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2014 Dodge Journey Pros and Cons at TrueDelta:
BOTTOM LINE
by rcastx

Member6381

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Introduction

Considering that the only issues that have experienced with this vehicle are mostly cosmetic, in my opinion the Journey is an acceptable vehicle for a family with 2 or 3 very young kids. The Dodge Journey can provide reliable transportation in a suburban area but is definitively not the vehicle of choice for long trips or people who spend considerable time driving. For someone that decides to buy this vehicle, I would recommend to keep an eye on the battery condition as is not easy to replace due to its location; removal of the right front tire and plastics around it will be need to access the battery. My Journey is approaching the end of the lease and it will be time for me to pick another company vehicle; based on my experience with this Journey and my coworkers experiences with the Chevy Equinox and Ford Fusion, I intend to go with the Ford Fusion unless another SUV/Crossover becomes an option.

Reviewed: 2014 Dodge Journey

4dr SUV 283-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Why the 2014 Dodge Journey?

Powertrain performance

I selected this vehicle from the option list provided by my compay which included a Chevrolet Equinoxanda Ford Fusion; the Journey was my only option with a V6 engine. The first thing that I noticed was the good powerdelivered by the 3.6Lengine and a little delay on the transmission responding to acceleration. I changed from regular to premium gasoline and a change in performance on both, engine and transmission, improved. I also noticed that gas mileage improved by at least 3 mpg depending on my driving speed. Based on this experience, I decided to experiment using super premium gasoline with no noticeable change; therefore Istayed with the middle grade type of gasoline.

Ride smoothness

For the size of the vehilce, this is a very smooth and quite ride. I have driven this vehicle through very rough roads and in some instances on unpaved roads.The suspension handles every road condition well and cabin noise levels are consistenly pleasant.

Reliability & durability

ThisJourney already has over 65K miles and I have notexperienced any mechanical or electrical issues. Compared tothe issues my coworkers have experienced with their Chevy Equinox with similar mileage, I can say that the Journey is a very reliable vehicle.

Audio & nav systems

Since I spend long periods of time driving, the sound system plays a big role in my vehicle. My Journey came equipped with satellite radio and a sound systems with 6 speakers and a subwoofer that delver great performance; something audiophiles will be able to appreciate.

Why Not the 2014 Dodge Journey?

Front seat support & comfort

When I received my Journey the driver seat was comfortable but as I started traveling extensible the seat become more and more uncomfortable. I thought it was just me but other coworkers driving Journey report the same issue while the ones driving the Chevy Equinox and Ford Fusion state that the seats in their vehicles remain comfortable. Up to now, I can?t drive more than 2 hours without stopping somewhere to stretch my back.

Rear seat room & comfort

I normally take customers to lunch and is not easy to accommodate 4 mid-size adults in the Journey, not mention 5. This Journey comes equipped with a third row that is supposed to accommodate 2 more persons, but the space is extremely small and I would not recommend having someone sitting there for a long trip.

Materials & workmanship

The first thing I noticed when I received this vehicle was how cheap the interiors looked.After the first year, plastic coverson theside of theseats started falling as well as inthe door steps.After a few weeks of having this vehicle, I started noticing a noise on the right side of the dashboard; thedealer didn't find anythingloose thereforethey couldn't fix it. Through lots of research I found that the noise comes from the right side mirror and may be fixed by replacing it; but there is no guarantee that the noise will not come back. Recently I noticed that door covers feel loose and sometimes make vibrations noises that go away if I apply some pressure with my arm.

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