No Matter what your Destination,
you’ll Enjoy the Journey

by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady

Just like shoes, some cars fit right away. You start driving and you instantly feel comfortable. There is no “breakin” time, no learning curve, no surprises. Just everything you need in the right place.

I have a young fan who watches to see what car I am driving each week. Sometimes it is a car, sometimes it is a truck. He obviously likes some better than others. He was really excited about the Dodge Journey.  It is whatever you need it to be. Everything seems to be in the right place and is exactly the size you need.

The Trunk: Bigger is always Better

The trunk is even big enough for me.  Imagine how impressed a soccer team would be. A mom who drives a car that can hold all their stuff. And hers. Or how useful it would be for strollers, golf clubs and other large, bulky items you need to stash.

How Far can you Go

And of course, a vehicle named Journey has to be great for traveling. Good gas mileage in its category.

2.4-liter four-cylinder engine has an estimated 19 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 25 mpg on the highway

3.5-liter V-6 engine front-wheel-drive models deliver an estimated 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway

3.5-liter V-6 AWD models deliver an estimated 15 mpg city and 22 mpg on the highway

Great safety features. And a great feel on the road

You’ll find everything you need in the Journey

You can never have too much storage. I loved the under-floor storage lockers behind front seats.

And the Dodge Journey is versatile. There is a third row of foldaway “occasional use” seats. Rear doors open to a 90 degree angle allowing for easy rear access and helping child-seat installation. The Dodge Journey is equipped to take on life's ever-changing challenges.

Looking Good

Not only does the Journey look elegant, it also helps you see what you need to see. There is an interior child-view mirror and a rear backup camera.

Technology at your fingertips

Extra power outlets

Optional hard-drive-based stereo/navigation/phone system

And a few more Features

Rear climate control vents and optional rear climate control panel

Optional booster seats (these are not integrated child seats but are aimed at older children)

Theatre seating (second row is substantially higher than the first row)

Standard (US & Canada) multi-stage front driver and passenger air bags, front-seat-mounted side air bags, three-row side-curtain air bags, standard four-wheel disc anti-lock brakes (ABS), electronic stability program (ESP), and electronic roll mitigation, brake assist.

Traction control, rollover sensing, trailer sway control, tire pressure monitors

What other Texas Automotive Writers think of the Dodge Journey

Dodge Journey was chosen as TAWA’s official “Family Car of Texas” at the  2008 Spring Challenge,  due to its best-in-class fuel economy, best-in-class starting price, 5-star front and side crash test ratings and more innovative cargo, storage and versatility features than its competitors.  And it keeps getting better and better

I wonder why they didn’t think of this

The clock on the Dodge Journey is in a really strange place. I actually had to look around for it because it was not intuitive. When I was holding the steering wheel my forearm blocked my vision of the clock.

www.dodge.com

Madelyn Miller is a travel and food writer. She is a proud member of TAWA (the Texas Automotive Writers Association) and www.carladynews.com won first place for best website.

Read her stories on www.travellady.com, www.yogayaya.com, www.chocolateatlas.com, www.coffeeatlas.com, www.teaAtlas.com, and www.cocktailatlas.com