Dodge Journey


The Dodge Journey is a mid-size crossover SUV manufactured and marketed by FCA's Dodge brand since model year 2009, with a facelift for the 2011 model year. With styling by Ryan Nagode, the Journey is marketed globally in both left and right hand drive. In many markets, the SUV was marketed as the Fiat Freemont.

Overview

The Dodge Journey debuted at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, later appearing at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Identified internally as the JC49, the Journey shares a modified platform with the Dodge Avenger and an identical wheelbase to the outgoing short wheel base Chrysler minivan, a slightly shorter wheelbase than the outgoing Chrysler Pacifica.
Production versions of 2009 model year vehicles went on sale in 2008 for the 2009 model-year in North America, and mid-2008 elsewhere. A version for the Chinese market was unveiled at Auto China in 2008, marketed as the JCUV. Initial model production began in 2009. Freemont went on sale in Russia in 2013.
The Journey was sold in both LHD and RHD depending on the market.

2011 update

Revisions for the 2011 model-year include modifications to the grille, lower front fascia, redesigned interior, suspension, steering, powertrain, and use of Dodge's new logo, launched in 2011, as well as LED Taillights. Express and Mainstreet trim levels replace SE and SXT respectively, while Crew and Lux trims are also added to the lineup. The 2011 Journey received new Uconnect 3 infotainment systems with either 4.3-inch or 8.4-inch LCD color touchscreen displays, and a full-color LCD Electronic Vehicle Information Center in the instrument cluster. The Keyless Enter-'n'-Go System, with keyless access and push-button start, became standard on all Journey models.
For the 2012 model year, the Journey became Dodge's smallest SUV after FCA stopped manufacturing the Nitro. SE and SXT trims return for 2012, replacing Express and Mainstreet trims, respectively. An American Value Package model is also added for the United States market that is priced below the SE. For the 2013 model year, Dodge released the Journey Blacktop, with 19-inch gloss black aluminum wheels and center caps, a gloss black grille, gloss black bezel headlamps, gloss black lower front fascia accent and gloss black exterior mirrors. In 2014, the Journey Crossroad was introduced with chrome accents along the lower part of the body and in the interior, smoked head- and taillights, a black grille, rocker panels, rails for a roof rack, and a skid plate simile at the rear. Chrysler added the revised Dodge logo with two slanted rectangles for the 2013 Model Year. For the 2016 model-year, the Journey's AVP and Limited trims were discontinued and the Crossroad Plus trim was added and also for the 2017 model-year, the R/T trim is replaced by the GT trim.
Pre-facelift styling
Post-facelift styling

North American trim levels

The following trims were available in North America from 2009 to 2010:
Chrysler rebadged the Mexico-manufactured Journey in Europe after model year 2011 as the Fiat Freemont, unveiled at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, and began marketing the Durango.
The Freemont had its Italian launch in the end of May 2011. It has two front-wheel-drive turbodiesel variants the and the version of Fiat's 2.0 L Multijet turbodiesel. Later will be introduced all-wheel-drive version of diesel and the Pentastar V6.
In Australia, Brazil and China, both the Freemont and the Journey are available for sale. However, to create a distinct market for the two vehicles, the Freemont is only available with the 2.0 and 2.4L 4-cylinder engines in the market other than China, while the Journey is now only sold with the Pentastar V6 engine.
The Freemont was originally available in LHD markets only, except the Netherlands. Fiat Group Automobiles Netherlands did not offer the Fiat Freemont on the Dutch market, owing to the Dutch tax climate, that would make the car too expensive to become a sales success. However, a RHD model was introduced to Australia, but not in the United Kingdom. In January 2011, What Car? expressed doubts for the model to reach the United Kingdom.The Freemont was discontinued after the 2015 model year.

2020 model year changes

For the 2020 model year, the Dodge Journey is only available in two trim levels: base SE Value and "up-level" Crossroad. All 2020 Journey models are powered by a 2.4-litre inline-four gasoline engine that produces 173 horsepower and 166 lb. ft. of torque, mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, and is available only with front wheel drive. The optional 3.6-litre Pentastar Variable Valve Timing V6 gasoline engine, six-speed automatic transmission, and the option for All Wheel Drive have all been discontinued. All Journey models now feature standard three-row, seven-passenger seating, which was previously optional on base trim levels in previous years. Available options and packages have been revised. In addition, the Journey are not available in states with California emissions requirements for the 2020 model year. 2020 will be the final model year for the Journey.

Engines

The available four-cylinder is a, with and of torque; a version of Chrysler's GEMA built, World Engine class of four-cylinder engines shared with Hyundai and Mitsubishi.
Through 2010, the V6 offered in North America was a with a six-speed automatic transmission, producing and of torque. For 2011, it was changed to the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, producing and torque. Other markets offer the six-speed automatic transmission with the flex-fuel 2.7-liter V6. All-wheel drive is only available with a V6.
Also through 2010 a Volkswagen-sourced diesel engine was available outside of North America with an automatically shifted dual clutch transmission. Chrysler performed primary engineering for the dual-clutch transmission with support from long-time partner Getrag, which was to build the transmission in the United States. Due to funding issues, this did not happen, and the factory, nearly finished, was sold and used for other purposes.
For the second generation in 2011 the Volkswagen diesel was replaced by the Fiat 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel engine with or and of torque and a manual or optional automatic six-speed transmission.

Safety

The Dodge Journey includes 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, electronic stability program, and electronic roll mitigation, brake assist.
Overall:
Frontal driver:
Frontal passenger:
Side driver:
Side passenger:
Side Pole Driver:
Rollover FWD: / 18.5%
Rollover AWD: / 17.9%

Production

Chrysler manufactures the Journey at the Toluca Car Assembly in Toluca, Mexico, on the same assembly line as the Fiat 500.

Global sales

Marketing

Dodge Journeys marketed in Japan are known as Dodge JC because "Journey" has been used by Isuzu Motors. JCs were qualified by the Japanese government to be included in Subsidy Scheme for Environmentally Friendly Vehicles. Operating expenses in Japan incur additional costs due to exceeding Japanese Government dimension regulations and the engine displacement incurring higher road tax obligations.
As part of the vehicle's introductory promotion, Dario Franchitti's No. 40 Dodge Charger carried a "Journey" paint scheme for the 2008 Daytona 500 on February 17, 2008.