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Dodge has unveiled Journey crossover specifications
By Yoann Besnard on 23 December 2007 | 
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The new Journey is Chrysler's serious attempt to enter the crossover segment in the US and in the Europe where it will go on sale next year. Unfortunately, the crossover segment is still in its infancy so it will also compete with the small SUVs such as the Volkswagen Tiguan or the Mitsubishi Outlander with which it shares its underpinnings.
Indeed, the Journey model uses the global D platform co-developed by Chrysler and Mitsubishi. This platform is also used for Mitsu Lancer, Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger, Caliber, Jeep Compass et Patriot. If it alo shares powertrains and suspension, it has unique exterior and interior styling on the other hand. It features the corporate grille and the bold design shared by other company's models.
Featuring a longer wheelbase than the Avenger saloon at 2890 mm, the Journey is roomy enough for five people and can offer two more seats as an option. The second row can move forward and rearward a total of 4.7 inches to give more leg room or provide more cargo room behind the seats. The second row also integrates integrated child booster seats and features a 60/40 fold-flat capacity. The front passenger seat can old flat as a option. The available third-row seat can be set up easily with the turn of a single lever on the side of the seat back, the seat cushions easily fold upward and the seat slides forward. It comes with 50/50-split-folding seats.
The interior styling can't be mistaken for a European interior. Indeed, the Journey features a symmetrical dashboard, large buttons and poor quality at first glance. The Journey features varied storage facilities. Located in the floor behind the front-row seats are two standard in-floor storage bins that are designed to hold 12 cans. On five-passenger models, a tri-fold load floor is located behind the second-row seat and provides a hidden storage compartment for added utility while a rear in-floor hidden storage bin located behind the available third-row seat is standard on 5+2-passenger vehicles.
The Journey comes with a choice of three petrol engines on the American market. The entry level is powered by a 170bhp 2.4 litre 4 cylinder unit, followed by a 183bhp 2.7-litre V6 engine while the top of the range gets a 232bhp 3.5-litre V6 engine. In Europe the main engine will likely be the 138bhp 2.0-litre TDI provided by Volkswagen and already featured in the Avenger saloon. The 2.4-litre and 2.7-litre units are hooked up to a four speed automatic gearbox as standard while the 3.5-litre is coupled with a six speed automatic gearbox. In Europe, we will get a new dual-clutch transmission developed in partnership with Getrag. This is the first time such a transmission has been offered on a Dodge vehicle. , the new transaxle is equipped with two independent lay-shaft style gear sets with separate clutches, that use manual transaxle-based components.
On the American market, the entry-level SE starts at $19,985/£10,070, with the up-level SXT stickering for $22,985/£11,580. The all-wheel drive architecture increases the SXT's price to $25,530/£12,870. The range-topping R/T has a price tag of $26,545/£13,380 for the front-wheel drive and $28,295/£14,260 for the four-wheel drive.
