutes to get the vehicle started, eventually two using two back up batteries to jump start the oil burner.

That's the good news.

The bad news is that the battery is located under the head light, in the passenger side front mudguard, and it takes 90 minutes to two hours for a mechanic to replace it.

Which means it costs almost at least as much in labour as the the cost of a new battery, should the vehicle be out of warranty.

Apparently the workshop hoist had to be used to lift the vehicle and the left front wheel removed to get the offending battery out and a new one in.

Hmmm. Try that on the side of the road.

We also wonder about minor dings to the front left hand side bumper and what affect they may have on the battery's well-being.

Batteries aside the the Dodge Journey is a viable crossover and for the Chrysler stable a trip in the right direction, but has some fierce opposition in the form of Honda's Odyssey.

The Journey CRD turbo diesel returns an average 9.1 litres/100 kmh compared to 10.3 from the petrol variant.

Pricing:
Dodge Journey SXT $36,990
Dodge Journey R/T $41,990
Dodge Journey R/T CRD $46,990