What's New
The Dodge Journey has been loafing along unchanged for years now, with each new model year leaving it a little more outdated than the last. The end is finally near, however, and in anticipation of its demise, Dodge has streamlined the Journey's options, trims, and available features.
For starters, the previously available 3.6-liter V6 is now history, and along with it goes the available all-wheel drive. The GT trim has also been axed for 2020. A previously optional sport suspension has likewise been left off the table.
On a more positive note, rear parking sensors are now standard on the two remaining trims, and a sunroof has been made standard on the now-range-topping Crossroad trim.
Choosing Your Dodge Journey
The Journey is now available in just two trim levels: SE Value and Crossroad. Pricing start at $24,990 including destination for the SE Value and climb to $30,090 for the Crossroad.
Engine Choices
With the elimination of the 3.6-liter V6 from the options sheet, all Journeys will be powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that makes 173 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque.
This engine is paired up with a four-speed automatic transmission, while front-wheel drive is the only drivetrain. Fun fact: the Journey is the only vehicle on the market that continues to use a four-speed automatic. Most competitors have twice as many gears.
Despite the outdated mechanicals, the Journey achieves an EPA-estimated 19 miles per gallon city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 combined. That's not great, but other similar-sized crossovers don't do much better. A Honda Passport, for instance, is within 2 inches of the Journey and is rated at 20/25/22 mpg (city/highway/combined).
The elimination of the V6 has also slashed towing capacity for 2020. The six-cylinder could pull up to 2,500 pounds, but the four-cylinder is only rated to tow 1,000 pounds.
Passenger and Cargo Capacity
The Journey is one of the few midsize crossovers to offer standard three-row, seven-passenger seating. There's no option to delete the third row or opt for second-row captain's chairs, so all models have a seven-passenger capacity.
Both rows of seats fold flat, which lets the Journey swallow up to 67.6 cubic feet of cargo space. With only the third row folded, the cargo area shrinks to 37 cubic feet, and it's only 10.7 cubic feet with both rows in place. These numbers trail competitors such as the Toyota Highlander and Hyundai Santa Fe.
Safety Features
Rear parking sensors have been made standard for 2020, but other than that, modern safety features are absent on the Journey. There aren't even any active safety aids available.
Safety ratings for the Journey have been good but not great. The NHTSA gave it a four-star overall safety rating, while the IIHS didn't award it a designation. It did earn the top rating of "Good" for all of the IIHS' crash tests except the driver's side small overlap front. That scenario scored a "Poor," the institute's lowest possible.
Connectivity
The Dodge Journey comes standard with a 4.3-inch touchscreen display that uses a USB port and auxiliary jack. A six-speaker audio system pairs up with this system.
The Crossroad comes with a highly-lauded 8.4-inch touchscreen with the brand's Uconnect 3 software. This system includes satellite radio, voice command, and Bluetooth.
The bigger touchscreen is available on the SE Value through the SE Popular Equipment Group ($1,595). Navigation is available on the Crossroad through its Popular Equipment Group (also $1,595).
As for other in-car technology, there's not much. Features found in competing vehicles, such as wireless charging, a head-up display, and the all-important Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration aren't available.
As the cheapest midsize crossover on the market, the Journey SE Value builds its sales pitch on pragmatism rather than feature count. Standard equipment includes manually-adjustable cloth seats, manual dual-zone climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a couple of 12-volt power outlets. The exterior dressed in 17-inch steel wheels with plastic wheel covers and black mirrors and roof rails.
The $1,595 Popular Equipment Group includes tri-zone temperature control, a power driver's seat, a leather-wrapped shift knob and steering wheel, premium cloth upholstery, an alarm, and the 8.4-inch touchscreen with Uconnect 3.
The Crossroad is the fancy Journey. It includes most of the features available in the SE Value's Popular Equipment Group as well as a sunroof, leather-trimmed seats with mesh inserts, LED taillights, fog lights, side roof rails, and 19-inch wheels.
The Popular Equipment Group ($1,595) package returns, but here it offers a six-way power passenger seat, navigation, a premium audio system with a subwoofer, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, remote start, and a universal garage door opener. A $995 rear-seat entertainment system is also available.
Compare Journey Trims Side-By-Side
The 2020 Dodge Journey is a value play, so stick with the base model and buy the Popular Equipment Group Package. If you pay sticker price – and you most likely won't – you're looking at $26,585, which is still thousands less than comparable midsize SUVs.