2011 Dodge journey

[Nick R]

http://www.edmunds.com/dodge/journey/2011/review.html

Huh, I'd completely skipped over it. I liked the styling of the original, but too many problems with brakes, and the interior was lackluster. But the new one seems to have slipped by unnoticed, despite a major revamp. Including a much better interior, and better engine (3.6L Pentastar). Edmunds likes an everyday Chryco product! Things have certainly changed

 

[addyguy]

I always thought the Journey was a sensible, good-sized vehicle. Glad to see they are sticking with it.

 

[JTK]

19/25mpg out of a 4cyl, they can keep it.

 

[mrsilv04]

Originally Posted By: JTK
19/25mpg out of a 4cyl.



Some things never change... like Chrysler products and poor fuel economy.

 

[Ursae_Majoris]

last year I rented a 2009 Journey for two weeks. Worst rental I've ever had. Thirsty engine, awkward pedal placement, uncomfortable seats, very cheap interior.
But it did have a cooled glove box! /sarcasm off

 

[SLCraig]

I think it is the best looking "mainstream" vehicle they currently offer.. I have yet to drive one of these, but they look great.

 

[01rangerxl]

I'd like to see one in person.

We got the previous generation of these all the time at the auction I worked at. I personally thought they were garbage. Slow, ugly, generic boxes. The interior was only slightly better than one of those Little Tikes play cars. The Patriot or whatever was bad as well.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: JTK
19/25mpg out of a 4cyl, they can keep it.



It weights 5,000lb what do you expect?

 

[Ursae_Majoris]

Kia Sorento, LX and EX trims, both available as 7 seaters, 21/29 MPG, in FWD configuration, 3796 lbs curb weight (4 cylinder), 175 HP, torque 169 ft/lbs @ 3750 rpm.
http://www.kia.com/#/sorento/specifications/

Journey: 19/25 MPG, curb weight 3793 (not 5000), 173 HP, torque 166 ft/lbs @ 4000 rpm.
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2011/dodge/journey/101287568/specs.html
Chrysler needs to do better.

 

[Nick R]

I don't know. Copied directly from edmunds review, so it is copyright to them.

"On the road, the 2011 Dodge Journey's character depends greatly on what's under the hood. We'd suggest avoiding the four-cylinder engine that's standard on the base Express model, as it just doesn't have enough oomph to get this 5,000-pound beast up to speed quickly enough in common scenarios like merging onto a freeway. The new 3.6-liter V6 is a far better choice, as it produces quicker acceleration with only a slight sacrifice in fuel economy."

 

[Ursae_Majoris]

Curb weight of 3793, gross weight of 5005.
Kia's website lists only curb weight, so I went with that to compare apples to apples.

Edmunds lists Kia curb weight at 3157 and gross weight at 4497.
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2011/kia/sportage/101277423/specs.html

Either way, Journey needs to go on the diet and add two more cogs to the transmission. 4 speed AT is killing it.

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: Ursae_Majoris
4 speed AT is killing it.


No new car should only have 4 speeds. Even my 8 year old Ranger has a 5 speed automatic.

 

[oggb]

Chrysler shouldn't even exist anymore.

 

[OVERKILL]

The gross for my Expedition is 7000lbs, LOL!

 

[SLCraig]

Originally Posted By: JRed
Chrysler shouldn't even exist anymore.


shaddup.. They're on the right track. Some of their cars prove they can make something good. I don't know why they don't always do it that way though.

 

[andrewg]

My father owned a Journey last year.....he did read the indicate mpg ratings but figured he would get better being that it was a 4 cylinder. No such luck. He ended up trading it in for a new Civic. He loves the Civic in every way and wonders why he ever got the Journey in the first place.

 

[Hokiefyd]

I rented a 3.5L Journey, with the 6-speed auto. I rather liked it. I do concur that the pedal/wheel placement is awkward. It badly needed a telescoping steering wheel. Cars are designed for short people it seems. Us taller folks have to really reach for non-telescoping steering wheels these days. I guess that's all in the name of "safety" (airbags I imagine).

Anyway, I think the Journey's ride was quiet and tight. That was my first experience with the Kumho Solus KH16 tire, and it was a good tire. I reminded me a lot of the Michelin Energy MXV4 on my Cadillac at the time; decent ride, very quiet, and good dry traction.

The engine was thirsty. And the transmission was awkward. It was always shifting, and wasn't programmed well in my opinion. The 6-speed auto in my sedan is much easier to live with. The new interior is spot-on. Chrysler's done wonders with their interiors. Even the Wrangler looks Auto-Union nice. Yes, that's a partial joke, but there really is a modern refinement to most of Chrysler's new inner skins. A co-worker's wife bought a Journey about a year ago and likes it. She has a '99 Caravan with about 10 million miles on it, and she likes the Dodge dealer in town, so she bought a CPO Journey from them. It is a heavy vehicle, but that shows in the ride quality, which I was happy with.

I do think it's one of Chrysler's better (and highly under-rated) vehicles today. I hope the Pentastar engine fixes the fuel economy issue. I averaged 23 MPG with the FWD 3.5L that I drove (all highway). My AWD MDX matches that.

 

[KrisZ]

Quote:
Things have certainly changed



They're better be. For what' it's worth at least.

As one smart guy once said that doing the same thing and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity.

 

[Spazdog]

I still don't understand why Chrysler's variant of the GEMA 4 cylinder is so bad.

You can drive a 4 cylinder Kia, Hyundai, or Mitsubishi with mostly the same engine and it is as good as/better than the Toyota, Mazda/Ford, GM, Honda, or Nissan competitor.

But not the Chrysler.

I think the only major variation is the Daimler Mercedes Benz style valvetrain on the Chrysler. Which is supposed to be pretty advanced.

I've driven a GEMA Sebring and a GEMA Optima. The Sebring is smoother, real smooth for a big 4 cylinder, but it was a dog compared to the Optima. And this was the regular Optima. Not the brand new direct injection one.

It doesn't make any sense that the Chrysler variants seem so slow and get such bad mileage compared to the other GEMAs but it seems that is the way it is.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
I still don't understand why Chrysler's variant of the GEMA 4 cylinder is so bad.

You can drive a 4 cylinder Kia, Hyundai, or Mitsubishi with mostly the same engine and it is as good as/better than the Toyota, Mazda/Ford, GM, Honda, or Nissan competitor.

But not the Chrysler.

I think the only major variation is the Daimler Mercedes Benz style valvetrain on the Chrysler. Which is supposed to be pretty advanced.

I've driven a GEMA Sebring and a GEMA Optima. The Sebring is smoother, real smooth for a big 4 cylinder, but it was a dog compared to the Optima. And this was the regular Optima. Not the brand new direct injection one.

It doesn't make any sense that the Chrysler variants seem so slow and get such bad mileage compared to the other GEMAs but it seems that is the way it is.


I've wondered this often. In fact, I think I started a thread on it much earlier this year. The engines are praised in Hyundais, Kias.... But in Chrysler vehicles they are rough, unrefined, and not powerful. I suppose their transmissions can contribute to the not powerful part, but other than that it's hard to imagine how they could be so different.