Dodge brings 2014 Journey Crossroad to Chicago: Comments

[Drew Dowdell]

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Dodge is bringing out a more rugged trim for their popular 7-passenger Journey crossover. Debuting at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show, the 2014 Dodge Journey Crossroad features new, butcher fascias, dark tinted exterior lighting, and special 19 inch wheels.

Inside, the Crossroad gains standard black leather seats with accent stitching unique to the Crossroad trim. Also included is the 8.4 inch UConnect system, one of the best performing automotive infotainment systems in the market.

Like all 2014 Dodge Journeys, the Crossroad is powered by your choice of 2.4 liter 4-cylinder or the 3.6 liter Pentastar V6 which produces a best for the class 283 horsepower and 260 ft-lb of torque. Even with all of that power, the Journey V6 is EPA rated for 25 mpg on the highway. All-Wheel-Drive on the Crossroad is optional.

Dodge is positioning the Crossroad as a step between the mid-line SXT and the top of the line Limited models. Expected base price will be $24,995 plus destination fee.

Dodge last updated the Journey for the 2011 model year with an all new interior.

Our take: Dodge adds an attractive trim package to a gracefully aging crossover to keep things fresh a little while longer.

Press release after the jump.

Drew Dowdell is managing editor of CheersandGears.com and can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter as @Cheersngears

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New 2014 Dodge Journey Crossroad to Debut at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show

Journey Crossroad Gets Rugged Appearance; Available All-wheel-drive Capability Backs It Up

• New Journey Crossroad model features unique performance front and rear fascias, lower side sills, dark-tinted headlamps and tail lamps and unique 19-inch Hyper Black wheels, giving it a rugged, capable look
  
• Unique interior content loaded with premium finishes and features, including the 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen, new leather seat design with accent stitching and Liquid Graphite appliques
  
• Available award-winning 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 and all-wheel-drive capability provide confidence in all driving conditions
  
• With a starting U. S. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $24,995 (excluding $995 destination), the 2014 Dodge Journey Crossroad will be available in Dodge dealerships this spring
  

January 31, 2014 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Building on the Dodge Journey’s best sales year ever in 2013, the Dodge brand is introducing a new Journey model – the 2014 Dodge Journey Crossroad – at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show.

The new Journey Crossroad features distinctive new front and rear fascias, Platinum Chrome side sills and unique 19-inch Hyper Black aluminum wheels, giving the three-row, seven-passenger crossover a rugged, capable look. The interior is loaded with premium finishes and features, including the 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen, new leather seat design and Liquid Graphite appliques.

"The Journey has always been Dodge's Swiss Army knife in the CUV segment, and with the new Journey Crossroad, we are expanding that flexibility by now offering three different exterior appearances," said Tim Kuniskis, President and CEO — Dodge Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "The Journey Crossroad's rugged styling gives it a tough presence on the road; the available all-wheel drive system gives it the capability to back it up in a variety of bad weather driving conditions.”

The new 2014 Dodge Journey Crossroad is positioned between the SXT and Limited models in the Journey lineup. Journey Crossroad will start arriving in Dodge dealerships this spring with a starting U. S. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $24,995 (excluding $995 destination).

New look, new features

Dodge designers added several special exterior design cues to the Journey Crossroad that give it a distinct look in the lineup, including a new front fascia with a Platinum Chrome accent and Gloss Black grille and fog lamp surrounds, Platinum Chrome roof rails and unique extended side sills, black headlamp bezels, Gloss Black tail lamp bezels and a new lower rear fascia finished in Platinum Chrome and a “Crossroad” badge on the tailgate. Journey Crossroad also features unique 19-inch Hyper Black five-spoke aluminum wheels.

Exterior colors for the 2014 Dodge Journey Crossroad include Pitch Black, Bright Silver Metallic, White, Copperhead Pearl, Fathom Blue Pearl, Granite Crystal Metallic, Pearl White Tri-Coat and Redline Red 2-coat Pearl.

On the inside, the Journey Crossroad adds many unique interior touches, including new standard black leather seating with sport mesh inserts with Light Slate Grey accent stitching. Light Slate Grey accent stitching on the center armrest and door panels, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, are standard equipment. A new Liquid Graphite finish is applied on the instrument panel, gauge cluster, center console, door pulls and steering wheel trim. The Dodge Journey Crossroad also comes standard with the class-exclusive 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen, power front seat and a front passenger fold-flat seat with hidden storage bin under the seat cushion.

The 2014 Dodge Journey Crossroad offers levels of utility and refinement not typically found in the crossover market. Standard features such as power heated and foldaway mirrors, seven air bags, illuminated cup holders, Keyless Enter ‘n Go with push-button start and steering-wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls.

Second- and third-row seats fold flat to create 67.6 cu. ft. of cargo space. Second-row seats recline and have available class-exclusive integrated child booster seats. There are also innovative removable storage bins in the floor ahead of the second-row seats that can hold everything from muddy clothes to soda cans, to concealing valuables like a camera, laptop or purse. With front passenger, second- and third-row fold-flat seats, second-row in-floor storage, and front passenger in-seat storage, Dodge Journey has best-in-class storage.

Power and efficiency

The Journey Crossroad is powered by a standard 2.4-liter 16-valve DOHC four-cylinder engine that produces 173 horsepower and 166 lb.-ft. of torque, linked to a four-speed automatic transmission. This four-cylinder engine delivers 26 miles per gallon (mpg) on the highway.

The award-winning available 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine on the 2014 Dodge Journey Crossroad produces a best-in-class 283 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque and is mated to a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission. This Pentastar V-6 engine was recognized as a Ward’s “10 Best Engines” for 2012 and 2013. In addition to excellent power, it delivers up to 25 mpg on the highway.

Both the standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and available 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 powertrain deliver more than 500 miles of highway driving range. With a 5-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, owners can rest assured knowing their powerful and efficient Journey is well covered.

Confidence in all driving conditions

Backing up the 2014 Dodge Journey Crossroad’s rugged look is its available all-wheel-drive system, perfect for drivers who want extra grip for a more performance feel, or who live in the Snow Belt or rainy parts of the country and appreciate the extra traction Journey’s all-wheel drive system provides.

Journey Crossroad’s all-wheel-drive system works on demand, driving only the front wheels to maximize fuel efficiency until power to the rear wheels is needed. All-wheel drive also is activated on dry pavement between speeds of 25 and 65 mph to enhance handling during performance driving. This system provides added traction on snow, ice and other low-traction surfaces without having to be switched on and off.

When traveling faster than 25 mph, Dodge Journey’s all-wheel-drive system sends torque to the rear wheels when cornering with the throttle open to make the car turn more easily, which makes the handling more neutral. This is more readily accomplished with Journey’s electronically controlled coupling (ECC) than with viscous-coupling or gerotor systems that require some degree of front-to-rear slip before torque is transferred to the rear wheels. At speeds greater than 53 mph, the control strategy provides minimal torque to the rear wheels under normal driving conditions to provide better fuel economy.

Dodge Journey features standard electronic stability control (ESC) and all-speed traction control, which help keep the crossover on path in a variety of road surface and weather conditions. Journey’s available all-wheel-drive electronic control module works with the ESC and traction control systems, allowing the ESC system to use the ECC to help gain control of the vehicle, reducing the amount of torque that the ECC transmits to the rear wheels. Four-wheel anti-lock brakes and electronic roll mitigation also are standard on all 2014 Dodge Journey models.

More than 50 safety and security features

Dodge Journey is loaded with an abundance of more than 50 safety and security features, including standard advanced multistage front passenger air bags, active head restraints, electronic stability control with all-speed traction control, electronic roll mitigation and Brake Assist, driver-side knee blocker air bag, side-curtain air bags covering all three rows, front seat-mounted side air bags, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, LATCH child seat anchor system and trailer-sway control.

The Dodge Journey is built in Toluca, Mexico.

For more information regarding the 2014 Dodge Journey Crossroad, please visit www.dodge.com/en/special-editions/journey-crossroad.

About Dodge Brand

The Dodge brand is tearing into its centennial year with a keen eye focused on the future and a desire to create vehicles customers t wait to drive and are proud to park in their driveways. With 100 years of history, Dodge is building on the technological advancements of 30s 40s, design evolution of 50s, the racing heritage of 60s, the horsepower of 70s, the efficiency of 80s and unbelievable styling of 90s as it paves the road to its future. New for 2014, the Dodge is kind of a big with a new eight-speed transmission that delivers up to 25 miles per gallon (mpg) on the highway, a new 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment center and best-in-class power, towing, and driving range, in addition to its class-exclusive technology. The new Durango joins a stable that includes the new 2014 Dodge Dart with its breakthrough 2.4-liter 184-horsepower Tigershark engine, and the celebrated 2014 Dodge Avenger. Both earned 2014 Top Safety Pick status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Completing the 2014 Dodge lineup are the Challenger, Charger, Journey and 30th Anniversary Grand Caravan. The Dodge lineup features five vehicles with best-in-class power, seven vehicles that deliver 25 mpg or higher, three vehicles that deliver 31 mpg or higher and three vehicles that offer seating for seven.

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[G. David Felt]

Not bad looking, I like what they are offering here, just wish the engine had more Torque to go with that lovely HP in AWD mode.

[Drew Dowdell]

I gotta say, I really like this thing.... even though it is one of the older models on the market, it is still fairly fresh feeling and can stand up against the Rogue and RAV-4

[ocnblu]

Still a good looking rig, especially in this new trim. Wish the third row could be deleted.

[Drew Dowdell]

it can... just pull the lever and they delete right into a flat load floor.

[Intrepidation]

I think the Journey has aged rather well. Look at what it competes with. None of those have exteriors that look any better/more modern. The new front fascia is similar to the current R/T's which I like, and the silver bright work add some depth. The interior is already nicer than what most of its class has, and it with the 3.6 it has a nice powertrain. It may not be a canyon carver, but as a people hauler I don't see the competition being markedly better.

[smk4565]

They still make the Dodge Journey?

[Drew Dowdell]

Dodge sold 83,388 Dodge Journey's in 2013 Not too shabby for basically an AWD Avenger Wagon. Though I'd argue that the Journey is the superior vehicle on the platform.

[smk4565]

Dodge sold 83,388 Dodge Journey's in 2013 Not too shabby for basically an AWD Avenger Wagon. Though I'd argue that the Journey is the superior vehicle on the platform.

I wonder is 83,387 of them were sold to National, Enterprise and Avis. I don't know why anyone would buy a Journey over any of the other 10 or so crossovers for similar price.

[Drew Dowdell]

Because it's actually a pretty good Crossover. I rent cars often and like the Journey.... I've never had the chance to pick one from National or Enterprise (my two main rental companies).... so I don't know how much of the sales are daily rentals. Lots of Rogues and RAV-4s though (National Car Rental at OHare looks like a Nissan Certified Pre-Owned lot)

[G. David Felt]

Was at the local Enterprise and can confirm that they had a ton of Roques and RAV-4's. I did not see any Journeys. Then at the National lot at the airport, same large group of rental metal but they did have a lone single Journey. I got it and drove it and while not bad, I wish it had a tad more power. The V6 seems to sound like it is struggling.

[Robert Hall]

I can't recall when I last saw a Journey. It and the Dart are pretty invisible around here, see oodles of Toyota, Honda and Hyundai compact CUVs, very rarely ever see Journeys or Patriots or the other forgotten Jeep small one..

This does look like a nice variation, though.

Edited February 10, 2014 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[Drew Dowdell]

Was at the local Enterprise and can confirm that they had a ton of Roques and RAV-4's. I did not see any Journeys. Then at the National lot at the airport, same large group of rental metal but they did have a lone single Journey. I got it and drove it and while not bad, I wish it had a tad more power. The V6 seems to sound like it is struggling.

Are you sure you had the V6? It's the same V6 as in the Charger/Challenger/300. Yeah, the 2.4 would struggle.

[G. David Felt]

Was at the local Enterprise and can confirm that they had a ton of Roques and RAV-4's. I did not see any Journeys. Then at the National lot at the airport, same large group of rental metal but they did have a lone single Journey. I got it and drove it and while not bad, I wish it had a tad more power. The V6 seems to sound like it is struggling.

Are you sure you had the V6? It's the same V6 as in the Charger/Challenger/300. Yeah, the 2.4 would struggle.

I will be honest that with the winter weather the person said it was a V6 but I never checked as I used the vehicle, got to the customer site and drove back to fly back out. So if it is a 4 banger in that CUV, I would not recommend it.

[FAPTurbo]

They still make the Dodge Journey?

It's been the top-selling crossover in Canada for the past several years.

[ZL-1]

Fairly good deal of these (sold under the FIAT brand) on the roads over here...