2011 Dodge Journey Overview Change Vehicle

This 2011 Dodge Journey review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2011 Journey, and includes Dodge Journey safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

The Dodge Journey is a crossover SUV that is sized between traditional compact and midsize models. It is available with five- or seven-passenger seating, equipped with front- or all-wheel drive, and is aimed at families seeking something bigger than a small SUV but priced beneath most midsize models.

For 2011, Dodge makes great strides in fixing what has been wrong with the Journey since it debuted just two years ago. A new, more powerful and more fuel-efficient, 3.6-liter V6 engine is standard in all except the base model, and Dodge has redesigned the steering and suspension components to make the Journey more enjoyable. Available Uconnect Touch technology with an enormous 8.4-inch in-dash touch screen makes at least one aspect of this SUV cutting-edge, new ParkSense reverse parking sensors are available, and Keyless Enter ‘N Go with push-button ignition is standard on every model.

As great as these changes might be, the most dramatic improvement of all is the Journey’s all-new interior, which displays modern design, is constructed using lots of soft-touch materials with pleasing gloss and graining, and boasts upgraded sound deadening materials. Dodge executes a minor restyling of the Journey’s grille, bumpers, and wheels, and adds “ring-of-fire” LED taillights. Finally, the Journey is offered in several new trim levels, and features several new interior color schemes and exterior paint hues.

Of the five different trim levels available on the 2011 Dodge Journey, only the R/T is familiar. The others are Express, Mainstreet, Crew and Lux.

The Journey Express model is the least expensive version, equipped with 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, a simple four-speed AutoStick automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive. Dual-zone manual air conditioning is standard, along with power heated side mirrors, power door locks with remote keyless entry, power windows, a tilt and telescopic steering wheel, and cruise control. The Journey Express is equipped with Keyless Enter ‘N Go with push-button ignition, and has a Uconnect Touch six-speaker radio with a 4.3-inch screen, a CD player, a USB port, and an auxiliary audio input jack.

Additionally, the Express has a six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, cloth upholstery, a vehicle information display, LED footwell lighting, dark tinted rear privacy glass, and auto-off headlights. The Journey is equipped with second-row in-floor storage bins as well as roof rails, and comes with variable intermittent front wipers and a rear wiper/washer system. A third-row seat is optional on this model, as well as 17-inch aluminum wheels to replace the cheap-looking 16-inch steel wheels with plastic wheel covers.

For a basic Journey equipped with a V6 engine, look no further than the Mainstreet model. It includes the 3.6-liter V6 and a six-speed AutoStick transmission, and also has a tauter touring suspension and basic 17-inch aluminum wheels. Upgraded front and rear bumper designs and dual chrome exhaust outlets set the Mainstreet apart from the Express, and this version gets standard floor mats, satellite radio with one year of free service, a cargo net, a cargo cover, grocery bag hooks, an outside temperature display, and a compass. Because it has a V6 engine, the Mainstreet can be equipped with the optional all-wheel-drive system.

From here, the Journey lineup diverges. The Crew model and the R/T cost the same, but serve different purposes. Both get an 8.4-inch Uconnect Touch radio with a CD/DVD player and an SD card slot, a premium Infinity sound system, a six-way power driver’s seat with four-way power lumbar support, a fold-flat front passenger’s seat with in-seat storage, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. Automatic headlights, fog lights, dual-zone automatic climate control (triple-zone with the available third-row seat), and remote engine starting are included on both the R/T and the Crew, and each has stain-repellant fabric upholstery. Additional upgrades include a portable rechargeable flashlight, a 115-volt auxiliary power outlet, LED overhead lighting, an interior observation mirror, and auto-dimming rearview mirror, illuminated visor vanity mirrors, and one-touch operation for the front windows.

The Journey R/T, however, is supposed to be the sporty model. So it gets a performance suspension, dark-finish 19-inch aluminum wheels, and body-color exterior trim with mesh grille inserts. The Journey Crew is supposed to be more upscale, so it has silver-painted 19-inch wheels, chrome exterior trim, and Uconnect Voice Command technology with Bluetooth.

At the top of the Journey lineup is the Lux, which adds equipment to the Crew model. The Lux has 19-inch chrome wheels, leather seats, heated front seats, a ParkView reversing camera, ParkSense reversing sensors, Bluetooth streaming audio, a Garmin navigation system, and hands-free texting capability. Additionally, Dodge offers a no-cost maintenance plan for three years or 36,000 miles on this model.

In addition to these standard items, each Journey model can be upgraded with extra-cost features. Highlights include a third-row seat with rear air conditioning or triple-zone climate control, depending on the model, and a set of second-row integrated child booster seats. A power moonroof is also available on select models, as well as a HomeLink universal remote, ParkSense reverse parking sensors and a ParkView reversing camera system. A variety of Uconnect technologies are available including Bluetooth hands-free calling and music streaming, a navigation system, and a hard-drive multi-media system. Additionally, the Journey is available with an upgraded Infinity premium sound system, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, and, if you plan to take advantage of the Journey’s 2,500-pound towing capacity, a trailer towing equipment package.

A 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine making 173 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque is standard on the Dodge Journey Express, which weighs nearly 3,800 pounds. That’s not a particularly favorable power-to-weight ratio, now is it? A four-speed AutoStick automatic delivers what power there is to the Journey’s front wheels, and the EPA expects this model to return 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. Our bet is that it disappoints buyers in every way.

The new 3.6-liter “Pentastar” V6 engine that goes into all the other Journey models makes 283 horsepower (45 more than the engine it replaces) and 260 lb-ft. of torque (28 more than before). The V6 is paired with a relatively sophisticated six-speed AutoStick automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, and, unlike with the Journey Express, all-wheel drive is optional with the V6 engine.

Notably, the new V6 doesn’t require mid-grade 89 octane fuel to produce optimum performance, the way the old 3.5-liter V6 did, but this year the towing rating slips from 3,500 pounds to 2,500.

In terms of fuel economy, the trade-off for the extra power isn’t significant. The Journey V6 is rated to get 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive, a 1-mpg improvement each over the old 3.5-liter V6. With optional AWD, the V6 is expected to get 16-city/24-highway.

Every Dodge Journey is equipped with four-wheel-disc antilock brakes, a traction and stability control system with trailer sway control, and seven airbags including side curtains that protect the third-row seating area and a new knee airbag for the driver. The Journey is rare in that it offers integrated second-row child booster seats as an option. A reversing camera is also optional, along with reverse parking sensors and hands-free texting capability.

Historically, the Dodge Journey has been a crash-test rock star. For 2011, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has revamped its crash-test program, and the Dodge Journey has not been re-tested against the tough new standards. That means the only relevant NHTSA rating this year is a 4-Star rollover resistance rating for both front- and all-wheel drive models.

Therefore, we seek the guidance of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which calls the 2011 Journey a Top Safety Pick for its excellent performance in all four testing procedures measuring performance in offset frontal-, side-, and rear-impact collisions, and for its roof crush strength.

The significantly upgraded 2011 Journey receives a below average rating for reliability from Consumer Reports. Believe it or not, that is an improvement. You would think this SUV would perform better in reliability surveys, since it comes with a five-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty which, if a car maker doesn’t build it right the first time, could generate substantial profitability problems for any company.

Also, in an effort to entice more buyers into the Journey Lux model, this top-of-the-line trim levels includes free scheduled maintenance for the first three years or 36,000 miles of ownership.

The Dodge Journey is based on the same platform as the Dodge Avenger sedan.

In terms of cargo volume, the Journey offers 10.7 cubic-feet of space behind third-row seat, 37 cu-ft behind the second-row seat (39.6 cu-ft. with five-passenger seating), and 67.6 cu-ft behind the front seats.

The Journey’s rear doors open nearly 90 degrees to facilitate easy entry and exit.

The 2011 Dodge Journey is built in Toluca, Mexico.

Safe but not dependable, the 2011 Dodge Journey is utterly transformed yet exactly the same as it was before. As terrific as the new V6 engine is, and as improved as the cabin might be, Vehix still cannot recommend this otherwise value-laden vehicle because of its below-average reliability record.

By Christian Wardlaw