For less than the price of a new, entry-level Polo Vivo, you could quite comfortably get behind the wheel of a V6, American SUV. Granted, it won't be new and there will be a few Kilometers on the clocks, but if you're looking for something a little different, the Dodge Journey is a mid-size SUV that may just be what you need.
Offering 7-seats and a decent amount of power, the Dodge Journey will be able to tick along on a long road trip without a care. In fact, the Dodge Journey is capable of towing up to 1 100 kg which makes it great for towing small boats and compact caravans.
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If this sounds like your cup of tea, then here's what you should be paying attention to when you go to test drive a Dodge Journey.
Know the story
The Dodge Journey was released in 2008 for the 2009 model year and while there may be a few of these models doing the rounds, you'll most probably encounter more from 2012 onwards. This is thanks to the comprehensive facelift and update that took place in 2012 with the updated models going on sale locally from as early as February 2012.
The Dodge brand has since left the country, departing in 2017. It formed part of the FCA group, the team that sells Jeep, Fiat and Alfa Romeo now but used to also sell Chrysler and Dodge. Despite the fact that you can no longer buy a new Dodge product in South Africa (as it was decided to halt production on RHD offerings), FCA is committed to honouring warranties and will still service your Dodge Journey if need be.
Related: 2015 Dodge Journey 3.6 R/T - A unique blend of value, versatility and performance.
Drivetrain
As we mentioned earlier, the Dodge Journey is powered by a V6 engine. The famed Pentastar 3.6-litre V6 engine is a naturally aspirated, 24-valve, quad-cam petrol unit that produces an impressive 206 kW and 353 Nm torque. It's mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox and at the time, Dodge was claiming fuel consumption figures of 10.4 l/100km on the combined cycle.
Older models may be found with the 136 kW 2.7-litre V6, or the 125 kW 2.4-litre inline 4-cylinder.
Swiss Army Knife
Yes, that's the way that the Dodge Journey was described. The Journey lives up to its name by being a more than an agreeable companion for the long road.
The Journey has a few neat tricks up its sleeves. For starters, you have loads of storage space. The front seat has what Dodge calls a Flip-n-stow function that reveals storage under the front passenger seat. The floorboards in the second row also lift up and reveal additional storage space - ideal for wet clothes or sandy shoes.
The front passenger seat can also fold down flat, along with the second row of seats. This will allow you to fit really long items in, perfect for surfers and the likes.
Infotainment
Pride of place in the centre of the Dodge Journey's dashboard is the 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment system. While an earlier system that is devoid of smartphone tethering, like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, this system still supports Bluetooth connectivity and a host of other useful features. It's a fairly easy to use unit and includes steering wheel controls to help you adjust volume and skip tracks while on the move.
Go ahead and pair your phone to the system to test it out when you're taking the Journey for a test drive. This will give you an idea of how the system ties into your daily driving habits.
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