2018 Dodge Journey

For the 2018 model year, the Journey will see some minor changes majorly in terms of interior features and trim levels. With all the offerings in trim levels and engine options, the Dodge Journey is still alive and kicking in the segment which is seeing a steady upwards trend. It starts at a price of $22,995 and rivals the likes of the Volkswagen Tiguan, the Kia Sorento, and the Mitsubishi Outlander.

The 2018 Dodge Journey is available in 4 trims. The base SE is equipped with sparse features like manually adjustable seats and steel wheels yet one interesting bit about this trim is that it gets a dual-zone climate control as standard. The SXT trim gets pretty much everything that’s necessary like 3-zone automatic climate control and bigger alloy wheels. The Crossroad trim is pretty much the same as SXT but gets 19-inch blacked-out alloy wheels but the climate control unit sees a downgrade.

The GT trim is more performance-based and gets a V6 engine standard with performance-tuned suspension and it also gets leather upholstery. The Popular Equipment package adds 3-zone climate control and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and the Convenience package will get you power-adjustable seats. The same package on the top trims adds a sunroof and parking sensors and a universal garage door opener.

Which trim should you buy?

The SXT trim of the Journey makes a perfect value for money option as it gets almost everything like the 3-zone automatic climate control, 8.4-inch touch screen, and parking sensors for safety. On top of everything, you get a V6 engine as optional, if you feel like the base engine won’t do it for you.

The 2018 Dodge Journey comes with 2 engine options, the base engine is a tiny 2.4L Inline-4 engine that produces 173 hp and 166 lb-ft of torque, however, the unimpressive part is that it comes mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission. These numbers speak for themselves as this engine performs rather poorly for a vehicle of this size. The acceleration is outright lethargic and the limited gearing ratio limits the engine from performing better as well.

The optional V-6 engine should be the choice while buying this SUV if you want it to be properly equipped. The 283 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque output on this engine coupled with a 6-speed automatic transmission is a blessing and results in a desirable performance. The acceleration of this mill is much better and it doesn’t feel stressed at highway speeds even under a full load.

The Volkswagen Tiguan is the only one to come with a 2.0L turbocharged engine and offers an impressive torque output of 221lb.-ft. The Mitsubishi Outlander comes with the least powerful engine among the group yet its acceleration times aren’t much behind the competition. Both the Kia Sorento and Volkswagen Tiguan come with properly equipped engines but the Tiguan with its turbo setup gets better acceleration than the rivals here. Also, the Tiguan has the highest top speed here as well. It is also the quickest option, taking 8.2 seconds to the 60mph mark, while the Dodge Journey takes 11.1 seconds, making it feel sluggish in comparison. 

How well does the 2018 Dodge Journey handle?

The Dodge Journey handles like a boat which is slow and tricky to maneuver within the urban limits. The steering is easy to turn but it feels weird on this SUV as it doesn’t provide any feedback at all. Driving the SUV on highways is tedious if you have the base engine but the optional V6 engine handles it with ease but always keep in mind that the Journey is a big, tall SUV and a quick direction input might scare you for a second as it wobbles while changing the lanes. 

The suspension setup on this SUV is tuned for maximum comfort and it soaks everything that goes under it and thanks to the 17-inch wheels no shock or jerk penetrates the cabin. If you have driven older SUVs then you won’t have any issues recognizing the limitations of the Dodge Journey. This SUV is meant for a comfortable and relaxed driving experience and it gets an ‘A’ in that. 

2018 Dodge Journey Braking Performance

The Dodge Journey performs on an average level at the most when it comes to braking performance and the stopping distance is more or less similar to the rivals. The SUV takes 124 feet to halt from 60 MPH speeds. Brakes on this SUV are one of its positive features, actuating the pedal is easy and it feels quite light. In the urban areas, these brakes are great to have as they don’t require much force to engage but in panic braking situations these brakes get squishy and the SUV doesn’t stay straight, otherwise, the brakes remain usable as ever. 

The Mitsubishi Outlander is the best performer in the braking performance among the rivals here coming to a halt at 121ft. The lower curb weight of the SUV makes for a shorter stopping distance. On the downside, the brake pedal on the Outlander has a spongy feel at all times. The Kia Sorento has bigger brake rotors as compared to the Outlander yet it performs similarly to the latter while its performance is better than the Journey.

The Dodge Journey misses the opportunity of becoming a complete family SUV as the fuel economy of the base engine isn’t something to cheer for. It gets the lowest 19 MPG city and 25 mpg highway economy. As obvious it is the V6 engine further drops the economy but on the bright side, we get much better performance in exchange for that. Nonetheless, the massive 20.5-gallon fuel tank helps the abysmal fuel economy with over 500 miles of combined range.

Among the rivals here, the Mitsubishi Outlander is the most fuel-efficient vehicle averaging a mileage of 27 MPG, yet it fails to offer the much-desired driving range figures as you’d find on the Dodge Journey owing to its smaller gas tank. The curb weight of the Outlander is 500lbs lighter than the Journey so that acts as one of the aiding factors here. Both the Kia Sorento and the Volkswagen Tiguan have quite similar fuel economy figures yet the former gains an edge over the latter due to its bigger fuel tank and manages to average the highest combined range in the segment of 451.2 miles.

The 2018 Dodge Journey is a 7-seater SUV so passenger space inside has no issue. The interior of this SUV reflects practicality over luxury but the overall design is nice. The switchgear layout and the material choice are the usual plastic we get on budget SUVs. The front seats have cloth upholstery and are manually adjustable but you can get power adjustability and heating as optional extras.

Though it comes in as a pocket-friendly vehicle, the 3-zone automatic climate control makes the Journey a comfortable space to be in. The second-row space is a little short on volume due to those A/C vents integrated into the roof. The third row on the Journey is a story everyone is familiar with as it is only suitable for children. It's best you keep them folded for better cargo space.

The Kia Sorento is the only SUV here with no third-row seats. The Volkswagen Tiguan has a very modest interior and the seats have better support for the driver and the passenger. The second row on the Mitsubishi Outlander is a little less wide than the rivals while the Kia Sorento has the best second-row space. The cargo capacity of the Dodge Journey is fine with all the seats up but with the third row folded it gets expanded to 37 cubic feet of space. The liftgate opening on the Journey is wide and big so loading/unloading luggage is easy.

Standout features:

• Leather upholstery
• Cabin lighting 
• Power adjustable seats 
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel 
• 3-zone automatic climate control 

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The SUV comes with a 4.3-inch touch screen on the base trim and a 6-speaker sound system. Except for the base trim, all the other trims get a bigger and better 8.4-inch touch screen with a similar sound system. It's 2018 and we still haven’t received any kind of smartphone integration and that smaller touch screen does make the interior look severely outdated. The practicality and usability of both these screens are good enough but the fact that you can’t utilize your smartphone with this system bugs us a lot.

Standout features:

• 4.3 inch / 8.4-inch touch screen
• 6-speaker audio system
• 1 Year SiriusXM services (Optional)
• DVD player
• Bluetooth connectivity 
• Navigation (Optional) 

The Dodge Journey hasn’t changed much since it has launched in 2009 and the little design retouches go mostly unnoticed. The design language of this SUV is something like a family van on steroids, it looks a little of both. The base trim SUV with steel wheels and plastic hub caps will make you think about your decision but the optional packages do improve the exterior significantly. The SXT trim gets some chrome treatments on the exterior but the crossroad trim is the best looker in all the variants.

The LED taillights, body-colored mirrors, and sporty 19-inch wheels will make you forget about its shortcomings for a while. The overall design of the Dodge Journey still has some SUV elements but for the most part, it fails to impress. We really hope Dodge upgrades the SUV in upcoming years.

Dimensions wise the Dodge Journey is the biggest SUV overall. The Kia Sorento gets the widest body overall providing better lateral space inside the cabin. The Mitsubishi Outlander gets the highest ground clearance and is suitable to take on some rough terrains. The Kia Sorento gets the most appealing exterior design here courtesy of the stylish LED headlamp units and the tiger grille from Kia.

Standout features:

• 19-inch wheels
• Blacked out grille and wheels
• LED taillights 
• Roof rails 
• Running Boards
• Rear Spoiler

The 2018 Dodge Journey has done well in the NHTSA crash test getting a 4-star rating for overall safety along with full 5-stars in the side crash tests. As mentioned earlier, it does have significant body-roll and yet the rollover rating is impressive at 4-stars. In the IIHS tests the SUV performed with mixed results, all the crash tests were successful except for one, the small overlap driver side. It received a poor rating in this one. To add to all this chaos, Dodge hasn’t equipped it with the latest safety features, we only have a few to rely on.

Standout safety features:

• Rear parking sensors
• Rearview camera 
• Security alarm
• Traction Control
• Electronic Stability Control

2018 Dodge Journey vs 2018 Kia Sorento

The Kia Sorento and Dodge Journey are miles apart with respect to everything. The Sorento has better power and interior while the fuel economy is one of the best in the segment as well. It even gets Android Auto and Apple CarPlay along with high-tech safety features like automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and forward collision mitigation. So, considering all this the Sorento is a no-brainer in this comparison.

2018 Dodge Journey vs 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan

Here again, the Dodge disappoints as the Tiguan is the most modern and advanced SUV in this segment. It handles better and gets a turbocharged engine as standard which aids in power output as well as fuel economy, even the transmission on the Tiguan is ahead of its overall competition. Germans are known for their robust built quality and safety. And the Tiguan comes properly equipped in both these areas. Even though the base pricing on the VW Tiguan is more, you won't be disappointed.

2018 Dodge Journey vs 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander 

The Dodge Journey just might have a slight edge over the Outlander. The base engine on the Journey performs a little better but that’s about it. Both the SUVs can be customized to your liking and get much better on higher trims. The Mitsubishi Outlander, however, is surely better when it comes to reliability.

The 2018 Dodge Journey is a practical SUV that will serve you well if all you require is a basic vehicle that is highly affordable. However, that’s the only advantage it has over its rivals. The base engine lacks power and fuel economy too. Well, the power issue can be resolved with the V6 engine but the fuel economy gets even worse. That’s not it, the kind of safety features Dodge offers, or rather it doesn't, is a deal-breaker. Every rival in the group offers better features, whether for safety or convenience. So unless you are on a seriously tight budget, we advise you to look elsewhere.