All-new 2009 Dodge Journey Crossover Wins "Family Car of Texas" Award

Members of the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) named the 2009 Dodge Journey "Family Car of Texas" at the 2008 Spring Challenge, the organization’s annual passenger-car competition. More than 60 vehicles from various manufacturers entered the event, all vying for a top award from 40 of the TAWA journalists on hand.

“With 61 vehicles competing in various categories, the new Dodge Journey is the worthy recipient of our first Family Car of Texas award. This award speaks loudly about the design and capability of this vehicle”, said Harold Gunn, President – Texas Auto Writers Association. “The many storage options had several of our members remarking, ‘Finally a place for all my stuff!’"

“It is a great honor to have the Texas Auto Writers Association recognize the all-new Dodge Journey for this significant award,” said Mike Accavitti, Director – Dodge Brand, SRT and Motorsports Global Marketing. “With more innovative interior features than any vehicle in its class, this honor highlights Dodge Journey’s family-friendly leadership in the crossover segment.”

Now available at Dodge dealers nationwide, the all-new 2009 Dodge Journey redefines the expanding mid-size crossover segment, offering seating and cargo versatility, safety and security, child friendliness, great all-weather driving capability, best-in-class fuel economy (19 city / 25 mpg highway) and a best-in-class starting price of $19,985.

Designed from the ground up, Dodge Journey combines the versatility of a large sport-utility vehicle with the efficiency of a passenger car. With bold, capable styling, perfect proportions and an innovative interior design, Dodge Journey is the right-sized crossover for people who want the prestige of an SUV and the functionality and utility of a minivan.

Utilizing the Dodge brand’s successful family vehicle formula, Dodge Journey incorporates unique seating and a best-in-class storage system, creating a spacious and flexible interior ready to handle life’s ever-changing challenges. With the simple turn of a single lever, the available Tilt ‘n Slide™ seven-passenger seating system quickly folds the second-row seat cushion upward and slides the entire seat forward, allowing third-row passengers easy in-and-out access. Two available integrated child booster seats, a first in the mid-size crossover segment, quickly pull out from the second-row seat cushion, eliminating the need to transport bulky child seats into the Journey. Spacious storage bins, including Flip ‘n Stow™ front-passenger concealed storage, Chill Zone™ glove box beverage cooler and dual in-floor bins with washable liners in the second row offer quick storage and increased passenger comfort.

Dodge Journey offers a variety of innovative technologies that make life easier. A cutting-edge MyGIG™ multimedia system provides the driver and passengers 3-D navigation with real-time traffic monitoring, an integrated 30-gigabyte hard drive to store music and pictures, and an auxiliary audio jack to play any MP3 player. Additional features including SIRIUS Satellite Radio, ParkView™ Rear Back-up Camera, UConnect® hands-free communication that is Bluetooth® compatible, a UCI for iPod connectivity, and rear DVD entertainment with two wireless headphones, make every day a driving pleasure.

With a four-wheel independent suspension, two fuel-efficient powertrain options and available performance-tuned suspension, Dodge Journey delivers decisive handling in nearly all conditions. Available all-wheel drive further enhances Journey’s all-weather capabilities.

Dodge Journey SE’s standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder World Engine is coupled with a standard four-speed automatic providing best-in-class fuel economy. With an estimated 19 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 25 mpg on the highway, the Dodge Journey delivers efficient, yet solid performance. The 2.4-liter 16-valve engine produces 173 horsepower (129 kW) and 166 lb.-ft. (225 N•m) of torque and features dual variable valve timing, intake manifold flow control valves, acoustic cylinder head covers, dual counter-rotating balance shafts and an acoustic oil pan.

Dodge Journey SXT and R/T models feature a standard 3.5-liter V-6 engine that produces 235 horsepower (175 kW) and 232 lb.-ft. (315 N•m) of torque coupled with a fluid six-speed automatic transaxle with Auto Stick that provides quick acceleration and a quite ride. The 3.5-liter V-6 engine on front-wheel-drive models delivers an estimated 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway and 15 mpg city and 22 mpg on the highway on AWD models.

With more than 35 safety and security technologies available and a 5-star government front- and side-crash test rating, Dodge Journey delivers peace of mind. With standard advanced multi-stage driver and front-passenger air bags, standard front-seat-mounted (thorax) side air bags, standard three-row side-curtain air bags, tire pressure monitoring, four-wheel disc anti-lock brakes (ABS), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Electronic Roll Mitigation, Brake Assist, Trailer Sway Control, structural safety cage with side-door impact beams and an available back-up camera, Dodge Journey features the latest safety and security features.


Dodge Brand
With a U.S. market share of 6.4 percent, Dodge is Chrysler LLC’s best-selling brand and the sixth largest nameplate in the U.S. automotive market. In 2007, Dodge sold more than 1.3 million vehicles in the global market.

The Dodge brand’s first crossover vehicle — the all-new 2009 Dodge Journey — is available now and will be available outside North America in petrol and diesel powertrains in both left- and right-hand drive in mid-2008. This spring marks the return of the limited-edition 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 with a 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 engine that boasts 425 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque. The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram with game-changing exterior and interior design, innovations, best-in-class features and craftsmanship will arrive this fall. Also arriving this fall is the 2009 Dodge Durango Hybrid. The all-new 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan arrived in dealerships with 35 new or improved features including the newest innovation, the Swivel ’n Go™ seating system. In 2007, Dodge Avenger and Nitro entered key volume segments outside North America, joining the Dodge Caliber, which launched in those markets in 2006.