2009 Dodge Journey
Prices: $20,625-$29,035

The mid-size crossover field is becoming increasingly crowded, but that's a good thing because many such vehicles, which combine car and SUV attributes, have fresh designs.

One of the latest crossovers is the Dodge Journey. It has carlike ride and handling, being based on the Dodge Avenger/Chrysler Sebring sedan front-wheel-drive platform, although available with all-wheel drive (AWD). The Journey combines minivan attributes with more-aggressive SUV styling.

The new crossover seats five, but there's room for seven if an optional third-row seat is ordered. It's available for the two higher-line models.

The Journey debuted at the Frankfurt auto show in Germany because it's billed as a "global" vehicle, suitable for foreign countries with less road and parking space than in America. It's smaller than it appears to be. It's only about 2 inches longer than the mid-size Avenger sedan for easier maneuvering and parking, although it has a longer wheelbase and is 7.7 inches higher than the Avenger at 66.6 inches.

Most buyers are expected to be young singles, couples and families with small children, along with "mature" families who need room to haul people and cargo.

It's easy to get in and out and to reach the third-row seat, partly because rear doors open fully 90 degrees--a welcome feature that should be available on more vehicles. However, while outside door handles are large, inside handles are small.

The Journey is especially user-friendly for those with children, offering a pair of built-in second-row booster seats that cost $295 for both and eliminate the need to install portable child seats.

This crossover also has a thoughtful "child-presenter" seat that works by letting the 60/40 split fold-flat second-row seat move forward about 5 inches to bring children closer to the front seats so front occupants--especially a driver--can reach them fairly easily.

Dodge spent lots of time developing user-friendly comfort and convenience Journey features. For example, there's a dual-level glove box containing a "chill zone" to keep beverages cool, available fold-flat front passenger seat with a hidden storage area under it, in-floor storage bins behind the front-row seats and rear in-floor storage bins for seven-passenger Journeys.

There's an abundance of such features. They include an interior observation mirror to keep tabs on booster-seat occupants, grocery bag holders and front-seat storage areas for various items. Decent-size storage pockets and bottle holders are in all doors.

Power accessories include windows, mirrors and locks, and there are various sound systems and a rear DVD entertainment system.

The many safety features include front-side air bags with a driver-inflatable knee blocker, three-row side-curtain air bags, electronic stability and traction control, roll-mitigation system, anti-lock brakes with a panic brake assist feature and trailer-sway control. Also offered are a remote-start feature and optional rearview camera.

There's a good number of reasonably priced option packages, besides individual options such as a $795 power sunroof, $495 upgraded sound system and $625 chrome alloy wheels.

The Journey comes as the entry $20,625 SE front-drive four-cylinder model, which has such items as a four-speed automatic transmission, cooled glove box, power windows and door locks, tilt/telescopic wheel and AM/FM radio with in/dash 6-disc CD/MP3 changer.. The top-line version is the $29,035 R/T with a V-6, AWD, leather upholstery, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate controls and a higher-performance suspension.

In between are are the $23,625 front-drive SXT with a sport suspension, $26,170 SXT with AWD and a performance suspension and $27,285 front-drive R/T with such a suspension.

Standard is five-passenger seating, while a third-row split-folding third seat and rear air conditioning are in a $1,220 option group.

It's not very difficult to reach the third seat, even if you're not a limber kid. And that seat is comfortable enough for two adults if the standard sliding second-row seats are moved forward a little. "Stadium" seating makes it easier for second- and third-row occupants to see outside. Still, front seats should offer more side support in curves and when making turns.

The SE's 2.4-liter four-cylinder generates 173 horsepower and works with a rather dated four-speed automatic transmission. It gives acceptable performance for the fairly heavy 3,802-pound SE, but has a 0-60 mph time of a so-so 9.6 seconds and average passing abilities on highways.

The 3.5-liter 235-horsepower V-6 is another story. It delivers much stronger acceleration (0-60 mph in 8 seconds) in the 4,001-4,233-pound SXT and R/T and uses a more modern six-speed automatic with a manual shift feature.

However, the four-cylinder wins the fuel economy contest, with an estimated 19 mpg in the city and 25 on highways. Figures for the front-drive 3.5 Journey are 16 and 23--or 15 and 22 with AWD. The AWD models have a 21.1-gallon fuel tank, while front-drive models have a 20.5-gallon tank.

Regular-grade 87-octane fuel can be used in either engine, but Dodge says 89-octane is preferred for the V-6, which comes with prominent dual exhaust outlets.

Driving the Journey is like driving a comfortable large sedan, with V-6 versions having a surprisingly sporty feel. Steering is quick and rather firm with good road feel.. Handling is decent, although the SE's smaller wheels and tires and softer suspensions provide less athletic moves than the SXT and R/T models. On the other hand, the SE has a more carlike ride. Braking is OK, although the pedal sometimes felt as if it needed a more linear action.

Interiors haven't been a strong Dodge feature, but the Journey's quiet cockpit is fairly upscale, with tight panel fits and soft-touch plastics, although there's still too much hard plastic.

The large gauges can be quickly read, and sound system and climate controls are easy to use. Front cupholders are a stretch because they're low at the front of the console. Rear cupholders are easily reached. Thick windshield posts and rear roof pillars partly obstruct vision. Incidentally, the nonstop fasten-seat-belt warning bell will drive you crazy until you fasten belts.

There's plenty of cargo room without the third-row seat, but not much with third-row seatbacks in their normal position. However, second- and third-row seatbacks flip forward to create an impressively large cargo area, and straps let you pull them upright without straining.

Dodge builds some pretty good cars and trucks, and the Journey shows the automaker can use its expertise with such vehicles to produce a competitive crossover.