The engines are comparable to the handling: capable but not as good as the best in the class. The base four-cylinder, Chrysler's 173-hp 2.4-liter World Engine, is loud in the Journey and delivers too little power in this 3800-pound package. The four-cylinder will certainly get you and your kids around town, but passing will require some planning and it's not rated for towing. With a 0-60 mph time of somewhere between 11 and 12 seconds, a four-cylinder Journey is one of the slower vehicles in its class.
The 3.5-liter V6, standard in SXT and R/T models, is much better, but it lacks the refinement and flexible power of the V6s offered by Honda, Toyota, Nissan, GM, and even Mitsubishi. With 235 horses on tap, 0-60 comes in about 9.3 seconds, making it adequate but considerably slower than V6-powered SUVs and crossover offered by the aforementioned competitors. Still, the V6 will help you keep up with traffic, pass confidently, and permit towing up to 3500 pounds.
The fuel economy numbers are decent. With the four-cylinder, the Journey is EPA-rated at 19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. With the V6 and front-wheel drive, those numbers are 16/23, and with the V6 and AWD, they are 15/22. Dodge recommends midgrade fuel for the V6.
The all-wheel-drive system is meant for slippery surfaces, not off-roading. It does not have low-range gearing. Next Page