Item: 2020 Dodge Journey
Rating: 1.6
Author: Willis Kuelthau

Overview

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The Dodge Journey has been loafing along unchanged for years now, with each new model year leaving it a little more outdated than the last.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Despite the outdated mechanicals, the Journey achieves an EPA-estimated 19 miles per gallon city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 combined.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.

SE Value - From $24,990

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.

Crossroad - From $30,090

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

CarsDirect Tip

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.

Anthony Sophinos

Automotive Editor - March 10, 2020

Read Less

Expert Review

Pros

Low starting price
Spacious interior
Has a third row

Cons

Dated looks
Feeble engine
No more AWD
Spotty safety record

Expert Rating

1.6

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

Willis Kuelthau

Automotive Editor - March 30, 2020

A modern relic. Crossovers may be all the rage these days, but you wouldn’t know it from the 2020 Dodge Journey. Dodge’s midsize crossover SUV hasn’t changed in more than a decade. As other automakers introduce new crossovers to meet demand and fill niches, Dodge seems stuck in 2009.

The Journey has received a few updates to keep up with modern times. Rear parking sensors are now standard. A rearview camera was recently added, but only once it was federally mandated. Infotainment runs through a touchscreen, but the base trim uses a tiny 4.3-inch screen and no trim gets smartphone compatibility.

The exterior design hasn’t had a refresh since 2013, and it shows. The boxy lines and protruding wheel wells may once have been rugged, but they look dated against sharper competition.

One good thing remains from the past: the price. The Journey starts under $25,000, which is lower than most vehicles of similar size. We’re still not convinced that it’s a good value.

Few options made fewer. For 2020, the Journey loses more than it gains. Dodge has cut the model range in half, leaving just two trims. Both are relatively affordable, but neither is particularly luxurious.

The bigger loss may be underneath the hood, where the option of a V6 is eliminated. That leaves only a 173-horsepower four-cylinder engine, which is overburdened trying to lug around the Journey’s bulk. The V6 was the more popular engine among consumers, and we can’t figure out why it was phased out.

The remaining engine isn’t helped by the rest of the drivetrain. The only transmission is an ancient four-speed automatic, which struggles to find the correct cog even when there are only four to choose from. Even basic economy cars come with five-speed automatics these days.

All-wheel drive is off the table too, which means snow-state buyers will have to look elsewhere. The four-cylinder engine isn’t even an efficient one, maxing out at 21 miles per gallon combined, according to the EPA.

If there’s one thing we can praise about the Journey’s hardware, it’s a comfortable ride. It comes at the cost of heavy body roll and numb steering, however, so we won’t be lavish.

Dodge Journey

At least it's roomy. The Journey’s biggest virtue is its spacious interior. The crossover may be on the small side of midsize, but it allocates space well. Not many crossovers this size manage to fit in a third row. The Journey’s is best for children, but it manages 10.7 cubic feet of cargo space even with all three rows in place. Without the third, a capacity of 37 cubic feet is about average for the size.

The second row slides back and forth to maximize utility, and it’s comfortable for adults. The front row is roomy as well, although we wish the front seats had height adjustment.

Item storage is decent, and a touchscreen infotainment system keeps the interior from looking as aged as the exterior. Hard plastics are common, however, and so much dark trim makes things feel dreary.

Life on the edge. The Journey’s combination of price and utility almost make it a reasonable pick for a budget family vehicle. Almost – because the Journey ruins the idea with its safety record.

The NHTSA gave the Journey four stars overall, which sounds decent but falls short of nearly every competitor. Multiple “Poor” ratings from the IIHS are even less reassuring.

As the rest of the industry moves toward standard active safety tech, the Journey stays stuck in the past. Dodge has never fitted the vehicle with automatic emergency braking or any other advanced tech, and they aren’t starting now.

The most we can say for the Journey is that outward visibility is good. Otherwise, this is one of the riskier new cars on the market.

Final thoughts. The 2020 Dodge Journey’s low starting price may sound appealing, but it’s less attractive up close. Aside from a relatively spacious interior, the Journey trails competitors in nearly every way. Safety tech is absent, style is uninspired inside and out, and the powertrain is weak in every way. We recommend looking elsewhere.

Check prices for the 2020 Dodge Journey »

Read Less

Specs & Features

Highlights

Overall Crash Safety Rating

Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque

2.4L I-4 / 173 HP / 166 ft.lbs.

Transmission

4-spd AUTOSTICK w/OD

Drive Type

Front-wheel

Fuel Economy - City/Highway/Combined

19 / 25 / 22 Mpg

Passenger Capacity

Bumper to Bumper Warranty

36 Months / 36,000 Miles

Mechanical Specs

Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque	2.4L I-4 / 173 HP / 166 ft.lbs.
Drive Type	Front-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Hwy/Combined	19 / 25 / 22 Mpg
Brakes	4-wheel Disc
Front Suspension	Strut
Rear Suspension	Independent Multi-link
Spare Tire And Wheel	Compact Steel
Fuel Tank	20.5 Gal.
Recommended Fuel Type	Regular Unleaded
Average Cost To Fill Tank	$78

Dimensions & Capabilities

Maximum Cargo Volume	67.6 Cu.ft.
Passenger Volume	124 Cu.ft.
Exterior Length	192.4 "
Exterior Width	72.2 "
Exterior Height	66.6 "
Front Headroom	40.8 "
Rear Headroom	39.9 "
Front Legroom	40.8 "
Rear Legroom	36.1 "
Front Shoulder Room	57.5 "
Rear Shoulder Room	56.9 "
Front Hip Room
Rear Hip Room
Curb Weight	3,818 Lbs.
Wheel Base	114 "
Turning Radius	19.2 '

Exterior Features

Door Count	4 Doors
Wheels	17.0 " Steel / 17.0 " Painted Aluminum
Paint	Clearcoat Monotone / Pearlcoat Monotone
Exterior Mirrors	Dual Power Remote Heated
Bumpers	Body-colored
Grille Moldings	Chrome / Black
Rear Spoiler
Exhaust	Stainless Steel

Interior Features

Seating

Passenger Capacity	7
Seat Trim	Premium Cloth
Front Seat Type	Bucket
Heated Front Seats
Front Driver Seat Direction Controls	6-way / (6-way Power)
Front Passenger Seat Direction Controls	4-way
Front Armrests	6-way / (6-way Power)
Rear Armrests	Center
Rear Seats	40-60 Split-bench

Radio & Infotainment

Radio	Am/fm, Clock, Seek-scan / Siriusxm Am/fm/satellite, Seek-scan / Am/fm/satellite, Seek-scan
Speakers	6
Radio Steering Wheel Controls
Apple Car Play
Android Auto
Bluetooth w/ Hands-Free Connectivity

Convenience Features

Steering Wheel Type	Telescopic Tilt
Climate Control
Cruise Control	With Steering Wheel Controls
Sun Roof
Rearview Mirror	Auto-dimming Day-night
One Touch Open Window	Driver
Tinted Windows	Deep
Vanity Mirrors	Driver
Remote Keyless Entry	Keyfob (all Doors)
Power Outlets	4

Safety Features

Overall Crash Safety Rating
Overall Front Crash Safety Rating
Overall Side Crash Safety Rating
Rollover Crash Safety Rating
Front Impact Airbags	Driver And Passenger
Driver Side Impact Airbags	Seat Mounted
Knee Airbag	Driver
Passenger Side Impact Airbag	Seat Mounted
Rear Side Airbag
Seatbelt Pretensioners	Front
Anti-Lock Brakes	4-wheel Anti-lock Brakes (abs)
Forward Collision Warning
Blind Spot Sensor
Lane Departure Warning
Autonomous Cruise Control
Pedestrian Detection
Driver Attention Alert
Daytime Running Lights
Auto High Beams
Adaptive Headlights
Parking Sensors	Parksense Rear
Security Systems	Security System
Panic Alarm
Ignition Disable	Sentry Key

Warranty

Bumper To Bumper Months Miles	36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Major Components Months	60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Included Maintenance Months
Roadside Assistance Months	60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Corrosion Perforation	60 Months / Unlimited Miles
Accessories Months

Used 2020 Dodge Journey for Sale