2020 Dodge Journey

After more than a decade on the US market, the Dodge Journey is still playing the same old song, with very few new notes added during that time. While this does set it quite a bit behind more modern rival midsize SUVs, it also means that the Dodge doesn't ask for as much of an investment, making it very appealing to budget shoppers. However, those with value in mind will be put off by the lack of smartphone integration or advanced safety features like blind spot monitoring. Where the Journey does manage to remain competitive is its passenger space and affordability, but this is offset by terrible cargo space and subpar fuel economy. Against extremely capable competitors like the Kia Sorento and Honda Pilot, the Dodge Journey just doesn't have the kind of appeal it needs to survive the new decade, especially now that it only offers the weaker 173-horsepower four-cylinder engine.

With the simplification of the available trim and equipment levels on the 2020 Journey, shopping around has become a lot simpler. The SE Value remains the base model, now at a starting MSRP of $23,495. The only remaining upgrade is the Crossroad, which pushes the price up to $28,595. The all-wheel drivetrain is no longer offered, so this is where the base-level options end. There are still a number of available packages, but any way you look at it, the Dodge Journey is one of the most affordable SUVs on the market. These prices exclude tax, registration, licensing, and Dodge's $1,495 destination charge.

Few vehicles age very well, with most undergoing midlife updates just three or four years into their production cycle. The Journey is now more than ten years old, and it really feels its age. It handles like a rickety old man on roller skates when on the move, to be honest. The steering is imprecise and uncommunicative, with terrible on-center feel. Combine this with the SUV's extreme weight, and it certainly isn't designed to take a corner faster than a Rascal. At low speed or around parking lots, the Journey actually feels manageable.

The brakes follow the same trend as the steering, being quite effective at lower speeds around town, but they struggle to get traction at top speed. But as disconcerting as this may be, the Journey's handling is even more unsettling. Body roll is a serious issue, and the Dodge simply doesn't grip the road as firmly as it needs to.

All-in-all, maybe we should be grateful that the Journey only has the puny four-cylinder engine available. At low speeds around town, the crossover doesn't feel as horribly incompetent as it is, but go any faster, and it delivers a harrowing experience. And you can't even take comfort in the seats, as ride comfort is mediocre at best, and unpleasant most of the time.

Some people say the journey is more important than the destination, but in the case of the Dodge Journey, that simply isn't the case. Looking back to a time when Oprah was still telling us her favorite things, maybe this SUV would have made her list, but it's well past its prime now. Over more than 10 years, very few changes have been made to keep it relevant, so against ultra-modern crossovers like the Honda Pilot or Toyota Highlander, the Dodge simply can't compete.

Yes, the Journey is quite spacious inside, at least where passengers are concerned, but the sub-par materials and poor ride quality mean that no amount of space will actually make you comfortable. When you then consider that the standard trunk space is abysmal, the SUV just doesn't feel like a good family-centric daily driver.

The Dodge may have a low base price, but most rivals ask for just a few thousand dollars more and give you a lot more. The Journey has no smartphone integration, onboard Wi-Fi, or any advanced driver-assistance features worth mentioning. Add to this the now almost antique engine under the hood, and the crossover simply doesn't look like a good value proposition. So, no, we don't think that the Dodge Journey is a good car.

With even fewer choices this year, it really comes down to whether you want the most economical or the most well-equipped of the two very basic specs. But when you look at just how bare-bones the SE Value is, even with its Popular Equipment Group, it's hard to justify the purchase for how much you get. The automatic climate control, six-way power front seats, and larger infotainment display on the Crossroad are hard to pass up. You may still want to spring for the Popular Equipment Group for the navigation and heated front seats, but if you want to keep your final price below $30k, then you can probably do without it, especially since rear park assist is now standard on all configurations.

Only slightly younger than the Journey, the Dodge Durango occupies a segment one position higher than its little brother. It still offers seating for seven passengers, but it has quite a bit more cargo space in the 17.2-cubic-foot trunk. It also gets a far more competent powertrain lineup with the standard V6 engine delivering 293 hp and 260 lb-ft, while the available V8 puts out 360 hp and a whopping 390 lb-ft. It certainly feels sprier on the road, getting up to speed in around six seconds. The Durango has also made more effort to stay modern, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto coming standard, while blind spot monitoring, forward collision alert, and rear cross-traffic alert are available. It may cost a bit more than the Journey, but with all this extra value, the Durango is still the better deal at $30,495 MSRP.

Another seven-seater SUV in the midsize segment, the Kia Sorento is a capable and affordable rival to the Journey. And while the Kia may be a little smaller, it still supplies usable second-row seats and a slightly larger 11.3-cubic-foot trunk. But this is the only area where it is actually comparable to the Dodge Journey. When it comes to standard tech, the Sorento is in a whole other league, with a modern infotainment suite that supports smartphone integration, and plenty of available safety features like forward collision alert, lane departure warning, and a surround-view camera. Add to this a choice of two engines, including a very capable 290-hp V6, and the Kia Sorento leaves the Dodge Journey in the dust like the fossil it is.