Dodge Journey (2007): first official pictures

By Tim Pollard

First Official Pictures

28 August 2007 10:30

The Dodge Journey. Don't tell me... it's the start of a new journey for the fledgling car maker?

It certainly is. It's apt that the newly independent Dodge, and sister brands Chrysler and Jeep, have only just broken from the shackles of the DaimlerChrysler partnership and their first new product is the Journey MPV/hatch. It's designed to replace the Voyager in the UK, which is being abandoned as Chrysler will henceforth import only the bigger Grand Voyager. Dodge suits talk up the Journey as a new type of vehicle (surprise surprise), a crossover stealing the best bits of MPVs, hatchbacks and - you guessed it - SUVs. Think of it as a chunkier Ford S-Max rival.

The Journey will be Dodge-branded only and is based on the Avenger saloon, so comes with that car's 2.4-litre petrol and VW-sourced 2.0-litre diesel. The wheelbase of the platform is 124mm longer than on the Avenger, to free up more space for bodies and baggage. Both powertrains will be available with a manual or auto gearbox, all driving the front wheels.

By Tim Pollard