2019 Dodge Journey Pros vs Cons

The 2019 Dodge Journey is a mid-sized crossover SUV. It is a four-door vehicle with a rear hatch for the cargo area. It can seat up to seven passengers. The Journey is a versatile vehicle with a lot of cargo space. The rear seats can be configured in a few different ways to accommodate more cargo or more passengers. It also has a respectable towing capacity for even more utility.

The Journey can be customized to suit your own needs and personal tastes. Dodge gives you a couple of different engine choices and four different trim levels. There are numerous comfort and convenience features available for you to add on. You even get the choice of eleven different exterior colors. We'll take a look at ten of the top reasons to buy a Dodge Journey and a few reasons why it may not be right for you.

What's New for 2019?

For 2019, Dodge has removed the SXT trim package from the lineup. You still have the SE, Crossroad and GT trims available from the previous year. A new trim level called the SE Value Package has been added on. The regular SE trim gets moved up from being the base model and offers more standard features and available options than before. You can now even select a V-6 engine for the SE. Some cosmetic changes on the exterior give the 2019 Dodge Journey a more sporty and stylish appearance. The front and rear get a makeover. The headlights, taillights and fog lamps are all redesigned for the 2019 model as well.

Ten Reasons You May Like the 2019 Dodge Journey – The Pros

1. Plenty of room for passengers.

One of the top reasons people purchase any SUV is for the ability to cart around a lot of people. Whether you have a big family, an entourage of friends or a sports team, the Dodge Journey has plenty of room for them all. This SUV can transport up to seven average-sized adults. You get two bucket seats up front for the driver and a passenger. A second-row bench seat gives you space for three more. The third row offers room for another two. You still have plenty of room left over for cargo too.

2. A massive amount of cargo space.

The ability to haul groceries, cargo and equipment is perhaps the second best reason to choose an SUV. The 2019 Dodge Journey doesn't disappoint in this category. The design of the vehicle gives you a lot of versatility here. The second and third-row seats can be folded down when cargo is your top priority. When properly configured, the Journey gives you 67.6 cubic-feet of space. Even more storage space can be found in two bins underneath the second-row seats. The cargo-area floor has another hidden compartment with access to a jack. Dodge added in a ton of small-item storage, pockets and cup holders throughout the Journey as well.

3. Great performance from the V-6 engine.

The 2019 Dodge Journey can be had with an award-winning, V-6 engine. The 3.6-liter DOHC Pentastar VVT engine produces 283 horsepower. It's a smooth and powerful engine with a lot of torque. It never gets bogged down even when you have a vehicle loaded with people and cargo. You get great acceleration and the ability to tow and haul a lot of weight. This power plant is mated to a smooth and accurate 6-speed automatic-transmission system.

4. The modern infotainment system.

The Journey features an infotainment system that is intuitive and easy to use. The top-tier system gives you an 8.4-inch, color touchscreen display. A premium sound system with six speakers and a sub-woofer is available. The audio gives you an amazing 368 watts of power. You get connectivity via Bluetooth and USB port. An auxiliary port lets you wire connect an MP4 player or other devices.

5. Good fuel economy for its class.

The 2019 Dodge Journey offers a great fuel-economy rating for its class. You can get up to 25 miles-per-gallon during highway driving with either engine choice. You'll see around 16 to 17 miles-per-gallon while driving in the city. Those are great numbers for a vehicle of this size and weight.

6. Comfortable seats and interior.

There's a ton of space around the front, middle and rear seats. The seats are well constructed and extremely comfortable. You can even get heated seats with the leather-trim option. The driver's seat is 6-way power adjustable with head and lumbar support.

7. Towing and hauling capabilities.

The Dodge Journey was built to haul around a ton of people and things. It can also tow a trailer if you need even more cargo capacity. The seating capacity already makes the Journey a fine vehicle for large-family road trips. It's nice to have the option to take along a boat or trailer full of goods and equipment.

8. Available all-wheel drive.

The 2019 Dodge Journey is available with all-wheel drive. This makes the vehicle safer on wet or slick pavement. It also means that the Journey is quite capable for some light off-road duties. The Journey can get you, your passengers and your cargo wherever you need to go in any weather and even over rough terrain.

9. Features to keep you safe and secure.

When you're going to be driving a lot of people around, you want a safe vehicle. The latest Dodge Journey comes packed with safety and security features. Side-curtain airbags protect all rows. Front, side and knee airbags have you covered up front. Electronic Stability Control keeps the Journey stable. A rear backup camera gives you an excellent view behind the vehicle. An included alarm helps to prevent theft.

10. Plenty of options for customization.

Dodge gives you a ton of options to make the Journey uniquely your own. You can select from four different trim packages to get the features you want. You also have the choice of eleven different exterior paint colors. Dodge has included classic conservative choices such as Vice White and Pitch Black. You can also go bold with colors like Redline and Blood Orange. You even get six different wheel styles and five types of upholstery to select from.

Reasons You May Not Like the 2019 Dodge Journey – The Cons

1. A sluggish base engine.

The base model of the Dodge Journey comes equipped with a 2.4-liter I-4 engine. This engine produces around 173 horsepower. Unfortunately, this amount of power makes the overall performance a bit sluggish. This is especially true when the Journey is weighted down with a lot of people or cargo. Fortunately, you can also get a Journey with a more powerful V-6 engine.

2. It could use more driver-assist features.

The 2019 Dodge Journey is a safe vehicle with a lot of safety features. One area in which it is lacking, however, is in driver-assist systems. It's standard on many of the Journey's competitors to offer several driver assists. These systems assist you with steering, braking and keeping within your lane. There's a lack of collision detection and general warnings here too.

3. Cheap dashboard buttons and materials.

For the most part, the Dodge Journey has high-quality materials and an excellent build for the interior. The seats are especially nice. The audio and infotainment systems are both top notch. The instrument cluster and displays are all excellent as well. This is what makes it perplexing to see some cheap plastics and very basic styled buttons on the dashboard. This is a minor gripe, but the buttons sometimes look out of place.

How the 2019 Dodge Journey Compares to the Competition

Crossovers and mid-sized SUVs are popular vehicle categories on the road today. The 2019 Dodge Journey faces a large field of stiff competition. Three of the top vehicles in its class are the Ford Escape, the Nissan Rogue and the Subaru Outback. Let's take a look at how these three vehicles stack up next to the Dodge Journey.

The Journey offers seating for up to seven while the standard Escape only has five seats. The second-row area for the Escape is a bit more roomy, but the Journey offers more space up front for the driver and front passenger. The cargo capacity is about the same for both SUVs. The Escape can tow a bit more, but the Journey offers more horsepower and better acceleration with its V-6 engine. If you need to transport a lot of passengers, the Dodge Journey is your best choice here.

The Dodge Journey and Nissan Rogue both have a very similar base price. The Rogue gives you better fuel economy than the Dodge Journey. The Journey offers two engines including its powerful V-6. The Rogue is only available with an I-4. Once again, the Journey seats up to seven passengers and the Rogue can only accommodate five. For more passenger space and better performance, the Journey wins out here.

The Subaru Outback offers a few interesting things when compared to the Journey. The Subaru Boxer engine produces more torque than the Journey's V-6. Both have comparable acceleration, but the Outback can tow significantly more. The Outback has much better off-road capabilities as well. The Journey still wins out when it comes to seat capacity as the Outback only has room for five. Unless you're going off the beaten path, the Journey is the best option here. It wins out with a more comfortable interior and a lot more interior space.

In Conclusion:

It's easy to recommend the 2019 Dodge Journey to anyone with a large family. It's the perfect vehicle choice for those who need to transport a lot of passengers. It has enough cargo space for just about any situation you can think of. It's a versatile vehicle that can tow a respectable amount of weight. It can even handle light off-road duties with its available all-wheel drive. The interior is comfortable and provides a lot of small-item storage options. The modern infotainment system will keep you informed and entertained during long drives. This is a mid-size SUV that you won't be disappointed with.