Dodge designers and engineers have responded to the needs of the global passenger car market, as well as the needs of individual drivers and delivered the all-new Dodge Journey: a global vehicle that meets life’s changing demands by offering a unique combination of versatility and flexibility in a sporty package. This all-new vehicle takes the practicality of a people mover, the capability of a sport utility vehicle (SUV) and the overall efficiency of a passenger car and blends all the best attributes of each into an all-new crossover for the Dodge brand.

“The all-new Dodge Journey gives our customers the entire package,” said Michael Manley, Executive Vice President – International Sales, Marketing and Business Development, Chrysler. “With its unique combination of purposeful versatility and bold, youthful styling, this new vehicle from Dodge delivers safety, quality and reliability at a great value. Journey also blends innovative technology, entertainment features and useful storage, all wrapped together with an attitude that can only be Dodge.”

The Dodge Journey is built on the company’s global D-segment platform and is designed to meet the needs of customers ranging from young singles, couples and families with small children to mature families who want the flexibility to do more in terms of seating people or storing gear. Clever, flexible seating and storage combinations include standard five-passenger seating with spacious cargo room and available 5+2 seating, for times when additional passengers are along on the journey. Spacious storage bins, hidden in the floor and under the front passenger seat cushion, combined with a variety of powertrain options, make Dodge Journey flexible and functional.

Safety also is at the top of mind for customers and the Dodge Journey delivers with standard multi-stage front driver and passenger air bags, front-seat-mounted side air bags, three-row side-curtain air bags, standard four-wheel disc anti-lock brakes (ABS), standard Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), standard Electronic Roll Mitigation, an available back-up camera and available all-wheel drive (AWD) in the United States and Canada.

The 2009 model-year Dodge Journey will be available in U.S. dealerships with both five-passenger and available 5+2 seating in SE, SXT and R/T models in the first quarter of 2008 and in global volume markets outside North America in both left-hand and right-hand drive, starting in mid-2008.

Spacious Interior Room for the Entire Journey

A key target for the Dodge Journey’s design team was delivering a flexible interior, with seating and storage features typically only found in a minivan and the final product delivers on this goal.

Dodge Journey’s two-box exterior design means more room for seating people and storing gear on the interior. Journey offers a choice of two seating configurations to balance buyers’ needs for passenger seating and cargo room. Five-passenger seating is standard on all models, while 5+2-passenger seating is available on all models.

Storing things “under the front seat” takes on an entirely new meaning, thanks to Journey’s available Flip ’N Stow™ in-seat storage. The Journey’s front passenger seat cushion flips forward to reveal a large 273 x 222 mm bin under the seat cushion. The bin is large enough to store a purse, umbrella, planner or headphones with the seat down. The seat cushion is hinged, and when flipped forward, provides access to the storage bin.

Dodge Journey’s rear doors open 90 degrees, making it easier for people to get in and out of the second row and gain access to the available third-row seat.

In the second row, the all-new Dodge Journey features theatre seating, which gives passengers in the second and third row the ability to see outside the vehicle, which is especially helpful for keeping children entertained on long drives. The second row H-point is 40 mm higher than the first row. The optional third row sits another 17 mm higher than the second row and 57 mm higher than the first-row seats.

Located in the floor behind the front-row seats are two standard in-floor storage bins that are designed to hold 12 (330 ml) cans plus ice or other items conveniently out of sight. For added convenience, the bins feature latching lids and removable, washable liners, so they’re a snap to clean.

Additional thoughtful features that make Dodge Journey more flexible for families include a child presenter seat on all models that makes it easy for the driver to attend to a small child seated in the second row when the vehicle is stationary. The child presenter seat works by allowing the 60 percent portion of the 60/40 fold-flat second row seat to travel 51 mm forward. With the front passenger seat folded flat, the driver can easily reach to the back to assist a child in the second row.

Dodge Journey is the first vehicle in the mid-size crossover segment to offer optional integrated child booster seats. These available seats boost a child seated in the second row 102 mm so they’re seated in the adult belted zone. This makes it easier for the child seated in the booster seat to see outside the vehicle. The booster seat is designed for children who are as much as 1.45 m tall and between 22 kg and 39 kg.

The second-row seats also move forward and rearward a total of 120 mm to give adults more leg room, bring children closer to the front seats and provide more cargo room behind the seats. Folding the second row and the optional fold-flat front passenger seat flat provides plenty of room for carrying long items.

On five-passenger models, a tri-fold load floor is located behind the second-row seat and provides a hidden storage compartment for added utility. The load floor is reversible and configures into a “grocery bag” position. The primary side of the folding panel is carpeted for durability.