2010 Dodge Journey review

The 2010 Dodge Journey ranks 20 out of 23 Affordable Midsize SUVs. Reviewers generally agree that the Journey is pleasant and roomy. "Overall, the 2010 Dodge Journey has a split personality,” explains Edmunds. It costs just over $1,000 more than the Journey and also offers an optional third-row seat. The RAV4's pricing actually comes out lower than the Journey's once you add a third row to both vehicles. That’s because the Journey’s third row requires upgrading to a higher trim, while the RAV4’s base model is already available with a third row. The RAV4 has a leg up in fuel economy too, with a higher base rating of 22/28 mpg city/highway. It starts at about $8,000 more than the Journey but comes standard with a third-row seat. The only real downsides are its higher price and lower 17/24 mpg base fuel economy rating.

A midsize crossover SUV, the "2010 Dodge Journey" comes in SE, SXT and R/T trim levels. All models come standard with two-row seating for five; with the optional 50/50-split-folding third-row bench (SXT and R/T only), capacity increases to seven.

The midgrade SXT adds 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlamps, heated side mirrors, a trip computer, enhanced interior storage, stain-resistant cloth upholstery, a six-way power driver seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a 115-volt power outlet and satellite radio. The top-drawer R/T features 19-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, remote start, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated front seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio controls.

"Dodge bundles most of the Journey's optional features into packages, and many of the upper trim levels' features are available as options for the lower trims. Other major options, depending on the trim level, include a Chrome Appearance package, sport-tuned suspension and steering, Bluetooth, an iPod adapter, tri-zone climate control, a rear-seat entertainment system and a hard-drive-based navigation and audio system with a back-up camera".

The base-model Journey SE comes with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 173 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque. It drives the front wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission. In our testing, an all-wheel-drive R/T model went from zero to 60 mph in an unremarkable 9.2 seconds -- just as slow as competing four-cylinder models.

The EPA gives the four-cylinder Journey ratings of 19 mpg city/25 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined. The front-drive V6 drops to 16/24/19, and adding AWD yields a 15/23/18 rating.

Every 2010 Journey includes antilock disc brakes, traction control, rollover-sensing stability control, active front head restraints, front-seat side airbags and side curtain