• Dodge Journey takes a top award at the annual Ward’s Auto Interiors Show
• Award reinforces Dodge Journey’s leadership in design, family-friendly features and innovative technology

Auburn Hills, Mich.- Ward’s judges presented the all-new Dodge Journey crossover a special achievement award, “Clever Utility,” for its well-thought-out and smartly integrated interior features at the 2008 Ward’s Auto Interiors Show — the publication’s annual auto interior event.

“‘Extreme functionality’ sums up one Ward’s judge of the Dodge’s flexible interior,” said David E. Zoia, Editorial Director - WardsAuto.com. “To start, the Journey has more hiding places than a Nancy Drew mansion. Flip forward the front passenger-seat cushion to reveal a nicely sized compartment for keeping valuables out of sight. There are also concealed compartments under the floor in the rear cargo bay and ahead of the second-row seats — the latter specially lined for potential use as an ice chest.”

A key target for the Dodge Journey’s design team was delivering a crossover with a practical, flexible interior, and seating and innovative storage features typically found in the award-winning and best-selling Chrysler and Dodge minivans.

“The all-new Dodge Journey right-size crossover is designed to satisfy buyers’ rapidly changing demands by offering a unique combination of versatility and flexibility,” said Joe Dehner, Vice President – Small, Family and Premium Vehicle Design, Chrysler LLC. “The 'Clever Utility' special achievement award validates what our designers and engineers sought to accomplish, and we are honored by Ward’s' judges for this recognition.”

Designed from the ground up, the all-new 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-size 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. 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 has an integrated 30-gigabyte hard drive to store music and pictures, and an auxiliary audio jack to play any MP3 player. Additional features including ParkView™ Rear Back-up Camera, UConnect® hands-free communication that is Bluetooth® compatible, a UCI for iPod connectivity, make every day a driving pleasure.

With more than 35 safety and security technologies available and a Five 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.