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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2013 Dodge Journey

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Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2014 Dodge Journey

Overview

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2013 Dodge Journey Review

By KBB.com Editors

KBB Expert Rating: 6.5

The 2013 Dodge Journey maintains its mid-size crossover SUV vehicle status, offering room for up to seven passengers, but with pricing and fuel economy figures on par with smaller SUVs, such as the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. In terms of quality and design, the Journey's interior is a cut above most, full of high-end features and clever storage compartments demanded by families on the go. In the second row of seats are under-floor storage compartments, while the front passenger-seat bottom lifts to reveal more storage space. But the best part of the 2013 Journey is its available V6, which we think is one of the most powerful, smooth-running and fuel-efficient V6 engines on the market.

You'll Like This Car If...

If your growing family demands a vehicle with minivan-like proportions, but you don't want a minivan, check out the 2013 Dodge Journey. With its available V6, 7-passenger seating and AWD, the Journey can handle most of what fits into a traditional minivan and still maintain its less-bland SUV-like appeal.

You May Not Like This Car If...

While the Dodge Journey can fit seven passengers, it's not as roomy or comfortable as a larger GMC Acadia or Honda Pilot. The standard 4-cylinder engine contributes to the Journey's low base price, but in that form it's noisy and underpowered.

KBB Expert Ratings

Overall Rating

6.5
Driving Dynamics

5.7
Comfort & Convenience

5.9
Design: Interior & Exterior

5.9
Value

6.3
Safety

7.9

How It Ranks

#8

out of 9

MPG

#4

out of 9

Horsepower

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Consumer Rating

6.6 out of 10

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consumer ratings

What's New for 2013

For 2013, the Dodge Journey gets more equipment added to its various trims but with no price increase. AVP and SE trims get new 17-inch wheels, while the R/T models have a $1,000 price drop. New standard features on the Crew trim include leather seating, heated steering wheel and heated front seats.

Driving the Journey

2013 Dodge Journey Front angle view photo

Driving Impressions Although the 2013 Dodge Journey might look as though it would ride and handle like a tall SUV, the feeling we experienced seemed more in keeping with a well-mannered wagon....

Dodge has given the Journey a very taut suspension that absorbs most road irregularities without complaint, yet is still stiff enough to keep the Journey from rolling and bobbing on windy roads. Passengers in the front and second-row had nothing but praise for their accommodations, but those in the third row agreed it was best suited for small children. As for power, we found that Journey's standard 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine didn't exhibit much performance, even when moving a light load. For overall performance and peace of mind, we'd recommend going with the Pentastar V6. The 3.6-liter Pentastar is one of the best V6 engines ever produced by Dodge, and may even rank as one of the best V6 engines of all time.

Favorite Features

FLIP 'N STOW STORAGE
The 2013 Dodge Journey's front passenger-seat cushion flips forward to expose a big storage bin that can hide valuables from prying eyes, or just keep things in place.

UCONNECT 8.4-INCH NAVIGATION RADIO
Highlights include voice-activated controls for the Bluetooth, navigation, audio and iPod, as well as "Eco-Route" guidance and song tagging. There's even a subscription option to Sirius Travel Link, which can provide updates for traffic, find the cheapest gasoline prices, report on sports scores and weather conditions and even give movie times.

2013 Dodge Journey Details

2013 Dodge Journey Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

Step into a Journey Crew or R/T trim and you'll find various interior color choices in rich fabrics or plush leather. Soft-touch surfaces abound, and the big 8.4-inch touch-screen audio system, featuring the Uconnect suite of communication and connectivity options, is one of the best, most intuitive systems available. On the versatility front, the 2013 Dodge Journey mid-size SUV features a flush-folding third-row seat and second-row seats that can slide fore-and-aft (making access to the third-row seat a bit easier). Upper-level trims also have a flat-folding front seat that increases the cargo floor right up to the dashboard.

Exterior

As mid-size SUVs go, Dodge's 2013 Journey is on the larger side of the scale. Its tall stance and long profile give it the look of a big wagon, similar to the old Chrysler Pacifica. The Journey is so long, in fact, that it dwarfs the Toyota RAV4 and Ford Escape by nearly 10 inches. To keep the exterior from looking too much like a bland family wagon, Dodge has dressed it up with a chrome-trimmed crosshair grille, flashy alloy wheel choices and, on V6 models, a more aggressive lower air intake. The R/T trim takes things up another notch with a monochromatic exterior, 19-inch wheels and R/T badging.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

Standard equipment on the 2013 Dodge Journey includes a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and 4-speed automatic transmission, power heated side mirrors, three 12-volt outlets, a 4.3-inch touch-screen AM/FM radio with a single-CD player, an audio input jack and USB port, keyless entry, push-button start, 17-inch wheels, second-row in-floor storage and a covered storage bin in the rear cargo area. All models feature electronic traction and stability control, anti-lock brakes, front-seat side airbags, and 3-row side-curtain airbags.

Optional Equipment

Beyond the base Dodge Journey for 2013, there are four other Dodge Journey trims: SE, SXT, Crew and R/T. The 283-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 engine and 6-speed automatic transmission are offered on the SXT and standard on Crew and R/T trims. Options vary by trim and include all-wheel drive, UConnect Hands-free Communication network, leather seating surfaces, ParkView rearview camera, ParkSense parking assist, navigation, a power moonroof, six premium speakers with subwoofer and 368-watt amplifier, third-row seating, rear-seat DVD entertainment system, 17- and 19-inch wheels, 3-zone automatic air conditioning, Tilt 'n Slide second-row seats, Flip 'n Stow compartment, a heated steering wheel and heated front seats.

Under the Hood

Engineered for commuting and good gasoline mileage, the 173-horsepower, 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine in the 2013 Dodge Journey provides adequate power when lightly loaded. But bigger loads and the AWD system demand the potent 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, which pumps out 283 horsepower and is not only the engine many people will want, it's the one we recommend. Coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission, the 3.6-liter V6 never fails to deliver power when asked and, once up to speed, keeps the Journey moving with remarkable fuel efficiency. The Journey's V6 is also E85-compatible.

2.4-liter inline-4
173 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
166 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/26 mpg

3.6-liter V6
283 horsepower @ 6,350 rpm
260 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/25 mpg (front-wheel drive), 12/18 mpg (front-wheel drive, E85)
16/24 mpg (all-wheel drive)

Pricing Notes

The 2013 Dodge Journey AVP SUV has a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starting just under $20,000. The SXT starts closer to $24,000, while a loaded AWD Crew tops out around $35,000. All-wheel drive adds another $1,700 to the Dodge Journey's bottom line. Before you buy, be sure to check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to see what the Journey is typically selling for in your area. The 2013 Dodge Journey sport utility vehicle is expected to hold residual values comparable to or slightly lower than the Ford Escape, Hyundai Santa Fe and Chevrolet Equinox, and fall far below the 5-year values set by the Toyota RAV4 and Honda Pilot.

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2013 Dodge Journey Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

6.6

Out of 10

Based on 283 Ratings for the 2009 - 2014 models.

Review this car

Value

7.1/10

Quality

6.6/10
Reliability

7.0/10

Performance

7.0/10
Comfort

7.6/10

Styling

7.6/10

Great Vehicle

By Rgwog (GA) on Wednesday, July 31, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 3,500

10 8.0

overall rating 8 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 8/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 7/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Price, Room, amenities, styling"

Cons: "Battery location, a few blind spots"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"Probably one of the best cross overs on the market right now. All the bugs from the older models have been ironed out with the 2013. Love the 8 inch uconnect screen and individual climate control, sat radio. Had the Leather Seating added at the dealer with no problems. Fit and finish are as good as any on the market right now. Rides stiffer than the Grand Cherokee it replaced but not a big complaint about that. Got the SXT with the 3rd row and have not had any issues with that. Loads of cargo room in the back, 4 power ports through out. We got the 2.4 straight 4 and although its not a deamon on the starts. it does get the job done and will easily cary a full load of passengers and stuff in the back. The only bad thing I have found so far it the location of the battery, which is buried deep in the left hand side of the engine bay. Will take some time to replace when that time comes. LED interior lighting is very nice and plentiful. Over all a good deal for what you get."

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You get what you pay for!

By stephm0621 (MO) on Sunday, July 28, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 25,000

10 3.0

overall rating 3 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 3/10
Value: 4/10
Reliability: 4/10
Quality: 3/10
Performance: 3/10
Styling: 5/10
Comfort: 3/10

Pros: "Has plenty of cup holders and rear air."

Cons: "Just doesn't feel like a safe vehicle."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 3

"We are currently having issues with the cars transmission. Gas mileage is not great I get between 16-18 in town and 21-23 on highway. If it is windy you can hear everything from the outside and feel every brush of wind moving across the road. Does not have automatic headlights, a feature on my previous vehicle I miss, the headlights are also very dim the way they are positioned. The best feature of this car would be the button you can lock the car from the outside without the remote and the doors will open when you are close enough to the doors without the remote. Comes standard with push button start but does not come standard with satellite radio, but they do include a year free satellite service with your new car purchase, yippee. Maybe we would have been happier if we had gone with a higher model."

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What a piece of junk.

By Bartsbis (SD) on Sunday, July 21, 2013

I owned and sold this car
Reason: Hated the vehicle - My approximate mileage is 39,000

10 2.0

overall rating 2 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 2/10
Value: 1/10
Reliability: 2/10
Quality: 2/10
Performance: 1/10
Styling: 2/10
Comfort: 1/10

Pros: "Great price for the money."

Cons: "Shoddy construction from stem to stern."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 2

"Bought ths vehicle 4 years ago. At first I was impressed with all I got for the price! Navigation, custom wheels, third row seating, multi interior storage and front wheel drive. That soon wore off. At about 15000 miles not only did I need a transmission replaced the engine started making a sound like a lifter was loose. After several trips for service could never get resolved. After warranty expired it started to develop electrical problems. Every thing including the power windows would just die. Found this out in the middle of July with temperatures in the 90s. Winter time with four inches of snow on the ground it could not pull itself up a small hill. I had to backup and go around. This is with the large engine and traction control! When I found out that to put tires on this beast was going to cost upwards of $800 because the custome tires are a limited availability tire I finally said enough. Hello Honda CRV."

2 people out of 3 found this review helpful

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Love the car.

By Bud (OK) on Tuesday, July 09, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 16,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"First Dodge I've owned since 76' Aspen wagon bought new. Handles and rides better than Buick I traded in. Great response with V6, wouldn't recommend 4. Hwy. mileage 28 @ turnpike speeds, 22 in town. Adult leg room in back seat. Recommend the Crew."

1 person out of 1 found this review helpful

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I love my Journey!

By augrdjais (PA) on Thursday, July 04, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 99,500

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Fun to drive, great power, AWD is excellent"

Cons: "Tires cost a fortune"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I own a 2010 Dodge Journey SXT AWD that has been nothing less than miraculous. I heard a lot of horror stories about the Journey but I got a price I couldn't pass up. The most "unreliable"vehicle now is approaching 100000 miles without any signs of stopping. I have had ZERO problems with it including the brakes. The 3.5 still runs like new and never uses a drop of oil. The A/C still blows Ice Cold and there is absolutely no squeeks or rattles to be heard. The AWD system is excellent, the week I bought it I drove through a nasty blizzard; when traffic came to a standstill, nobody could make it up a very steep hill. I attempted to climb the hill and the Journey kept digging and I was one of four cars to make it to the top (A Subaru, Grand Cherokee, and a Pacifica.) I average 22 mpg which I find acceptable. My new job will require me to do even more driving (60000 a year) and I will probably be buying a new car. The Journey is staying with me as well, I plan on keeping it until it dies. I will be buying a new Durango within the next 6 months. I've had very good luck with Chrysler products and they have won a customer for life."

5 people out of 5 found this review helpful

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