Description

Vehicle overview The 2014 Dodge Journey is a roomy, versatile crossover SUV that straddles the divide between compact and midsize utility vehicles. It's one of the few remaining crossovers in its price range that offers both an available V6 engine and a third-row seat. In addition, its interior is pleasant, well-trimmed and comfortable. However, in a segment full of strong competitors, the Journey comes up short in a couple of critical areas. A lackluster four-cylinder engine is by far the weakest link on the 2014 Dodge Journey. Not only is acceleration sluggish on this version but fuel economy is well below average, mainly due to Dodge's continued use of an outdated four-speed automatic transmission. If you're going to buy a Dodge Journey, it's worth springing for the optional 3.6-liter V6 -- something you'll have to do anyway if you want all-wheel drive, which isn't offered with the four-cylinder. The six-cylinder is potent and smooth, and paired with a more modern six-speed automatic transmission. Of course, equipping your Journey with the V6 also raises the price by several thousand dollars. If you can get past those issues, the 2014 Dodge Journey can be more useful for families than some other compact SUVs. It has an optional third row of seating appropriately sized for two small children, and you can get built-in booster seats in the second row. There are useful storage areas, too. You can store snacks and cold drinks in bins built into the floor of the second-row seating area, and a compartment under the front passenger seat is handy for stashing valuables. These conveniences are certainly nice to have, but consumers have plenty of choices for a compact or midsize utility vehicle. The popular 2014 Honda CR-V is one of our favorites and an excellent pick if you want a small crossover with a refined, fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine and don't need a third row of seating. Rivals like the Mazda CX-5 and Ford Escape feel sportier from behind the wheel and also offer superior fuel economy. Among the seven-passenger vehicles in this price range, the newer 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2014 Kia Sorento stand out for their smooth V6 engines, superior mpg ratings and slightly larger interiors. Base versions of the Kia are comparable in price to the Journey, but higher-line versions of the Sorento and Santa Fe cost significantly more. If you're on a tight budget but still need three rows of seating, the Mazda 5 minivan is a good alternative to the four-cylinder Journey. Based on the strength of the competition, the 2014 Dodge Journey is not among our top picks for a seven-passenger crossover. However, if you run across a good deal on a V6 model, it's still worth a test-drive.