Dodge Journey test drive since 2008 SUV

Crusade

Soon the European market will go to conquer a car, overshadowed by a characteristic silver cross of the radiator grille and the family coat of arms of the Baran's head. Dodge-Jorni's chances of success in the Old World were evaluated by Denis Harutyunyan. Photo by the author and Dodge.
How to conquer Europe sophisticated by variety? The Americans believe that the prevailing stereotypes need to be broken. Jorney at first glance is an ordinary seven -seater mini -wen, but the company calls it a crossover. It is logical: behind the ocean, in addition to a good road clearance (about 200 mm), you can add all -wheel drive, turning the car into a really universal one. But in the old world this option will not be. This is a dignity or a lack of time and sales statistics.
Holy place
The American style is chopped, rude in shape of the body, resembling a powerful knight in the armor. Soveting the appearance of the interior: straight lines, massive forms. But still, the inner world of the Crusader is a more peaceful plastic of the front panel surprisingly soft and pleasant, cozy chairs, although deprived of lateral support, will provide comfort on the long journey. But in order to see the lamb devices, you will have to humbly bow your head. A little easier to get on the first attempt to the desired button on the console Solder of the same squares is at a dead end.
On the way to the place of hostilities, the warrior is better not to get bored. This is how the designers of Dodge are considered using each patch of internal space to introduce comfort elements. For the driver, the multifunctional screen of the MYGIG multimedia system, which can display the GPS navigation data, the picture from the rear view camera, the climate installation modes, the number and name of the music track on the 20-gigabyte built-in hard drive. The passenger, having stuck on the small lower section of the glove compartment, will appreciate its upper part in it there is a holder for a couple of cans of drinks and cooling the air conditioner's nozzle. Sitting in front will delight both the armrest with the sliding upper part, and a small panoramic mirror on the back of the ceiling glass is very convenient to monitor the paternal gaze after the offspring on the rear sofa.
By the way, the retinue is also not deprived of amenities. A decent supply of space, directed LEDs of individual lighting, a separate climate control unit and the screen of the DVD player on the ceiling will help to entertain both young and old. The sofa was installed 40 mm above the front seats: you look from the amphitheater over the heads of the driver and passenger. Two deep pallets are hidden under your feet: you can not only lay out the supplies of food or water, but also overplay them with ice. Then the plastic trough is easy to remove, wash and dry.
Only the seats of the third row violate the overall picture. The process of entry-exit is similar to Kara for sins, and only convinced ascetic can sit on the gallery. Only the children will arrange quite freely, but the parents will stop worrying that their restless children will open the door on the go inadvertently. Nevertheless, in everyday life, it is better to fold the chair, pulling a special strap, and use a huge, almost 800-liter trunk.
Without flame
Giorny's motors will not name the fiery. Even a modification with a 2.7 liter V6 engine, paired with which an automatic box with six steps is working, to put it mildly, was not impressed. The velvet rumbling of six cylinders caresses hearing, but the motor does not please with dynamics. If you do not find fault and do not require special agility from the car, for confident movement in the space of traction is quite enough. The work of the box was a little puzzled: even with unhurried movement, switching is accompanied by tangible shocks. And even with more energetic acceleration, the blows in the transmission at first are even scared. An attempt to move into manual mode has not improved each switch anyway. Yes, and it doesn’t fit in such a car to pull the lever, it is better to moderate the ambitions and go smoothly, measured, with dignity. Moreover, the suspension also does not like high speeds: as soon as the speedometer arrow exceeded a hundred, the body began to tremble finely, as if fearing the upcoming battle.
The proud title of the Crusader obliges a lot, like the term crossover: it is sinful not to move out of the road. Softly passing through a low parapet, Dodge set off for the average breakdown of a primer into nature. The main conclusion: a good road clearance seriously expanded the capabilities of the car, and even on serious bumps, the pitching rather informs the driver about the condition of the road, which annoys passengers. Jorney is not an all -terrain vehicle, of course, but local paths will not be afraid.
With a shield?
What will Dodge-Jorni come to us in the fall of this year? In the struggle for the sympathy of the buyer, he has the right to rely on an extraordinary design, slightly larger than competitors, opportunities on bad roads and good set. But the main weapon may be the price according to preliminary data, for the crusader you will have to lay out from 800,000 to 1,080,000 rubles. In the dispute for popularity, the argument is very good. _x0008_
Dodge Journey unusual solutions made it possible to expand the concept of a universal car.
Lay out into pockets
The freight capabilities of Dodge-Jorus deserve special attention. Forget about the usual pockets and cup holders, we will look for new solutions. Upper cooled section of the glove compartment 2.9 l; The capacity of the front passenger seat pillow Flip`n Stow 5.2 l; compartments in the floor of the second row 12.4 liters. But the main trunk of 1562 liters (if you fold the chairs of the second and third row). If this is not enough, we will lay up to 68 kg of cargo on the roof. Well, in an extreme version, you can add a trailer with a maximum weight of up to 1600 kg.
The laws of competition
The lot of modern cars is a cruel struggle for survival since birth. How successful it will depend on a lot, including on the trump cards of the opponents. The main rival of Dodge-Jorni, manufacturers call the mini-van Ford S-Max. In its arsenal there are three gasoline engines (with a volume of 2.0 to 2.5 liters) and a price similar to Dodge (from 745,000 to 1,127,700 rubles). The lack of places in the base S-MAX is only five.
But another competitor, Mazda-5, can take away seven. However, in power exercises, it loses, at the top of the gamma motor with a volume of only 2.0 liters, but the mazda, depending on the configuration, costs from 614,000 to 876,000 rubles.
Let me remind you: the dignity of Jornie, which many will consider an important, impressive road clearance. In this parameter, classmates do not compete with him.
Denis Harutyunyan
 
 
 

Source: The magazine "Driving"