Dodge Journey – Defying the stereotype

As far as I’m concerned, American cars never disappoint when applied to British roads. The propensity for bulky, inexpensive Goliaths, designed solely to intimidate other road users, leaves this driver a bit cold. In these eco-conscious 1920s, vehicles are hailed for their excellent MPG ratings, low carbon emissions, and for keeping things small. By contrast, American vehicles that have washed up on these shores are often ridiculed for their high sensitivity; all gigantic, 0.6 miles per gallon, gas and smoke behemoths that fail to attract the most delicate british constitution.

With this in mind, I could barely manage a whisper of excitement when I was told I was going to test drive the new Dodge Journey. Without even seeing a picture or footage of this vehicle, I automatically painted a visual image of what it would look like in my mind. It would be a huge, noisy 4X4, with hardly any respect for the environment or for pedestrians. He would drive like an incontinent Ox; relentlessly uncooperative and slow at best.

 

I kept these default opinions firmly in mind until I faced the Dodge Journey in reality. My suspicions were correct; it was big… very big. A more redeeming feature were the sportier curves, which I guess had permeated the design blueprints of every automaker except those based across the Atlantic. Despite hating the looks of most 4X4s, I felt a little more comfortable with the Journey’s bulky bulk.

 

The interior of the Dodge Journey was a bit more surprising. The interior was positively European in their attention to detail. The functional dash and elevated driving position make Dodge Journey a pleasant place to find yourself.

 

The controversial issue of manipulation has also been discussed. During a stay in some of the most dangerous country roads near my home, the Dodge Journey responded splendidly. None of the sharp turns required hard braking or violent maneuvering and most could be taken at saloon-like speed.