2009 Dodge Journey

Angela Forgeron

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

LAS VEGAS–Luckily for Dodge, what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas.

If that were the case, then it wouldn't have made much sense to choose the gambling mecca as the place to roll out the latest crossover to hit the North American market.

And it's becoming a crowded market: there are now 21 sport utility-meets-minivan-meets-car varieties on sale in Canada. Crossovers might as well replace the dictionary definition of ubiquity.

Dodge is aiming its Journey at young parents – with one or two kids in tow – who want the interior practicality, comfort and convenience of a minivan, yet an exterior that's cooler, bolder and, well, not a minivan.

Four trims round out the lineup: a base model SE, the SE Plus, SXT and R/T. The Journey seats five, and is available with an optional third row for up to seven riders, comes in front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, and with a choice of two engines.

But the big story for the newest Dodge is the price. Starting at $19,995, the Journey is jammed with advanced multistage front/side/side curtain airbags, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, electronic stability control, air conditioning, power heated mirrors, locks and windows, a six-disc AM/FM/MP3 audio system with six speakers and a tilt/telescope steering wheel.

Load it up with all the bells and whistles and all-wheel drive, and the Journey is still $5 under $30,000.

Built on Chrysler's Sebring/Avenger platform, the Journey looks a heck of a lot bigger and more attractive in person than it does on paper (think Chrysler Pacifica mated with the Dodge Caliber and Magnum). It also looks richer.

Based on the competition – the Kia Rondo, Mazda5 and Chevy Equinox – it'd be an honest guess to think the Journey starts at around $25,000 rather than its under-$20,000 tag.

There's an aluminum hood and a composite hatch door with an integrated rear spoiler to keep it light, and for those who like to dress up their ride, the top line R/T ($27,995 FWD; $29,995 AWD) comes with 19-inch aluminum wheels, fog lamps, roof racks, chrome-coloured door handles and dual chrome-tipped exhausts.

Powering the entry-level Journey SE and SE Plus is a 2.4 L four-cylinder that makes 173 horsepower and 166 lb.-ft. of torque. It's enough for a small family, especially if life is focused within a short commute.

However, for frequent road trips, hauling a small boat or trailer, lots of gear and extra people (a third row is available on all trims for $1,175), step up to the SXT or R/T for the 3.5 L V6 with 235 hp and 232 lb.-ft.

For the past few years the interiors in Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge vehicles has been sub-par. Hard plastic surfaces have cloaked dashboards, centre stacks and door panels. Though the interior of the Journey isn't super supple, it's off to a better start with softer materials.

One of the Journey's big standouts – keep in mind its affordable price – is the quiet cabin. The interior is well insulated, and there's minimal road, wind and engine noise.

Twisting through the desert terrain outside of Las Vegas, rounding corners to find brilliant red boulders and turtle fences lining the roadside, the Journey moved smoothly over the tarmac. Even when we took the vehicle along dusty, rocky surfaces at 80 km/h, the crossover felt sturdy and stable.

Inside the Dodge are cleverly hidden storage bins. It was one of the first automaker presentations where the words "room for a handbag" came up not only once, but twice. At the foot of the centre stack there's decent space for a small purse.

Or, for stashing small valuables there's an innovative box hidden inside the front passenger's seat (just flip the cushion). Though the Dodge folks admit there's less padding to accommodate the mini safe, the seat is still supportive and comfortable, even after a few hours as navigator.

Hidden elsewhere in the Journey are two second-row storage bins built into the floor. Each removable bin can hold up to 12 cans of soda and ice. Up front there's a glove box ChillZone to keep even more beverages cold.

Dodge designers gave the second row 120 mm of travel, which works well for a couple of reasons. Parents in the front chairs can easily reach back to a second-row baby seat; alternatively, a tall second-row passenger can gain extra leg room or reduce it based on the space needed by those in the third row. The second and third rows also recline.

The climb to the third row isn't too bad – it's easy to get in and get situated on the two-person bench. Though the end row is on a riser, and there's foot room under the second row, it's not a place an adult would want to sit for more than an hour. The exit from the third row is also less than graceful.

Cargo space is decent, even with three rows in use. Two duffle bags can fit, or there's room for several carry-on-sized suitcases or bags.

Dodge claims its Caravan minivan outsells the combined Canadian sales of 20 of the 21 crossovers currently on the market (not including Ford's Edge). But the Journey, which goes on sale later this month, is a vehicle that arrives at the right place at the right time for the right price. It may just give the Caravan a run for its money.

More videos from Wheels.ca and our partners