Used 2017 Dodge Journey SUV Consumer Reviews
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Not a Sports car but fun with room for a big dog.
R.J. Williams, 05/31/2017
2017 Dodge Journey Crossroad 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
42 of 42 people found this review helpful
I have to go down and pay my auto tax today. Ouch. But I have to say that I enjoy driving this car as much or more than any I have bought including sports cars. Oddly, it is a car without much of a rating because of early problems, especially with brakes until they increased the rotor and brake pads and because will it has been around for a long time as far as the car world is considered. The first production sales were in 2007 with only a few minor changes. Also, not real good in the front side crash test. Hit em head on, I guess. I like the power to weight ratio of the V-6 the better suspension of this model combined with AWD. It makes a difference in cornering and curves as I found in my test drives. Definitely, not a sports car but enjoyable to drive with some cargo room. I do not like where they placed the battery, but guess they ran out of room. I do like all the hidden cargo compartments. After a month no rattles and seats are comfortable. Not as good as the wife's space age seats in Nissan Murano, but good. I just like the car for some reason. (Review-Dodge Journey)
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Dependable, Affordable
Vincent Singer, 11/06/2016
updated 12/27/2022
2017 Dodge Journey SE 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 4A)
193 of 199 people found this review helpful
I made it this far without a nav/infotainment system, traction/stability control, or bluetooth. The 4-cylinder engine in this thing has more horsepower than many older V-8s. That said, I think the 2017 Journey is a fantastic buy. I bought a $21,000 "stripper" - which still has, standard: a 173 hp engine (shared with Hyundai and Mitsubishi - buy one of their comparable vehicles and get the same motor), 4-speed OD automatic transmission, traction control, a six-speaker touchscreen audio system, dual-zone air conditioning, front and rear stabilizer bars, automatic headlights, daylight running lights, and a nicely (manually) adjustable driver's seat. They even threw in an outdoor thermometer, and a gadget that lets you monitor your instantaneous and average fuel economy! I traded a 2007 Ford Escape for this, after the transmission grenaded at 146,000 miles. I consider this to be a step up, although still a front-wheel-drive "disposacar". Same ground clearance, same fuel mileage, good looks, with MORE standard features, more horsepower, easier for my wife to get in and out of. a better radio, more room (it's about a foot longer), and a bigger gas tank. Drives just as nice, handles about the same, much quieter, and I don't have to "drive it like I stole it" to get it moving at an intersection or onto the freeway. Controls same quality or better than the Escape. More power ports. Steering has enough feel for the average driver. 4-wheel power disc brakes "stop on a dime and give 9-cents change". Everything you REALLY NEED is included in the base price - this thing has more comfort and convenience items, and a ride and interior that rival a 1990's Cadillac. Good heater, ice-cold air conditioning. Don't option up unless you really need to, as "everybody" says these don't hold their value all that well. At 3800 lbs., it's heavy, and has a long wheelbase - probably why it rides so nice. BTW - if you don't plow your 2017 Journey into anything, it's doubtful you'll ever discover the difference between a 4-star and a 5-star safety rating. The Escape had poorer overall ratings, and in 10 years I never had an occasion to find out. If you're driving a 10 or more year old Escape or other, similar small SUV/CUV, and you are looking for a new vehicle with similar dimensions that doesn't look like every other SUV/CUV on the road, and an improved overall driving experience, you could do far worse than the 2017 Dodge Journey. UPDATE: While I do miss the styling of the 1st gen. Escape, I do have to say that I still like the 2017 Journey. I stand by all I said above, and will add that while the exhaust note makes it sound like you are driving a sewing machine, it has plenty of pickup, as my wife and I aren't closet autocrossers. So far I have had no issues, and have changed the oil regularly, using full synthetic motor oil. Gets 22 MPG in town if you don't drive it like you stole it. On the highway, at 75 MPH with the cruise control and air conditioner on, it gets a solid 26 MPG. Maybe not as good as some other small SUV/CUV's - but you'll make up for it thanks to the low purchase price. I didn't buy the 3rd row seat, and saved a good bit of cash. Lots of cargo space with the fold-flat rear seats folded down - swallowed a storage shed kit with no problems. I plan on bringing home a load of patio blocks tonight... P.S. I LOVE the manual driver's seat in this vehicle - most comfortable I've ever experienced! 1-year update: I still like it. Everything I said above still holds true. The nice thing about the Journey is that you can find these equipped a hundred different ways, at prices from $22,000 to $40,000. Don't believe the hacks on the car magazine websites - the Pentastar V-6 and 8-speed automatic (which I have in my work van) is a ROCKET engine. The Journey is a fine vehicle for the money. The interior hasn't started coming apart, and everything still works. The only problem I've had is that I ran over something on the highway that ruined a tire, and broke a plastic cover under the front bumper cover. I hope the Journey holds up as long as our Escape did. 1.5-year update: Still runs fine, drives great. Windshield washer squirter supply hose came off between hood and hood insulating pad where I couldn't see it, but friendly oil-change tech figured it out and popped it back on quickly. Otherwise NO complaints - quality remains exceptional. 2.5-YEAR UPDATE: 47,000+ miles, and still VERY satisfied with my purchase. Runs and drives great, gas mileage 28 MPG hwy, no breakdowns. Interior still looks great, exterior like new. I've only spent money for car washes, synthetic oil changes and one tire. Towed a U-Haul trailer w/no issues. 5 year update: 80K mi., still runs great, part failing off after road debris impacted under air dam. Paint still looks like new. Does have 1 pending safety recall. Still worth every dime I paid for it. Periodic maintenance will reward you. 5.5 year (June 2022) update: over 85,000 miles now - almost through the 2nd set of tires, brakes may need service soon. Car has performed great, except that sometimes (since new), at moderate speeds (35 - 55 MPH), the car will stumble a bit at a constant speed as the electronically-controlled transmission tries to decide if it wants to lock up the torque converter or not. Interior still in excellent condition, no exterior or paint issues. Final Update: Sold the car with just over 90,000 miles, and moved overseas. Only paid for tires and routine maintenance. A solid performer if you choose the base model as I did. Won't win many beauty contests or drag races, but will deliver solid value if maintained. Paid to have it detailed before selling - looked like brand-new - no paint or interior issues, a testament to the materials it was built with. Today's new cars all feature expensive, high-maintenance drivetrains, whether forced-induction liquid fuel, or electric. Cars like this Journey are already becoming prized by smart drivers who want REAL economy (low maintenance).
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Life is a Journey
Karl S., 08/26/2017
updated 03/01/2018
2017 Dodge Journey SE 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 4A)
32 of 32 people found this review helpful
The dated body style was at first a bit off putting, but I began to grow fond of it because of its utility. Visibility is great, unlike my Nissan rogues 2009-2012, and it is much more fun and rides better than the Town and Country I traded in for the Journey. Features for the money were unbelievable, and capacity is awesome. Uses the same steering wheel controls as the T&C so it was easy to get used to. I like a Sport Ute to go on the back roads in the national forests near where I live, and the Journey has the ground clearance, suspension and enough power to handle that well. It essentially replaced my '99 Jimmy which was becoming a money pit, and also has the utility of the T&C which I traded. Automatic transmission could use a few more forward speeds, but still much better than the NIssan cvt.
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Reliable after all
RLester, 01/09/2017
updated 02/22/2022
2017 Dodge Journey SE 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 4A)
76 of 79 people found this review helpful
We tried the Journey because of rebates. Expecting a loud jerky experience with a 4 cylinder 4 speed. To our surprise, we found a very smooth, quiet, European feel, quality, and comfortable driving experience. We came from a Toyota Camry to Dodge Caravan to the Journey. We found the experience of a true crossover, car-like ride and drive with the features of a utility vehicle. We are in our sixties, so ease of getting in and out of a vehicle is very important to us. The journey has the perfect seat height for us and is very easy to enter and exit. The Camry has the cheapest, thinnest, and most uncomfortable seats in a very good car. The Caravan was a comfortable entry but the ride was bouncy and hard on old bones. Also, our senior friends just could not get in the back seats. They are too high and too far over, you have to climb in, which, is okay for the kids and grandkids but not seniors. The Journey comes in AWD and the 3.6 v6 engine with 6 speed. One needing more power might look for these options. But I am in the south, with no ice and flat terrain so I find the 2.4 quite adequate. I will admit the 2.4 is a bit underpowered. It will not win any awards in gas-saving either. Looks like in-town driving will yield the same mpg as the 3.6 in the Grand Caravan around 23 mpg. However, again surprised by how smooth the 2.4 is with the 4 speed. The 6 speed in the Caravan was bad to hunt and shift down, very annoying. I need to mention the high-quality pleasant ride is only found in 2017 models, in which, suspension and quietness are upgrades for 2017. We tested a 2016 and there is a significant difference in ride and feel. In 2017, I can hardly hear the engine. Very quiet cabin. I am a part-time transporter for a major rental company and I drive a lot of new vehicles of all brands. The Journey ride is at the top. Try the Journey before you buy a Rogue or RAV4. I got the 7 passenger, the seats fold flat for cargo space, easy entry, European feel, cargo compartments (ice chest) in the floor, premium seats, and a very nice road trip ride. This is a true crossover, car-like features with SUV benefits. Hard to beat value and quality. After 30000 miles, we have had a problem. The engine has developed an idle shake and caused the belt tension pulley to completely fall off. It is in the shop now for three-plus weeks, at least they provided us with a free rental. The dealer had to replace the pulley and re-torque all belt-driven attachments on the engine and the problem was resolved. After 52000, I have to say the Journey still runs well and uses no oil. I have no electrical issues that many other brands are plagued by. Other than the idle tension pulley falling off which means the bolts were over-torqued at the factory the Journey has been faultless. The Journey came new out of alignment and the dealer could not get it to drive straight, I have carried it to my local tire supplier and they have it driving perfectly. Shame on the dealer. I am more positive about my Journey the longer I drive it. I have owned five dodges and I have never got a perfect one but I have never got a bad one either. After 75000 miles the 2.4 Journey runs perfectly and never uses any oil. The only repair has been the belt pulley repair. I have to call this vehicle reliable after all. The ride has deteriorated noticeably but there are no rattles. A good car but if you drive heavy interstate traffic it just doesn't have enough power to quickly accelerate between 45 and 75. We are at 80000 miles and the reliability is excellent. No problems to report at all. The brakes are still good. Other brands have a lot of electrical issues, we have had none. At 83000 miles, I have sold the Journey. Only one repair in five years, I bought the extended warranty and never used it. Two things I never fell in love with. One the engine is just too weak. This 2.4 was reliable, used no oil, but it shook some like old-time 4 cylinders. I just never fell in love with it. Second, the ride deteriorated to harsh and punishing. I was impressed with the ride at the beginning but found the ride jarring after five years of Louisiana roads. I don't regret buying the Journey, it served us well, but I prefer a V6. I replaced the Journey with a 2008 Lexus RX 350 with 180000 miles that still rides smooth and runs perfectly with a 3.5 V6. I can't afford new vehicles averaging 40,000 dollars.
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Great rebates and incentives!
larry moore, 12/08/2016
updated 06/08/2018
2017 Dodge Journey Crossroad Plus 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
48 of 50 people found this review helpful
UPDATE (2yrs and 30k later): still love the Journey! Have had no mechanical issues and it drives like the day I bought it! Gas mileage has improved, and it has been by far the easiest vehicle I’ve ever had to live with. The storage compartments under the passenger seat and the coolers under the floor in the back have been used A LOT! **original review** I traded in my nearly new 2016 Honda Civic for a Dodge Journey earlier this month. I loved the civic but I needed more space and the pilot was a tad bit out of my desired price range. Next door was a dodge jeep dealer so I stopped by to look at the grand cherokee originally and saw the Journey. I thought it looked good, not like a new modern conventional design but more along the lines of the original looking subs that didn't have a bunch of flash. I bought the crossroad plus v6 AWD, and the sticker said $34,560, but the salesman told me don't even think about what that sticker says. When we sat down to do the paperwork I noticed all they really wanted for the car was $27,600!!! I nearly started dancing to see a price offered from a dealer so much lower than the MSRP. I guess the Journey has been around a while and they don't move as quickly as the rest of the new chrysler dodge jeep products. The only thing that I wish it offered was adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitoring. Even budget cars have those options nowadays but for the price I can't complain much. The engine has more power than I really need, all the room I could ask for (including two beer coolers that are removable under the second row seats), AWD, a huge infotainment screen that I still have yet to touch because it kind of intimidates me, and a bunch of other little niceties that I didn't really expect (self-dimming rear view mirror, built in booster seats for kids, removable flashlight built into trunk, actual power outlet in the backseat). One concern I have though is reliability, I see a lot of people have issues with their transmission, brakes and random engine components so *knock on wood* I don't experience any of those problems. It rides like a cloud, smooth and quiet. Though the trim piece around the infotainment screen makes a slight creak on the occasional bump but it's nothing obnoxious... YET. Overall I think I am going to be very happy with this car, I like sitting up higher and after the civic it is going to take some getting used to but you certainly can't argue that it's an extremely versatile vehicle. If all goes well reliability wise I think I will keep this suv for a long time.
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