2019 Dodge Journey Review

Name: 2019 Dodge Journey Review
Brand: Dodge

Price Range: $9,995 - $22,590

Dodge Journey Crossroad 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

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$16,369 avg. price

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Appraise My 2019 Dodge Journey

Dodge Journey model years

Dodge Journey for Sale

Edmunds' Expert Review

by Dan Frio^{Correspondent
Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to Edmunds, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.}

Pros

Extra versatility provided by a standard three-row seat
Low price for the segment

Cons

Lacks many modern safety and convenience features, even in top trims
Below-average fuel economy
Disappointing and outdated base engine and transmission
Handling and drivability lag behind competitors

What's new

The SXT trim level has been dropped leaving the SE, Crossroad and GT
The SE gets additional standard content; new front and rear bodywork are now available with the V6 engine
Part of the first Journey generation introduced in 2009

Time has not been kind to the 2019 Dodge Journey. Despite previous refreshes or redesigns to keep pace with changing tides and tastes, it's pretty much the same as when the Journey debuted a decade ago. Dodge designers might have nailed the Journey's purpose from the start, but they've since let others catch up and surpass it in many areas.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near San Antonio, TX

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2019 Dodge Journey
SE 4dr SUV
$11,997
good price
- 79,325 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use only
- 4cyl automatic
- EchoPark Automotive San Antonio (New Braunfels) (33 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Third-row seating
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
Close
Located in New Braunfels, TX
At EchoPark, it’s all about offering you options for a happy experience. We have thousands of new-to-you makes and models that range from sedans to tr...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
21 Combined MPG (19 City/25 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 3C4PDCBB4KT798821
Stock: YKT798821
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 05-02-2025
New Listing
2019 Dodge Journey
SE 4dr SUV
$17,998
fair price
- 51,805 miles
- 6cyl automatic
- CarMax San Antonio (4 mi away)
- Free delivery available*
- Back-up camera
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Third-row seating
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- USB Inputs
Close
Located in San Antonio, TX
CarMax values transparency and wants you to love your next car, not settle on it. Certain vehicles may have unrepaired safety recalls. Check nhtsa.gov...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary Unavailable.
Features and Specs:
21 Combined MPG (19 City/25 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 3C4PDCBG1KT868917
Stock: 27295786
Certified Pre-Owned: No

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Dodge has made some minor tweaks to this year's Journey. There's one fewer trim level, allowing some of the discontinued trim's features to migrate to the base trim. There is, however, the new and exceptionally cool Destroyer Gray paint scheme. The Journey should only come in this color. It might give the car some much-needed attitude.

But it will take more than attitude to bring the Journey back into serious consideration among its newer and more refined Kia and Volkswagen competitors. Even when fully optioned, it lacks most of the safety features today's buyers might expect. Its base four-cylinder engine is truly underwhelming and is paired to an equally uninspired four-speed automatic transmission, a combination that yields subpar fuel economy. There's a stronger, optional V6, but even it can't keep up with other three-row SUVs.

The 2019 Journey will get you where you're going, and it will do so for less money than many competitors. But overall you'll probably be happier with vehicles such as the GMC Acadia, Kia Sorento or Volkswagen Tiguan.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

5.4 / 10

Scorecard

Overall	5.4 / 10
Driving	5.5
Comfort	6.5
Interior	6.5
Utility	7.0
Technology	4.0

Driving

5.5

Even with the optional V6, the Dodge Journey accelerates more slowly than many competitors. And while the steering is appropriately light, it also feels very vague. Overall, the Journey has been left behind in terms of driving dynamics and handling by the new generation of three-row SUVs.

Acceleration

5.0

The gas pedal is quite sensitive, making the Journey feel quick but also jumpy around town. Once the Journey is moving, the 3.6-liter V6 is sluggish until it gets close to the redline, where the power picks up a bit. Our as-tested 0-60 mph time of 8.5 seconds is slow for a V6-equipped SUV.

Braking

7.0

The Journey's brakes are light and easy to modulate around town, and they provide sufficient stopping power. In panic stops, the pedal is a bit squishy, and the vehicle doesn't always track straight. Stopping from 60 mph required 132 feet in Edmunds testing, which is average for the class.

Steering

6.0

The steering is light virtually all the time, which is good for low-speed maneuvers. But because the on-center feel isn't great, it requires some attention to maintain a straight path at highway speeds. Around turns, the Journey feels slow to respond to inputs, and there's little to no feedback.

Handling

5.0

The Journey is downright sloppy, wobbling and bouncing through curves. And it feels light and disconnected right up until it starts to lose traction. Even moving slowly, the Journey is imprecise. It's a vehicle that needs constant managing to stay on course.

Drivability

5.0

The Journey is lively at low speeds but frequently needs a downshift to accelerate at freeway speeds. On hills, the transmission hunts around, so maintaining a constant speed is a struggle. Upshifts from the six-speed automatic are slow, and the downshifts are jerky.

Comfort

6.5

The Journey is well-insulated from road and tire noise, but traffic and wind noise fill the cabin. The soft suspension cushions large bumps well but tends toward exaggerated bounciness. The seats are not supportive enough to be comfortable on longer drives.

Seat comfort

5.5

The driver's seat is soft and not very supportive except for the firm lumbar support. The passenger and second-row seats have firmer cushions because of hidden storage compartments/booster seats. The third row is stiff and flat.

Ride comfort

6.5

The Journey's defining suspension characteristic is bounce. The soft suspension does cushion sharper impacts well, but it turns bumps and humps into an exaggerated vertical motion. The Journey seldom feels settled, so be careful if your passengers have sensitive stomachs.

Noise & vibration

6.5

Road and tire noise is pleasantly insulated, one of the car's definite strengths. A lot of sound from surrounding traffic makes it into the cabin, however, and there's audible wind noise at highway speeds. Other SUVs have more road noise, but the ambient traffic sounds in the Journey make it feel less isolated.

Climate control

7.0

While main adjustments to temperature and fan speed are easy to make, any other action, such as changing vent modes or activating the heated seats, has to be accessed through the touchscreen. The climate control system works well to maintain temperature when left to its own devices.

Interior

6.5

The Journey offers good visibility and an appropriately upright driving position, but otherwise the interior quality and design are poor. The second-row space feels smaller than it is, and it's difficult to use the second and third rows if any of the passengers are adults.

Ease of use

6.0

Most controls are straightforward, as is the simple touchscreen interface. We found the single combined wiper and turn-signal stalk frustrating to adapt to and particularly difficult to find at night. Navigating the trip computer takes more steps than it should because of a poorly thought-out interface.

Getting in/getting out

7.0

Front entry is easy, and the rear door openings aren't bad. The seats fold aside cleverly for third-row access, but it's a tight squeeze for adults. Resetting the second row is a multi-step process that can't be accomplished from the third row.

Driving position

7.0

The driving position is upright, which places all the controls within reach and feels appropriate for this style of vehicle. There's enough seat height adjustment to accommodate most drivers. The door armrest is low, and the steering wheel doesn't offer a lot of telescoping range.

Roominess

5.5

The front is roomy, and the second row has good head- and legroom. But the rear air vents are routed through the roof, making the interior feel smaller. Third-row space is inadequate for adults. Sliding the second row forward to give the third row more legroom makes the second row less usable.

Visibility

8.0

The large mirrors, expansive windows, an upright windscreen, and rear three-quarter panel windows mean that overall visibility is naturally quite good in the Journey without the help of electronic driver aids.

Quality

4.5

Hard plastics abound. Even the leather and faux leather trims on the seats and touch points are stiff and plasticky, and the cloth seat inserts feel unpleasantly synthetic. Most of what you touch feels light and cheap. We also noted a rattle in our tester's cabin, with just 2,000 miles on the odometer.

Utility

7.0

The Dodge Journey offers less cargo space than competitors but makes up for this deficit a bit by having quite a few cubbies and compartments around the cabin. The built-in second-row booster seats are a high point.

Small-item storage

8.0

There is a lot of storage in the cabin, including bins in the second-row floor, a bin under the passenger seat cushion, large door pockets, a large center console cubby, and a deep (if narrow) armrest bin. These won't all be useful to the driver, but the sheer volume of interior storage is impressive.

Cargo space

5.0

The short cargo opening makes bulky items harder to maneuver in, and the maximum capacity of 67.6 cubic feet is small for the class. With the third row in place, there's barely even room for groceries in the trunk. The second row and passenger seat fold flat at least.

Child safety seat accommodation

7.5

The built-in booster seats in the second row will win over some parents, and they're easy enough to deploy that a child could manage. There are LATCH points for the second-row outboard seats and top anchors for all three positions, but neither for the third row.

Towing

4.0

With a maximum towing capacity of 2,500 pounds, the Journey is put to shame by some three-row competitors. Most can handle between 3,500 and 5,000 pounds, while a few can go even higher.

Technology

4.0

The Journey's technology features make it immediately apparent that this is an aging vehicle. The last-gen touchscreen is easy to navigate but lacks smartphone integration. The GPS is clunky to use, the voice controls are largely ineffective, and there are no driver aids to speak of.

Audio & navigation

5.0

The aging touchscreen interface is easy to navigate, but it lacks newer features and refinements. The navigation display looks dated, and the promising search by name function proved hit-or-miss. The stereo system is bass-heavy and delivers poor sound quality for a "premium" upgrade.

Smartphone integration

5.0

Pairing our phone via Bluetooth was a bit complicated, but once the connection was set up, the system worked well. There's no smartphone integration, and we had trouble getting the system to read music on our phones via USB. There's only one USB port in the vehicle but plenty of 12-volt plugs.

Driver aids

3.0

The Journey offers none of the common driver aids that you'll find even on today's economy compact cars. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking are not available. The rearview camera is pretty low-resolution, too.

Voice control

4.0

Natural language recognition is poor, and misunderstandings are frequent. From the home screen, we had trouble getting the system to dial a contact and wound up navigating menus step by step. The Help screen only displays a partial list of commands. Overall, this is a system to avoid.

Compare 2019 Dodge Journey trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

2019 Dodge Journey models

The 2019 Dodge Journey comes in SE, Crossroad and GT trim levels. The base SE is pretty bare-bones, lacking even Bluetooth as a standard feature. Stepping up to the Crossroad gets you more of the standard features you expect from entry-level trims on other vehicles, while the range-topping GT gives you those features plus leather and a standard V6.

All trims come standard with front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive as an option. Front-wheel-drive SE and Crossroad trims come standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder (173 horsepower, 166 pound-feet of torque) paired with a four-speed automatic. Opting for all-wheel drive gets you a 3.6-liter V6 (283 hp, 260 lb-ft of torque) and a six-speed automatic transmission.

Standard feature highlights for the Journey SE include 17-inch steel wheels, automatic headlights, foglights, roof rails, heated side mirrors, a height-adjustable driver's seat, 60/40-split second-row seats and 50/50-split third-row seats (both rows slide and recline). Also included are keyless ignition and entry, a rearview camera, and a six-speaker sound system with a 4.3-inch touchscreen interface and auxiliary audio input.

The SE can be upgraded with the optional Connectivity package (Bluetooth, satellite radio, a USB port, voice commands and a leather-wrapped steering wheel), the Comfort/Convenience package (upgraded cloth upholstery and a power-adjustable driver's seat), the Blacktop package (17-inch alloy wheels and blacked-out exterior trim), and the Premium Group (combines the Connectivity and Comfort/Convenience packages). Remote start and an alarm are also available.

Moving up to the Crossroad gets you the features of the Premium Group plus 19-inch wheels, a touring-tuned suspension, leather upholstery, three-zone climate control with rear-seat vents, and an upgraded 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

Options available for the Crossroad include remote start, heated front seats, a rear-seat entertainment system, a premium six-speaker stereo system with subwoofer, navigation, a sunroof, and the Driver Convenience package, which brings rear parking sensors and a universal garage door opener.

The range-topping GT trim combines most of the Crossroad's options listed above with unique 19-inch wheels and an upgraded suspension.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2019 Dodge Journey SE Value Package 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 4A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $2.74 per gallon for regular unleaded in Texas.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Texas

$158/mo

$155/mo

Avg. Midsize SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

3.5/5Above Average

#19 out of 32 among Midsize SUVs

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Dodge Journey from 2008-2022.}

$569/yr

vs. $485/yr
for Average Midsize SUV

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

1.05x/yr

vs. 1.18x/yr
for Average Midsize SUV

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

14.3%

vs. 13.5%
for Average Midsize SUV

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Dodge Journey Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.0

42 reviews

5(57%)

4(19%)

3(7%)

2(5%)

1(12%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Tired of All the Negative Press!

Nails, 01/09/2019

2018 Dodge Journey SXT 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)

When you look at a vehicle in this class you are looking for okay looks, good inside room and access, decent handling and gas mileage, and perhaps throw in the third seat. This Medium Sized SUV has all of that, and my three previous Journeys had been very reliable and needed minimal maintenance until I turned each in, at around 70K miles. I must add that the first iteration had some …

Dodge Journey SXT FWD 2.4L

Tom, 09/01/2018

2018 Dodge Journey SXT 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 4A)

The Dodge Journey is truly an exceptional vehicle. My wife has the Dodge Journey Crossroad V6 AWD, and that vehicle is a workhorse. I saw how well the vehicle drove especially with a newborn and a toddler traveling on major highways and roads with no issues regardless of any inclement weather. We drove the car cross country, and to Canada, and didn’t feel tired at all. It was time for me …

Great mid size SUV & low price

Kelly, 10/03/2020

2019 Dodge Journey Crossroad 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)

I wanted to downgrade from my Ford Expedition Limited, so I looked at the Chevy traverse, the Ford Explorer & even a Nissan Pathfinder. All of those were great SUV’s but the price wasn’t what I wanted to pay. I rented a Dodge Journey to drive from Boston to SC for my nephews graduation from boot camp. It handled so well, got great gas mileage & had enough room for myself & my 2 children …

Honestly Surprised

Danny, 03/14/2020

2019 Dodge Journey SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)

My wife and I had to by a new car. Since we have two kids (11&9) we wanted a small SUV. I did research and based on price and availability in our area and went to test out the 19 Ford Escape and 19 Jeep Renagade. They both seemed like fine cars, however, neither felt right. I saw a Black Dodge Journey and actually liked how it looked. But I remember looking at expert reviews online and …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2019 Dodge Journey, so we've included reviews for other years of the Journey since its last redesign.

See all 42 reviews of the Dodge Journey

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2019 Journey Highlights

Trim:

SE Value Package

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$22,995
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	21 MPG
Cost to Drive	$158/month
Seating	7 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	10.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Journey models:

ParkSense Rear Park Assist: Alerts the driver to obstacles that may not be visible behind the vehicle when reversing.
ParkView Rear Back Up Camera: Displays a live video feed from the rear of the car on the infotainment screen when reversing.
Driver Inflatable Knee-Bolster Airbag: Protects the driver's knees from damage due to impacts with the dashboard during a collision.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover18.5%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Poor
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good