2020 Dodge Journey Review

Name: 2020 Dodge Journey
Brand: Dodge

Price Range: $13,990 - $20,990

Dodge Journey Crossroad 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

Below Average

5.6

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

The 2020 Dodge Journey is an aging vehicle that's been left behind by competitors in terms of technology, performance, dynamics, cargo space, passenger space, fuel economy, comfort and quality. By almost every metric, it's a backmarker in the small three-row SUV class.

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Average price: $15,207

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Appraise My 2020 Dodge Journey

Dodge Journey model years

Dodge Journey for Sale

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Disappointing and outdated base engine and transmission
Lags competitors in handling and drivability

What's new

Base trim renamed to SE Value
GT trim and V6 engine dropped
Part of the first Journey generation introduced in 2009

Overview

Written by automotive expert Kurt Niebuhr

4/3/2020

For 2020, the Dodge Journey is sent once more unto the breach in an attempt to woo you over with its low price and ... well, not much else. This small seven-seat SUV was once available in a multitude of trim levels and offered a strong optional V6 engine and available all-wheel drive. Now Dodge has stripped the Journey down and simplified it to only two trim levels and one available engine and transmission. It also can only be had in front-wheel drive.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Ashburn, VA

33 listings

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2020 Dodge Journey
SE Value 4dr SUV
$11,000
fair price
$75 below market
- 116,095 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use only
- 7 Seats, 19 City / 25 Hwy MPG
- Toyota of Bowie (42 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Third-row seating
- Power Driver Seat
Close
Located in Bowie, MD
SE Value trim. FUEL EFFICIENT 25 MPG Hwy/19 MPG City! 3rd Row Seat, Keyless Start, CD Player, iPod/MP3 Input, ENGINE: 2.4L I4 DOHC 16V DUAL VVT, TRANS...
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: 3C4PDCABXLT266086
Stock: LT266086
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 02-28-2026
2020 Dodge Journey
SE Value 4dr SUV
$16,977
- 28,419 miles
- Frame damage reported, 2 owners, personal use only
- 7 Seats, 19 City / 25 Hwy MPG
- Lease Return Center (34 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Third-row seating
- Power Driver Seat
Close
Located in Triangle, VA
--WOW!!! CARFAX CERTIFIED WITH ONLY 28K MILES!!!!!!!--GORGEOUS DESTROYER GRAY COLOR!!!!!--MINT CONDITION IN AND OUT!!!!!--3RD ROW SEAT!!!!!--LOOKS AND...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Issue reported
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: Yes
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
21 Combined MPG (19 City/25 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 3C4PDCAB3LT280282
Stock: 280282
Certified Pre-Owned: No

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Briefly ahead of its time, the Journey has been largely forgotten by Dodge and left with a low-budget interior, an underpowered engine and subpar driving dynamics. Even its low starting price isn't enough to make much of a case for the Journey since most of its main competitors can be had for similar money.

In its class, the Kia Sorento leads the way with more space, an abundance of features and an excellent warranty, with the stylish Volkswagen Tiguan coming in second thanks to its safety features and user-friendly tech interface. The recently rehabilitated Mitsubishi Outlander is a more distant third but is still a considerably better option than the Journey.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Below Average

5.6

out of 10

We drove the 2020 Dodge Journey on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Performance

5.5/10

How does the Journey drive? With its four-cylinder engine and ancient four-speed automatic transmission (rivals offer more sophisticated six-or eight-speed automatics), the Dodge Journey accelerates more slowly than many competitors. The steering remains appropriately light, but it also lacks any feeling. A dim bright spot for the Journey are its brakes, which are light and easy to control around town with sufficient stopping power for this heavy SUV. But during panic stops, the pedal is a bit squishy, and the vehicle doesn't always track straight.

The Journey feels downright sloppy, wobbling and bouncing through curves. It never really feels in control of itself the way a modern vehicle should. Overall, the Journey has been left behind in terms of driving dynamics and handling by the new generation of three-row SUVs.

Comfort

6.5/10

How comfortable is the Journey? The Journey is well insulated from road and tire noise, but traffic and wind noise fills the cabin. The soft suspension cushions large bumps well but tends toward exaggerated bounciness especially at higher speeds.

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 their hidden storage compartments. The third-row seat is stiff and flat.

Interior

6.5/10

How’s the interior? The front is roomy, and the second row has good head- and legroom. But Dodge routed the rear air vents through the roof, which makes the interior feel smaller. Third row space is inadequate for adults. You can slide the second row forward to provide more legroom, but that makes the second row less usable. The seats fold aside cleverly for third-row access, but resetting the second row is a multi-step process that can't be accomplished from the third row.

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 at night. Navigating the trip computer takes more steps than it should because of a poorly thought-out interface.

Technology

5.5/10

How’s the tech? Thankfully, Dodge's 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment system is available, and it's the lone bright spot inside a fairly grim interior. It's available with navigation and an upgraded audio system. We think it's worth the extra coin for the improved experience these provide. There are plenty of 12-volt power ports in the Journey but there's only one USB port.

Like the rest of the Journey, the driver aids are fairly basic. The rear parking sensors are useful, but the rearview camera has a disappointingly low-resolution display.

Storage

6/10

How’s the storage? With a maximum capacity of 67.6 cubic feet, the Dodge Journey offers less cargo space than competitors. And with the third row in place, there's barely even room for groceries in the trunk. But the Journey makes up for this a bit by hiding quite a few cubbies and compartments around the cabin.

With a towing capacity of only 1,000 pounds, the Journey is put to shame by some three-row competitors. Most can handle between 3,500 and 5,000 pounds.

Fuel Economy

5/10

How’s the fuel economy? It will take a light foot to match the Journey's EPA-estimated 21 mpg (19 city/25 highway). That's not an impressive estimate to begin with, falling 3-4 mpg short of many competitors. Part of the blame lies with the Journey's 2.4-liter engine, which needs to work hard to get the Journey up to speed. The rest of the blame falls squarely on the well out-of-date four-speed automatic transmission. Most competitors use six- and eight-speed transmissions.

Value

5.5/10

Is the Journey a good value? Even considering its low starting price, everything about the Journey feels cheap, plasticky and dated. The leather or faux leather trim on the seats and touch points is stiff and plasticky, and the cloth seat inserts feel unpleasantly synthetic. Because of that there's simply not enough value or equipment in the Journey to make it that appealing considering its competition.

The Journey's three-year/36,000-mile basic and five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranties are common in the class, though a few competitors offer significantly better coverage.

Wildcard

4/10

It's difficult to understand the appeal of the Dodge Journey beyond the need for a new vehicle with a full warranty. Driving the Journey, even on short trips, feels tedious. And because of the numb steering and unsorted suspension settings, after a few hundred miles, it proves to be an emotionally draining experience. There are very few new cars left that make a case for buying a used car instead. The Journey is one of them.

2020 Dodge Journey trim level differences

For 2020, the Dodge Journey has been pared back to just two trim levels: SE Value and Crossroad. Option packages are also kept to a minimum, and their availability is linked to the trim chosen. Compare the 2020 Dodge Journey trim levels in-depth.

Which Journey trim does Edmunds recommend?

It is difficult for us to recommend the Journey at all. But if you have your heart set on this compact seven-seater, we'd go all in and opt for the Crossroad trim and add on the Popular Equipment Group. That ensures you get Dodge's excellent 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment system, with navigation, heated front seats and a more powerful stereo. We used to recommend the V6 engine as a must-have but that's no longer offered.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$190/mo

$199/mo

Avg. Midsize SUV

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Reliability

The 2020 Dodge Journey has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and 1 recall. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5, ranks it #19 out of 32 among Midsize SUVs. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

3.5 out of 5 stars3.5/5Above 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

$569/yr

vs. $485/yr
for Average Midsize SUV

Frequency

1.05x/yr

vs. 1.18x/yr
for Average Midsize SUV

Severity

14.3%

vs. 13.5%
for Average Midsize SUV

Recalls

1 recall found

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Recall Number:: 25V552000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: 59C
Number of vehicles affected:: 219577
Defect Description:: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Ram ProMaster and 2019-2020 Dodge Journey vehicles. Cracks in the microprocessor may cause the vehicle's rearview camera image not to display properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility.
Defect Consequence:: A rearview image that does not display properly reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, are expected to be mailed beginning September 30, 2025. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 59C.

Warranty

3 years / 36,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 5 years / unlimited miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles

Dodge Journey Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.0

49 reviews

5(57%)

4(19%)

3(6%)

2(4%)

1(14%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

2020 Journey Features & Specs

Trim:

SE Value

MSRP (New) Excludes Destination Fee	$23,675
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	21 MPG
Cost to Drive	$190/month
Seating	7 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	10.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

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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 Backup 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

2020 Dodge Journey Review

Price & Payment

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

For sale near Ashburn, VA

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

2020 Dodge Journey trim level differences

Which Journey trim does Edmunds recommend?

Cost to Drive

Reliability

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

Recalls

Warranty

Dodge Journey Reviews

Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

2020 Journey Features & Specs

Safety