Dodge Reviews

Ewan Kennedy reviews the 2008, 2012 and 2015 Dodge Journey as a used buy. Despite looking like a macho SUV, perhaps even a full-on 4WD, the Dodge Journey is actually a sensible people mover with three rows of seats and the ability to carry seven adults. Four adults and three children is a more realistic load. Note

Jack Pyefinch road tests and reviews the V6 Challenger SXT with specs, fuel consumption and verdict in Los Angeles.

Dodge Journey combines rugged SUV looks with the functionality of a people mover. Although it’s very much a bit player in Australia the Dodge brand has been around for just over 100 years and still remains one of the world’s most recognisable names. For most of its life Dodge was owned by Chrysler until the

Joshua Dowling road tests and reviews the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat in the US.

Graham Smith road tests and reviews the used 2007-2010 Dodge Avenger

Graham Smith reviews the 2008, 2009 and 2010 Dodge Journey as a used buy.

We’d just turned out of Rodeo Drive in Beverley Hills, Los Angeles and were waiting at traffic lights when this thunderous rumble came within earshot. Heads pivotting, we looked for the source of the commotion.Seconds later, a metallic grey and gold apparition appeared next to us, low slung, mean, wicked and nasty looking. It was a new Dodge Challenger SRT8 Group 2 Widebody. What a name. What a car....HSV BEATERAussies love their HSVs and FPVs but nothing from either of these comes remotely close to the Group 2 Challenger. It is one of the most muscled muscle cars on the streets in the US possibly outgunned only by the forthcoming Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. Who cares, we love the Dodge.Old and new muscle cars are huge business in the US right now with manufacturers delivering a tasty V8 metal feast to enthusiastic Prius-weary buyers.The Group 2 rampaged away from the lights with a sound that could shatter windows at 1000 paces, the rear wheels wiggling as the tyres struggled to cope with massive power and torque produced by the supercharged V8. Then the driver pulled up at the next lights. Ha! What a show.The standard Challenger SRT8 is a good thing equipped with a 350kW/640Nm, 6.4-litre, V8 engine and sundry go-fasts goodies.WHO'S RESPONSIBLEThe Group 2 version is a considerable step up, built from bits supplied by CDC (Classic Design Concepts) in Michigan. CDC has been adding its visual touch to cars since 1990 but cut loose with the Challenger on the outside and under the bonnet.CDC's high quality components are favoured by premium tuning houses like Saleen and Roush. They do not build complete cars prefering customers to create cars for themselves. But the Group 2 looks like it rolled off the factory floor.Inspiration for the brutal-looking beast goes way back into the 1970s Chrysler muscle cars — the Plymouth Hemi Barracuda and earlier Challengers including race versions that competed in Group 2 events of the era. The bulging rear quarter panel extensions have a direct link to the 1971 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda.THE PACKAGEWhat does the Group 2 package comprise? New composite front guards, left and right spoiler canards (side wings) and rear ``billboard'' panel and mudguard well extensions. The new body panels add 12cm to the width of the Challenger.The visual effect is awesome — and functional allowing the use of much bigger 20-inch wheels and tyres for improved traction and cornering grip. Other CDC options include a stainless steel wire mesh grille, sequential tail lights and a fully functional shaker bonnet system.CDC can also point you in the right direction for engine mods including a Vortech supercharger that works in conjunction with the shaker system to boost the Hemi V8 to 430kW (575 horsepower) with something like 800Nm.And out the back, a Corsa exhaust system is essential to deliver  that muscle car sound. Also available is a KW coil over suspension system for better handling together with six pot Brembo brakes on large diameter drilled discs.BIG TICKThe car we saw ticked all the boxes and would retail in the US for around $72,820 — a mere snip when you look at what HSV and FPV charge for lesser cars. The Group 2 is beautiful in its own way and has more eyeball pulling power than any Ferrari you care to mention.It's bold and brash topped of with corona ring daytime running lights in the grille surrounding amber blinkers. Woo hoo. We couldn't wangle a drive but reports suggest the performance matches the looks — take no prisoners off the line for a potentially sub 4.0 second 0-100km/h time.Owners say it delivers capable handling and braking and a sound to rival the Benz SLS on full song. It comes with either a six speed manual or six speed auto. Hope it comes here.

It's widely acknowledged that the Australian car market is one of the toughest in the world, with more makes and models than you'll find almost anywhere else.The mid-sized segment is one of the most competitive within the market, and it was into that motoring maelstrom that Chrysler plunged in 2007 when it launched its mid-sized Dodge Avenger sedan.The Avenger was a mid-sized five-passenger sedan with muscular looks that set it apart from the crowd. Its chiselled lines, bluff panels and in-your-face grille were different to anything else in the market at the time, and for many took some getting used to.The edgy styling was carried on inside where the cabi n was a sea of hard plastics that wasn't really very welcoming. At launch Chrysler offered a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine that really struggled. It was smooth enough, but it failed to come to the party when asked to perform.A 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and a V6 were added to the range a few months later. The V6 gave the Avenger some much needed punch. In 2009 a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel was added to the range to give the Avenger a fuel-miser option. If the 2.4-litre engine struggled the four-speed auto that was tacked on the back of it didn't help.It really needed another gear to help stir the four-banger along at anything like a decent clip. A five-speed manual was linked to the 2.0-litre engine when that was launched. When the V6 arrived on the scene in 2008 it had a six-speed auto, as did the turbo-diesel when it was launched a few months later. There was plenty of appeal when it came to the features list.The base model SX came standard with climate-controlled air, cruise control, power windows and mirrors, remote central locking and four-  speaker sound. Move up to the SXT and you got fog lamps, two extra speakers, leather trim, powered driver's seat, heated front seats, and larger alloy wheels.Little is really known about the Avenger in service. We hear little here at Carsguide, so we have to believe owners are happy with the purchases. Another slant on the lack of feedback from readers is that few Avengers found their way into the market, which is what is suspected. Although the Dodge brand is an old and certainly once respected one, it hasn't been here for many years and hasn't managed to get any real traction since its return.There is no reason to think there is anything fundamentally wrong with the Avenger, but buying outside the top group of brands always needs careful consideration. Check any cars being considered for purchase to make sure they have been regularly serviced.With front, side and head airbags, ABS brakes, electronic stability control, and traction control the Avenger had a comprehensive array of safety gear should it become necessary. UNDER THE PUMP Dodge claimed the 2.4-litre four-cylinder would do 8.8 L/100 km; the V6 would return 9.9 L/100 km and the turbo-diesel 6.7 L/100 km.Well equipped, economical mid-sized family car, but lacks sizzle on the road. Better stick with the known brands. 

Holden has unveiled a new Commodore running on fuel that is up to 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent petrol. Caltex is opening its first E85 pumps around the country with up to 100 to be available by next year.The good news is that apart from ethanol being cleaner and greener than petrol, the fuel company vows the new fuel will be "priced significantly below unleaded petrol."Unlike diesel or hybrid cars, you don't have to pay a premium for the E85 compatibility. And unlike LPG, which is also cheaper than petrol, you won't need to lose most of your boot space for a tank. However you will need to buy a car whose engine is equipped to run E85. Apart from the upcoming Commodores and some Saabs, Dodge's Journey people mover and its sister Chrysler Sebring Cabrio share an E85 compatible engine.VALUEPriced about the same as many of its competitors, the flexible-fuel Journey could become a thrifty option for families once you have somewhere to fill up.With the Journey range priced from $36,990 to $46,990, we tested the mid-range $41,990 2.7-litre petrol V6 R/T. That's the same price as the glamour-leader among people movers, Honda’s Odyssey, significantly cheaper than the class-leading Toyota Tarago but a few thousand dollars dearer than the base Kia Carnival at $35,990.While the Journey is seen as a seven-seater, it’s really a 5+2 as there's not much leg room in the third row for anyone other than small children, and in this mode there's also very little boot space. The seats are easy to manoeuvre by a lever, making it flexible for a variety of uses and for family access.Integrated child booster seats come standard with the extra row, eliminating a need to carry child seats. There are plenty of cupholders, side and front row central storage compartments, a cooler in the glovebox, but it misses front row armrests.The sound system is good without being great; the reversing camera is handy in a car of this size while features such as satellite navigation and TV screens in the back of the front row headrests are available as options.When you can buy E85 you will need to buy more to go the same distance than a petrol car would travel, as ethanol has less energy. The saving is in its cheaper pump price.TECHNOLOGYThe 2.7-litre engine puts out 136kW/256Nm, slightly better than the Odyssey and the huge Hyundai iMax, but well below the V6 Tarago and V6 Grand Carnival. It has a workhorse six-speed auto gearbox. In full petrol use it averages a claimed 10.3l/100km, though in city traffic that leaps to 15L. Without an E85 pump to be found we couldn't test that figure.DESIGNThere are people movers that look like vans, some that look like mini-buses, others that resemble wagons and none that look like sports cars. The Journey is unique because it can easily be taken for an SUV. Its high stance, squarish shape and the Dodge grille give it more macho looks than its competitors.Drivers buy people movers out of necessity rather than desire. For those who don't have large families, coach sports teams or run a chauffeur service, it’s easy to look down at many bland people movers. But not the American Journey, its tougher looks give it a meaner presence on the road.SAFETYThere's plenty of the basic essential safety gear on board with Electronic Stability Control, brake assist, front and side airbags among the standard equipment. The SUV-like high seating position is also a bonus to see ahead in traffic. It's a pity the features don't extend to an automatic opening rear hatch on this model as it is heavy to lift and high to reach when you need to close it.DRIVINGThe Dodge is a keen worker. I first tested it under light load as the sole occupant and it showed spritely acceleration and a smooth and comfortable drive, even on notorious bumps and potholes.It also got loaded up with boxes and gear to help move house. Although it felt more sluggish as would be expected it showed some guts when laden. In fact the drive was better with some weight on board. It made the car more stable on the road.One concern is how noisy it us under acceleration from a standing start, with the engine roaring as it searches for the next gear.VERDICT: The Journey is a versatile, competent people mover with good looks and comfortable ride. I just wish it had armrests. Its E85 fuel-compatibility may prove to be a sleeper for boosting sales.DODGE JOURNEY R/TPrice: $41,990Engine: 2.7L/V6 136kW/256NmTransmission: 6-speed autoEconomy: 10.3L/100km (official), 14.9L/100km (tested)

Here's our guide to the five biggest-selling people movers on the market (2010 year-to-date, VFACTS).