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2018 Dodge Journey

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Make
Dodge
Model
Journey
Year
2018
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Dodge Journey OEM Exterior Primary Photo
OEM Interior Primary
OEM Exterior Standard
OEM Exterior Standard
Interior Profile
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Expert Rating
Unavailable

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

Select a Trim
Select a Trim
2018 SE 4dr Front-Wheel Drive
most popular
Price:   -  From $22,995
2018 SXT 4dr Front-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $25,795
2018 SE 4dr All-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $27,395
2018 Crossroad 4dr Front-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $27,995
2018 SXT 4dr All-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $29,295
2018 Crossroad 4dr All-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $31,495
2018 GT 4dr Front-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $33,095
2018 GT 4dr All-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $34,995

Overview

The 2018 Dodge Journey remains an ultra-affordable three-row vehicle while clever storage locations complement a flexible interior, entering the new model year with only mild updates. The Journey's looks has remained largely unchanged since it was introduced in 2009, but technology updates and special packages keep it relevant in a competitive segment.

What's New for 2018

All Journey models now feature three rows of seating as standard equipment. The Crossroads trims are simplified and receive a new wheel style. The Blacktop Package focuses on appearances and is available on all trim levels except Crossroads, which features its own exterior styling theme.

Dodge Journey

Choosing Your Dodge Journey

The Journey prides itself on a low upfront cost and interior flexibility. Front-wheel drive is standard as is the 2.4-liter four-cylinder mated to a four-speed automatic. This powertrain combination has been with the vehicle since it debuted and puts out 173 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque while achieving an EPA rated 19 miles per gallon city, 25 highway, and 21 combined – that's hilariously inefficient for a four-cylinder engine on today's market.

The available 3.6-liter V6 is essentially a requirement for people hauling and is solely mated to a six-speed automatic. It puts out 283 hp and 260 lb-ft and is nearly as efficient as the four-cylinder, at 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined. An on-demand all-wheel drive system is optional on all trims, but it requires the V6 (that's not necessarily a bad thing). All-wheel drive drops a single mile per gallon in the city and on the highway. And because it requires the upgraded engine, all-wheel drive comes with a large price tag of $3,500 ($4,400 for the SE).

Dodge Journey

SE

The SE trim ($22,495 plus $1,095 destination fee) features 17-inch steel wheels with wheel covers, tilt/telescopic steering, a 4.3-inch touchscreen audio system with six speakers, USB connectivity, heated mirrors, second-row in-floor storage bins, and keyless entry with push-button start.

The Popular Equipment Group ($995) brings rear air conditioning and leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The Connectivity Group ($795) includes SiriusXM satellite radio and Bluetooth. To enhance the exterior appearance, the Blacktop Package ($395) features a gloss black grille, black headlight bezel, and replaces steel wheels for black alloys – the result is a much more premium aesthetic, despite the reasonable price.

Dodge Journey

SXT

The $26,790 SXT trim receives integrated fog lights, rear air conditioning, 17-inch wheels, and is the first trim level to offer front-wheel drive with the V6. It's also the first chance to order a rearview camera – included in the UConnect 8.4 Touch Screen Radio Group that also brings a three-zone climate control, rear parking sensors, satellite radio, and the eponymous infotainment upgrade.

The same Blacktop Package (now $1,095) is offered and features additional gloss black trim pieces and 19-inch wheels. But the real important package is the Premium Group, also $1,095, adds a bunch of desirable gear. Go with this package and you'll score SiriusXM satellite radio, a six-way power driver's seat with four-way lumbar adjustments, a storage compartment under the passenger's seat cushion, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and upgraded cloth upholstery.

Dodge Journey

Crossroad

The Crossroads trim ($28,990 including destination) brings additional styling flair to the exterior and additional equipment to the interior.

Power leather seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, an 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and essentially all the goodies from the SXT's Premium Group come standard on the Crossroads. On the exterior, revised bumpers, a blackened grille, and black 20-inch wheels visually separate it from the rest of the lineup.

A $1,345 Family Entertainment Group adds a nine-inch rear-seat display, a six-speaker Alpine audio system, while the $695 Driver Convenience Group attaches a rear-view camera with rear parking sensors. A Premium Sound Group is $395 and adds the Alpine audio system without the rear-seat display. The $1,350 Popular Equipment Group is back, and this time adds heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, remote start, and an alarm. For $1,845, the Nav and Sun Group adds a power sunroof, a navigation function for the infotainment system, and a rear-view camera. The nav system and rear-view camera are also available for $1,245.

Dodge Journey

GT

The $33,590 GT trim is only available with the V6 engine, although all-wheel-drive requires an additional $1,900. It also comes equipped with a sportier-tuned suspension and 19-inch wheels. The interior receives premium perforated black leather seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel – both of which are heated – and the premium Alpine audio system with UConnect. The long list of additional available packages mostly mirror those of the Crossroads trim – the Premium Sound Group and Popular Equipment Group are the only casualties, although the style-focused Blacktop Package is back for $395.

CarsDirect Tip

The SXT trim provides the best balance of cost and features. A rearview camera is a must-have but requires ordering the 8.4-inch UConnect package for $895. The V6 and the six-speed automatic should also be considered, if only because the base powertrain is so antiquated and inefficient. As a practical family hauler, the Journey does the job, but it's sorely in need of an upgrade if Dodge wants it to stay competitive.

Get your price on a Dodge Journey »

author image
Automotive Editor
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Expert Review

Expert Rating
Unavailable

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

author image
Contributing Editor

The Dodge Journey is a midsize, three-row utility vehicle with a wagon-like layout and available all-wheel drive. Introduced in 2009 with only one significant update since, this Dodge seems like a leftover from another era (because it is).

Best Value

The 2018 Dodge Journey operates in a crowded segment against much newer, smarter, more efficient rivals. For 2018, Dodge pared the model list to four trims: SE, SXT, Crossroad and GT. All-wheel drive and a V6 engine are available and recommended – the base 2.4-liter four-cylinder is underpowered and inefficient and the four-speed automatic is an antique.

Our pick here is the Journey Crossroad, in part for its improved styling featuring attractive “black noise” 19-inch wheels. Inside, you’ll find dual-zone climate control, upgraded door trim, an automatic dimming rearview mirror, leather seats, a power driver’s seat, and leather-wrapped steering wheel. We recommend upgrading to the V6 and all-wheel drive, not only because the base powertrain is so bad, but because the Journey is already so hilariously inefficient that the one-mile-per-gallon penalty to send power to all four wheels isn't really a problem.

  • Model: 2018 Dodge Journey Crossroad
  • Engine: 3.6-liter V6
  • Output: 283 hp/260 lb-ft
  • Transmission:Six-speed automatic
  • Drivetrain: All-wheel drive
  • MPG: 16 city/24 highway
  • Options: : V-6 engine ($1,700), All-wheel drive ($1,800), Navigation and Sun Package ($1,995, with navigation, rear park assist, satellite radio, upgraded UConnect telematics and a power sunroof), Popular Equipment Group ($1,350, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, remote start)
  • Base Price: $28,990 (including $1,095 destination charge)
  • Best Value Price:$35,685

Performance

Dodge Journey

The Journey Crossroad’s available V6 engine works with a six-speed automatic transmission. We found the V6 supplies strong acceleration, but the transmission seems misplaced at low speeds and lethargic at other times. Both engines grumble and that’s not a pleasant sound with this model.

The four-cylinder, meanwhile, is inadvisable. It's noisy, underpowered, suffers at the pump, and works with a transmission that executes shifts at geologic speeds.

Dodge equips the Journey with hydraulic power steering and although it doesn’t inspire performance driving, it feels natural and the vehicle stays composed on open roads. Ride quality is average at best, but firm. Expect more than your usual amount of body lean on twisty roads.

Style

The Dodge Journey arrived late to the market and has always seemed a step or more behind the competition. It shares its underpinnings with the long dead Dodge Avenger sedan and its layout is similar to the Chrysler Pacifica —no, not the current minivan, the previous crossover last produced in 2008. Besides rolling on 19-inch wheels, the Journey Crossroad has heated and power-folding side mirrors, chrome roof rails, and a manual liftgate.

Inside, seating is for seven, although the middle bench seat is best for two. The third-row isn’t roomy, but it is suitable for young children. Up front, the seats offer average comfort with six-way adjustment for the driver, but there is no height control for the passenger. Standard cargo space measures just 10.7 cubic feet.

Fold the third-row seat and you’ll have 37 cubic feet available, equalling the storage space of most smaller SUVs with two rows. Fold the second- and third-row seats and cargo volume expands to 67.6 cubic feet.

The interior design isn’t remarkable, but the materials used are good for the price. The best feature, at least for the Crossroad, is the 8.4-inch UConnect touchscreen infotainment system. The standard package includes a CD player, satellite radio, an audio jack, and USB port. You’ll also find ample storage compartments throughout the cabin.

The Best and Worst Things

Despite lagging its competitors, the available upgraded infotainment system with Bluetooth streaming and navigation is one of the Journey’s best features. But the Journey’s old design means this model just doesn’t earn the expected safety scores its competitors achieve.

Right For...

Dodge Journey

Customers who place value above everything else. This means taking advantage of the deep discounts to supply a well-equipped model for less than what the competition is charging.

Wrong For...

Anyone looking for a more modern family mover. The Journey simply isn’t it.

The Bottom Line

We can’t really recommend the Dodge Journey unless it comes heavily discounted. Those incentives routinely undercut all competitors, but the trade-off is an outdated model with little else to offer.

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Specs & Features

Highlights
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
2.4L I-4 / 173 HP / 166 ft.lbs.
Transmission
4-spd AUTOSTICK w/OD
Drive Type
Front-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Highway/Combined
19 / 25 / 22 Mpg
Passenger Capacity
7
Bumper to Bumper Warranty
36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Mechanical Specs
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
2.4L I-4 / 173 HP / 166 ft.lbs.
Drive Type
Front-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Hwy/Combined
19 / 25 / 22 Mpg
Brakes
4-wheel Disc
Front Suspension
Strut
Rear Suspension
Independent Multi-link
Spare Tire And Wheel
Compact Steel
Fuel Tank
20.5 Gal.
Recommended Fuel Type
Regular Unleaded
Average Cost To Fill Tank
$78
Dimensions & Capabilities
Maximum Cargo Volume
67.6 Cu.ft.
Passenger Volume
124 Cu.ft.
Exterior Length
192.4 "
Exterior Width
72.2 "
Exterior Height
66.6 "
Front Headroom
40.8 "
Rear Headroom
39.9 "
Front Legroom
40.8 "
Rear Legroom
36.1 "
Front Shoulder Room
57.5 "
Rear Shoulder Room
56.9 "
Front Hip Room
Rear Hip Room
Curb Weight
3,818 Lbs.
Wheel Base
114 "
Turning Radius
19.2 '
Exterior Features
Door Count
4 Doors
Wheels
17.0 " Steel / 17.0 " Painted Aluminum
Paint
Clearcoat Monotone / Pearlcoat Monotone / Tri-coat Monotone
Exterior Mirrors
Dual Power Remote Heated
Bumpers
Front Body-colored With Metal-look Insert
Grille Moldings
Chrome / Black
Rear Spoiler
Exhaust
Stainless Steel / Stainless Steel With Chrome Tailpipe Finish
Interior Features
Seating
Passenger Capacity
7
Seat Trim
Premium Cloth
Front Seat Type
Bucket
Heated Front Seats
Front Driver Seat Direction Controls
6-way / 8-way (6-way Power)
Front Passenger Seat Direction Controls
4-way
Front Armrests
6-way / 8-way (6-way Power)
Rear Armrests
Center
Rear Seats
40-60 Split-bench
Radio & Infotainment
Radio
Am/fm, Clock, Seek-scan / Clock / Am/fm/satellite, Seek-scan / Siriusxm Am/fm/satellite, Seek-scan
Speakers
6
Radio Steering Wheel Controls
Apple Car Play
Android Auto
Bluetooth w/ Hands-Free Connectivity
Convenience Features
Steering Wheel Type
Telescopic Tilt
Climate Control
Automatic Air Conditioning
Cruise Control
With Steering Wheel Controls
Sun Roof
Rearview Mirror
Day-night / Auto-dimming Day-night
One Touch Open Window
Driver
Tinted Windows
Deep
Vanity Mirrors
Driver / Dual Illuminated
Remote Keyless Entry
Keyfob (all Doors)
Power Outlets
4
Safety Features
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Overall Front Crash Safety Rating
Overall Side Crash Safety Rating
Rollover Crash Safety Rating
Front Impact Airbags
Driver And Passenger
Driver Side Impact Airbags
Seat Mounted
Knee Airbag
Driver
Passenger Side Impact Airbag
Seat Mounted
Rear Side Airbag
Seatbelt Pretensioners
Front
Anti-Lock Brakes
4-wheel Anti-lock Brakes (abs)
Forward Collision Warning
Blind Spot Sensor
Lane Departure Warning
Autonomous Cruise Control
Pedestrian Detection
Driver Attention Alert
Daytime Running Lights
Auto High Beams
Adaptive Headlights
Parking Sensors
Parksense Rear
Security Systems
Security System
Panic Alarm
Ignition Disable
Sentry Key
Warranty
Bumper To Bumper Months Miles
36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Major Components Months
60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Included Maintenance Months
Roadside Assistance Months
60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Corrosion Perforation
60 Months / Unlimited Miles
Accessories Months

Used 2018 Dodge Journey for Sale

5 vehicles found within 100 miles of your area
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Price

$10,495

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