dodge journey 2 0 crd

Dodge Journey 2.0 CRD (2008) review

• At a glance
• Handling 3 out of 5
• Performance 3 out of 5
• Usability 4 out of 5
• Feelgood factor 3 out of 5
• CAR's Rating 3 out of 5
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By Christopher Hubbard

The Dodge Journey has a tough job on its hands. The MPV sector has been going through a bit of a shake-up recently. People don’t want to drive around in minibuses any more, yet still want space for seven.

Whatever happened to 2.4 children? Current king of this new motoring genre is the flexible Ford S-Max : handles like a decent saloon, seats the extended family, transforms into a van in a moment.

But what if you want something a little different? Dodge reckons it’s got the answer in the distinctive shape of the Journey, a new estate-car-cum-MPV crossover.

Whoa, the Dodge Journey is kind of funny looking…

Dodge would prefer striking, thanks. Looking individual is all part of the brand proposition – you’re buying into a slice of Americana. Usually that would come combined with shoddy interior panel finish, dodgy plastics, and substantially limited dynamic abilities. But the big news with this car is that, like the Chrysler 300C , the Journey promises a much more Europeanised experience.

We’ve heard this before, of course. A lot. But while it’s tempting to write off such assertions – in the same way you do every time Alfa Romeo claims dealer service has improved – a quick glance round the cabin reveals two things.

First, that the overall dashboard design appears to have escaped from the 1970s (what is with that instrument cowl?), and second that someone appears to have been paying attention in class. The Journey is clearly much better built than any other Dodge.

Click ‘Next’ below to read more of our Dodge Journey first drive

Can the Dodge Journey really hope to compete with the S-Max?

Well, compete is a little strong. Dodge is only really looking to present a ‘credible alternative’ – by way of that individual exterior, a versatile interior, and decent value. The last is difficult to judge at this stage, since the company has only finalised pricing for the entry-level SE petrol (£16,995, undercutting almost every competitor bar the smaller Mazda 5). But whether you pick SE, SXT or range-topping RT, they all come with stacks of equipment. In fact the only options are ICE related.

As for the interior, it is pretty clever. The 5+2 seating on all versions will accommodate seven adults for short journeys, thanks to a middle row that slides fore and aft, and generous final row space. The flip side is a comically small boot, but both rear rows fold flat with ease, and top-spec versions get a folding front passenger seat. Storage solutions include deep bins beneath the middle-row floor and a flip-up front passenger seat squab.

Ok, not bad. But how does the driving experience hold up?

All launch cars had a 2.0-litre diesel engine – expected to take at least 90 percent of sales (a 2.4 petrol being the only alternative). This is the old 138bhp ‘Pumpe Düse’ Volkswagen unit, so it isn’t especially refined. But it does provide a useful 229lb ft slug of torque from 1750rpm. And for the first time Dodge is offering a six-speed dual-clutch auto – yes, basically VW’s DSG – alongside the standard six-speed manual gearbox.

Stick with the manual. This keeps the car within environmental touching distance of the S-Max, and the dual-clutch is slow-witted here. The steering weighting is actually pretty good (genuine feel is obviously asking too much). It rides comfortably enough, and for something this size, the Journey exhibits reasonable body control in everyday driving.

It’s not quick (we reckon about 13 seconds to 62mph for the manual; Dodge isn’t yet divulging figures…), but you wouldn’t want it to be. Attempt anything ambitious and you’ll be thankful for the standard-fit ESP. Roll-oversteer was just one of the livelier traits displayed by the Journey’s back end.

Fully Europeanised? Not quite. A damn sight better than every other Dodge? Absolutely. With lots of space, a proven diesel engine, surprisingly good quality, and some smart design, the Journey is so so close to providing that credible alternative the firm is desperately after.

In fact, if you fancy the way it looks and aren’t a demanding driver, it’s likely to represent tempting value. Everyone else? Head for that Ford dealership.

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Photo Gallery

Dodge Journey 2.0 CRD SXT

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On the road: Dodge Journey 2.0 CRD RT Auto

T he last time I drove a Dodge was on holiday in France last year. It was the usual arrangement. You order a Renault Espace online and then you get what you're given at the airport. And what we were given was a  Dodge Caravan , a real tanker of machine that was roughly 3mm ­narrower than the car park exit.

I'm not sure my feelings towards that Dodge ever recovered from the 48 manoeuvres it took to get out of the car park. Even on the open road, amid the rugged terrain and panoramic views of Provence , it seemed needlessly large and conspicuously overbearing. I felt automotively obese. I felt, in a word, American.

The Dodge Journey 2.0 CRD is also not a small car. In this respect it is not alone. There are plenty of non-small cars on British roads. But few make quite so much a spectacle of their size as the Dodge. Everything about it, from its 19-inch wheels to its chunky bonnet, seems to ­suggest an external vista of, say, Idaho , rather than, for example, Islington .

But suggest is the operative word here because, like an increasing number of cars, the Journey isn't really what it seems. It's a mock 4x4, a plastic cowboy, a seven-seat estate car pretending to be a pumped-up SUV. Why anyone would want to convey that sort of excess at this moment in history without actually possessing it is a question the Dodge Journey never begins to answer.

It's certainly not for the smoothness of the diesel engine. It sounds like a faulty tractor. There's plenty of space, at least in the three rows of seats. But if the back row isn't folded down, the boot becomes less a ­storage facility than a decorative gesture.

The interior spec is an improvement on the Caravan, although it's fair to say that I've been in public phone boxes with plusher fixtures and fittings than the Caravan. There's nothing that looks cheap or nasty in the Journey. But neither does it reach a level of comfort that compensates for its all-round heaviness.

Nor is it a speed monster. At between 60mph and 80mph on the motorway, it works just fine. In other places, and at other speeds, it's less than a pleasure. So what's the attraction?

You could say flexibility – the middle row of seats is adjustable – though that's not the word that comes to mind when driving the car. No, the answer must be its supersize quality, the appeal of unnecessary largeness in itself.

It's a car for the person whose instinct is always to reply in the affirmative to the inquiry, "Do you want extra fries with that?" Or, to put it another way, the Dodge ­Journey is not what your average jogging vegetarian is likely to drive. And perhaps that's where its true appeal lies.

• Motoring: On the road

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2008 Dodge Journey 2.0 CRD (140 Hp) DCT

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• Engine & Transmission

2.0 CRD 2008 - is it worth buying?

• Newbie questions

By Tadek Janczykowski May 7, 2015 in Engine & Transmission

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Tadek janczykowski.

Hello guys, I've heard and read a lot about this VW 2.0 TDI PD engine, that it's sh*** as h… and so on, the thing is I've never found any specific Dodge Journey 2.0 CRD owners complaining about the engine failures. Is it really such an bad motor? Is it worth buying or I'd spend more $ on repairing it, then on the car itself? In Europe (Poland) it's hard to find many 2.4 engines or 2.0 CR. There's one on the market (SXT, 7 seater, 08') which I'd love to buy, but I'm so freakin scared about this VW engine….

Thanks for any help.

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Hi. I've got a 2009 SXT 2.0 CRD 4 years ago. It is now almost 70.000 kms., and I've had 3 issues last year that I never expected to have in a brand new car:

Radiator - Substitution. It wasn't posible to repair.

Starter - Sometimes car did not start, though battery was in good condition. Unmounting, cleaning, and mounting again.

Turbo admission and DPF - Changing turbo tube and forcing DPF cleaning process.

Total repair cost: not more than 600 €

I've never heard about first, but the others are a little bit common on diesel DJ's. Surf the net and google for it.

If you still want to buy (hope I haven´t scared you even more), check that car starts easily on a cold morning, and also check turbo admission (it's right in front of you when you lift the hood, beside oil checker).

It's also true that you need to replace front brake pads every 25.000 kms., and rear every 40.000, but tires can last 65.000 kms (front) or longer (rear).

Good Luck, nobody said taking decissions were easy.

Thanks for response. The one I'm interested in is 2.0 CRD 'BWD' engine, which ASFAIK is not commonrail, but PI engine. Yours car is 2009, which should be CR. The question is - is the 2.0 BWD engine worth buying or should I wait for the 2.4 ?

• 5 months later...

If you are after a seven seater then getting what a DJ offers for the same price elsewhere will be a huge push.

Mine has the BWD motor and it is loud as a mower but you get used to it. It is not as fuel efficient as I had expected a 2.0l diesel engine to be but then again it's a heavy car for the small engine and I mostly do short runs on a cold engine. I get 25MPG urban and 30ish on the motorway.

Specialist parts are b1tch to get here in the UK and non-maintaince repairs will cost you an arm and a leg. I lucked out as the trader I bought it from gave me a 6 month warranty and in the first month had to shell out £3.3k in repairs (reconditioned turbo and a set of clutches) so I didn't have to.

Having said all that I freaking love my Dodge, the room it offers, the DVD in the rear, the built in sat bav, rear parking cam and my Infiniti audio system. I bought it for £8.5k with 45k miles on the clock. Would've had to spend £2k more on similar spec elsewhere - at least that.

So all in all, get one with warranty and you should be fine:)

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Dodge Journey 2.0 CRD R/T 2008 Automatic 5 doors specs

Dodge journey 2.0 crd r/t is a 2008 mpv model with 6 speed automatic. with a power of 103 kw you can reach 0-100km h in just 10,5 seconds and a maximum speed of 200 km/h with an urban consumption of 8,2 l/100km. the engine has a capacity of 1968 cc with 4, in line cylinders and 4 valves per cylinders. also this model has a weight of with coil springs front suspension and a coil springs rear suspension., dodge journey 2008 photo gallery.

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Dodge Journey (2008 - 2010) 2.0 CRD SE 5d Specs & Dimensions

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Available new from: August 2008  -  December 2010

Specs Overview

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Equipment list & trim options

• 3x3 point rear seat belts
• Air conditioning
• Body coloured bumpers
• CD Multichanger
• Cruise control
• Driver`s airbag
• Electric mirrors
• Folding rear seats
• Front electric windows
• Heated mirrors
• Height adjustable drivers seat
• Isofix child seat anchor points
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• Space saver spare wheel
• Sports seats
• Steering wheel rake adjustment
• Steering wheel reach adjustment
• Traction control
• Cloth seat trim
• Steel wheels

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Dodge journey 2008 2.0 crd, dodge journey 2008 2.0 diesel description.

Crossover / SUV Dodge Journey 2008 2.0 CRD has been produced from June, 2008 to January, 2011. It has four-cylinder diesel engine with displacement of 2.0 litres , which produces power of 140 horsepower on 4000 rpm and torque 310 Nm (Newton metres) on 1750 revolutions per minute.

This 4-cylinder 16-valve engine camshaft is driven by belt ( What is an engine chain and belt?  ). Engine has a fuel injection system with unit injectors and VGT turbine. The engine meets the Euro 4 emissions standard. Approximate engine life expectancy (mileage until serious repairs are required) for this engine is between 250 000 and 420 000 kilometres . Note that engine life can be longer or shorter depending on maintenance. More engine specs  This Dodge Journey 2.0 engine oil type is 5W-30 and oil capacity is 4.3 litres .

Dodge Journey 2008 2.0 CRD has front wheel drive (FWD) and manual gearbox with 6 gears. Dodge Journey 2008 2.0 CRD accelerates to speed 100 kilometres per hour in 11.6 seconds . The maximum speed of this car is 188 km/h .

In combined cycle (city and motorway), the Dodge Journey 2008 2.0 CRD fuel consumption is 6.5 litres per 100km (15.4 km/l) - this is the most fuel efficient Dodge Journey 2008 - 2011 version , city fuel economy - 8.4 l/100km, fuel consumption on highway - 5.4 l/100km. Fuel tank capacity is 77 litres or 20.34 gallons , which gives a mileage up to 1180 kilometers without refueling in urban cycle and even up to 1420 kilometers on highway. According to user reviews, this Dodge real everyday fuel consumption is 7.9 litres per 100 km , which is 22% more than the manufacturer's stated . More - Real Dodge Journey fuel consumption .

Dodge Journey 2008 2.0 CRD technical data

Dodge journey 2008 2.0 crd engine ece, engine reliability:, most often compared to, all dodge journey crossover [2008 - 2011] modifications, car reviews and technical specs.

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2012 Dodge Journey consumer reviews

• Comfort 4.4
• Interior 4.3
• Performance 4.1
• Exterior 4.4
• Reliability 4.1

Good car for what you pay for🇩🇴🇩🇴🇩🇴🇩🇴🇩🇴🇩🇴

Great car mines a 2012 and has around 149k miles and is running great barley any issues and it is also the v6 model which is good

• Comfort 5.0
• Interior 5.0
• Performance 5.0
• Exterior 5.0
• Reliability 5.0
• Purchased a Used car
• Used for Having fun
• Does recommend this car

Love my Journey

Bought my 2012 journey slightly used in 2013 and have had only one thing crap out on it. The Bluetooth. That’s it! Nothing else, just the Bluetooth. This has been the most reliable car I’ve ever owned! My husband makes sure all the maintenance is done when recommended by dodge. 122,000 miles in and she is still perfect!

• Used for Commuting

Cannot beat the value

I had owned a 2010 Journey a few years ago when they came out. It was a very finicky car but was always reliable and never let me down. I had moved on to much higher end vehicles from Toyota and even had a Volvo. Just this past year everything changed and I essentially had to start over. A dealer that specialized helping people in my situation put me in a 2012 Journey. I'm very happy with it! Every complaint I had on the 2010 is not on the 2012. The 3.6 in the 12 is so much better matched to the Journey then the 3.5 ever was. It has way more power and gets about 25 mpg or 5 more then the 2010. The Journey is actually more comfortable then the Volvo it replaced! In terms of money, you cannot beat the Journey value. Both of my Journey have been reliable, I wouldn't think twice about taking it anywhere and it has 130000 miles. It is ten years old and has aged very well. Every feature works, air is ice cold, sound system is great, and the 3.6 is still silent. The 62te transmission does occasionally "stumble" when shifting but I've had four other Chrysler with 62te and they all did it as well.

• Interior 4.0
• Exterior 4.0

Spent Over 10k in repairs

are my dodge journey 2012 is very reliable. I bought the car out flat since it hit the showroom floor and it hasn’t stopped paying for it since. over the years I’ve calculated and put about $10,000 into my car only for it still to not be able to go over 45 mph. I love the car would definitely recommend it new but the old models I don’t know.

• Performance 4.0
• Reliability 3.0
• Purchased a New car

Absolutely worst vehicle. Wiring is the worst .. never buying again. The back hatch wiring snapped not to mention the over heating. Trash. I hate this vehicle.

• Comfort 1.0
• Interior 1.0
• Performance 1.0
• Exterior 1.0
• Reliability 1.0
• Used for Transporting family
• Does not recommend this car

Has put my kids n my life at danger to many times

I have not a clue what I did to deserve a car that just does what it darn well pleases. I will be driving down the highway or just regular city streets n out if know where it dies n its so dangerous cause I can barley turn the wheel to get off to the SD of the road. N Bluetooth suxs works when it wants to. Then there's days I try n start my journey (push strart) n it just revs n revs unable to stop it until I hit the lock n unlock on my key fob take my foot off brake n it finally stops reving. But that's the beginning cause trying to get it to start again without the reving in a pain in my xxx especially when the car dies in the middle of traffic n I'm blocking the road as is. The thing does what it wants n turning my steering wheel to the left turns the radio on full blast n only way to turn it down I the steering wheel n that works when it wants. There's more but to much to type.....

• Comfort 4.0
• Performance 2.0
• Exterior 2.0

Long lasting vehicle

This 2012 journey had 288,xxx miles on it when bought and it is still running strong. The interior design is like that of a newer model suv, it’s sleek yet robust. From the looks of other comments they weren’t very consistent in engine quality.

Has a lot of issues

Although Comfortable and roomy,this car has been a nightmare. Fixing same issues repeatedly, Fixing recall issues as well. Interior poorly put together. It's a $ pit

• Reliability 2.0

My Baby lol

My car is my faithful lifeline. From the moment I test drove her at the lot to every second I drive her now, my car is the best.

It's not what I expected.

All wheel drive is good for winter. Uses more gas than I thought it would. It is very roomy with the 3 row seating. Don't think I would purchase another one.

• Comfort 3.0
• Interior 3.0
• Performance 3.0
• Exterior 3.0

• Journey Christian School
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