![]() Specifications: Model: Dodge Journey 3,6 R/T AT Engine: 3,6-litre V6 petrol Gearbox: 6-speed auto with front-wheel drive Power: 206 kW at 6 350 r/min Torque: 353 N. Now, for all-wheel drive and a fuel consumption of 9,6L/100 km you might be tempted but one thing to remember before getting too excited about buying a more economical car to save money is that, in this example of Journey petrol vs Captiva diesel, for the 2,9L/100 km you save (12,48-9,6) you need to travel 200 000 km before you make up the R66 510 extra cash spend which is a good number of years of motoring. This has four-wheel drive and 135 kW and costs R427 500. Another option would be the Captiva 2,2D LTZ. The latter would actually compete better with the Journey SXT at R320 990 without the high spec level of the R/T. Rivals include the Kia Sorento 3,5 V6 at R399 995 and the Chevrolet Captiva 2,4 LT at R330 850. In summary, this is an ideal family car and makes an excellent mom’s taxi. To compare this with the previous long-term test we had an overall consumption of 13,61 L/100 km on the 2,7-litre so it seems as if efficiency has been improved. Our fuel route returned 11,9 and our fuel index is 12,48 L/100 km so this is not really a car for sitting in traffic every day. In town you might get 14 L/100 km but when cruising it is possible to drop the consumption to 10,5. What we noticed is that there is a large difference in fuel consumption between stop-start city driving and open road. In most people’s minds these days is fuel consumption and some testers stated that they thought it was a great and luxurious family vehicle but were concerned about fuel costs. The ride is typically soft but not too much so, a bit under-damped and handling was sufficiently able for a 1,9-ton SUV/people mover. With 353 N.m on tap, there is some torque steer when accelerating while cornering and the Journey rapidly reaches 100 km/h in only 8,6 seconds. The sound of the engine is a satisfying wail, but only if you push it, and in normal use is simply smooth and quiet. With all the bells and whistles in this vehicle, (note that the sunroof and Sat Nav with the larger eight-inch screen are optional packages), it was strange to find no auto lights on/off function. It tried valiantly for a few minutes and then gave up. ![]() For fun, we attempted to get the system to guide us to Darien, New York, where my brother was born. Unfortunately, when we tried to use the integrated Garmin navigation system, we found it was still loaded with a USA map. Messing about with buttons that require repeated pushing or searching for screen functions just takes way too long. Something that I have strong feelings on is happily included, this being a rotary knob for fan speed adjustment. 'Practicality is one of the few areas where the Journey shines: its interior is easily. Small-item storage is plentiful, however. Most midsize SUV rivals offer more cargo space than this Dodge. To cater for those who are suspicious of this modern trend, physical buttons duplicate adjustments for temperature, air con on/off, recirculated air and instant demist. The Journey has 10.7 cubic feet of space behind the third row, 37 cubic feet behind the second row, and 67.6 cubic feet with both rows folded down. Included in the trip computer display list are readouts of: transmission temp, oil pressure, oil temp, tyre pressures, engine hours completed. The instrument colour scheme is attractive in soft red and white.
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