The 2010 Dodge Journey R/T is what I would call a workhorse; it gets the job done without a lot of fuss.  It doesn’t require a ton

It looks small from the outside, but the Journey can seat up to seven. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

of grooming to keep it looking good, it won’t break the bank when it comes to buying one and it does its job very well.  It’s these characteristics that make the Journey, and other Dodge vehicles, very appealing. 

A common thread I find between Dodges is that no matter what trim level you’re purchasing, whether the top-of-the-line or the base model, it’s almost impossible to feel lost when you step inside.  Usually, the Dodge interiors are pretty straightforward, there aren’t a lot of buttons and they aren’t super fancy. The standard features are abundant and they are reliable modes of transportation. The Journey fits this mold. 

From the outside, the Journey has an athletic appearance and a signature front grille. 

A nice profile and especially attractive in metallic blue. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

The Deep Water Blue exterior coat definitely makes this crossover stand out quite a bit and accentuates its lines.  Throw in some P255/55R19 all-season tires and 19” chrome-clad aluminum wheels and the bling factor is kicked up a couple of notches.  And while it might not look all that big from the outside, the Journey can be outfitted with a third row of seats making it a seven-passenger vehicle. 

The interior, as mentioned above, is simple and easy to maneuver in.  Since this was the R/T model, it came standard with leather upholstery and heated front seats.  It also came with a couple of optional features; one being the third row seats which are part of the Flexible Seating Group, plus a premium stereo and rearview

Subtle but stylish. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

backup camera as part of the Safe and Sound Group.  The third row of seats is pretty easy to access.  The second row seats are easy to move out of the way and they aren’t very fussy.  Although there isn’t a lot of room back there, the third row seats fold flat into the floor when they’re not in use so there is more cargo room.  The second row of seats can also be folded flat.
 
One thing, and this is probably the only thing I found a little awkward about the interior, was the placement of the 6.5-inch touch screen for the stereo system. Traditionally it is located closer to the top of the centre stack but this was on the bottom. I found I had to take my eyes off the road for longer than I normally would.  I did, however, find that because it was located below all the buttons, the light it emits at night wasn’t as bothersome when I drove in the dark.
 
Powering the R/T is a 3.5L, 24-valve, MPI V6 engine that generates 235 horses and 232 lb-ft of torque.  It comes standard with a six-speed automatic transmission with AutoStick manual mode.  At times I felt the Journey was a tad sluggish, mainly when accelerating from an idle position.  However, even when the engine had to work a tad harder because of my need for speed, the cabin remained pleasantly quiet.  The V6 was specifically designed to reduce engine noise when accelerating in comparison with the four-cylinder counterpart. 
 
When driving around town or on the highway, I found that the Journey’s performance-tuned

Simple, straight-forward interior. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

suspension was rather amiable.  It also comes standard with an AWD system so I felt safe and sound whether I was driving in the rain or shine.  I didn’t find it too stiff or too loosey-goosey either, which made my time behind the wheel enjoyable and effortless. 
 
While the Journey itself is a decent vehicle, the fuel economy isn’t as great.  It uses an estimated 14.2L/100km in the city and 8.9L/100km on the highway.  Since most of my driving was in the city, I watched helplessly as the gas gauge needle followed the laws of gravity and kept going down.  I normally wouldn’t poo-hoo

Room for the whole family. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

the fuel economy too much since it does seat seven people, but the Honda Odyssey I drove recently, which is dimensionally bigger, seating eight, has almost the same specs when it comes to engine and horsepower yet only uses 12.3L/100km in the city and 7.8L/100km on the highway.  Then again, the Odyssey costs a good chunk of change more, so fuel economy isn’t the end all to be all with this vehicle. 
 
And speaking of price, the R/T has an MSRP of $27,395.  With options such as the Flexible Seating Group ($1,375) and the Safe and Sound Group ($775) the MSRP, with destination charges, comes to $31,045.  With all things considered, that’s great value. 

Serious cargo room. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

Now, for a really great value, if you don’t need the extra seating, the fancy wheels or AWD, the base Journey has a very affordable MSRP of $18,745.  And even the base model comes with some great standard features and is not as stripped-down as you would think. 
 
Having spent time behind the wheel of the 2010 Dodge Journey R/T solidifies my theory of it being a good workhorse.  While it might not be the fanciest-looking crossover on the inside or out, it does have some great features and will get the job done, all for great value.

Interior

Exterior

Mechanical

Safety

Dimensions

Misc

(AWS) Smokers Group

(J003) Standard Metallic Paint

(J005) Standard Gloss Paint

(RSP) UConnect Hands-Free Communication

(ADX) Exterior Appearance Package

(22F) Quick Order

(ALW) SE Plus Group

(AGV) Flexible Seating Group

(AYY) Family Value Group

(AWX) Safe & Sound Group