The Dodge Journey is updated for 2014 with yet another special edition: this one called the Crossroad. It complements the Blacktop Journey with pricing from about $25,000 – which is a big jump from the advertised base pricing for the Journey that starts at $20,000.

This is the first Dodge, Ram or Chrysler review I have written since January 12th when the Ram Mossy Oak debuted in Detroit.

I would like to report good things – that this car was such a revelation that it made me cover Chrysler brands again. That is absolutely not the case with the $31,000 2014 Dodge Journey Crossroad.

In fact, even visiting the Crossroad page on Dodge’s site crashes my Firefox. It is not a coincidence – the Crossroad Dodge.com page crashed it thrice in a row.  Try it!

For Firefox users, expect your browser to crash immediately after the page opens.

http://www.dodge.com/en/special-editions/journey-crossroad/#2

The only way I could even grab that link was to use Chrome briefly.

JOURNEY CROSSROAD ISSUES

As the V6-engine, AWD model, this Journey Crossroad is near the top of the range. This car, however, lacked the one USP that the Journey should offer buyers: a third row seat. It is an optional feature that was not included here.

Even with just a brief spin up the road, you can note a variety of serious failures in the Journey – which is a reheat of all the worst Chrysler and Dodge ideas of the last decade. The fact that this old heap is still being forced on buyers is regretful – even with all my favorite exterior tweaks like dark wheels, tinted lamps and sporty body pieces — the Journey is clearly from the same pen that gave us the reviled Dodge Calibre.

All of the styling, even on this upgraded and range-topping Crossroad model, immediately recalls the block-based design that is best known from the first-gen Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager. The one from the 1980s.

 Road Test Review – 2014 Dodge Journey Crossroad

Here is a quick run-down of the issues identified on the test drive:

CABIN PROBLEMS – 2014 Dodge Journey Crossroad

• — Driving position is compromised by poor seat range and lack of steering wheel adjustment. The best option is an upright and van-tastic pose with arms stretched out like a zombie.

• — Seats are new but still woeful – they feel just like the 1996 Town & Country seats

• — Seat base is far too short

• — Steering wheel is atrocious, and the overall interior layout is extremely upright like a minivan from all perspectives

• — Optional infotainment is the identikit 8.4-inch touchscreen, with kiddie-style graphics

• — Clunky gear-lever

• — Small second row access via oddly positioned door openings and high sills

• — Rear cargo area seems very small, and the fit/finish of the rear sunshade is extremely embarrassing

DRIVING PROBLEMS – 2014 Dodge Journey Crossroad

• — Smooth initial takeoff but spongy brakes and springy throttle

• — Steering is somewhat effortless but non-centering and lazy in its reactions, plus heavy to return to center after the corner is complete. Junk.

• — Body quivers and shimmies are evident even at low-speed maneuvers

• — Visibility is poor to all angles, particularly to the sides and rear — but not good to the front either

• — Fuel economy is extremely uncompetitive versus crossovers and small SUVs due to the four-speed automatic in the four-banger and six-speed in the V6 Limited and R/T models.

• — Highway MPG tops out at 26 MPG – but observed MPG will struggle to crest 22 MPG

That list is pretty damning evidence for a car reporter, especially considering the car’s price and ambitious options package upgrades.

It is regrettable that I am no longer a Chrysler champion, but this view is my own. It is subjective.

In the fall, I wrote glowing praise of the Ram EcoDiesel on another site. But I would challenge any car writer to praise the Journey whatsoever on its merits. It is a hunk of junk.

While writing this, I was thinking to myself: would this car be decent with a price of $21,000 versus $31,000? It would be better value, that is for sure, but it would not be an appealing design even if marked down to $5 total.

I struggle to fathom who would decide this was the best car on the market for their needs — literally anything else would be a better decision. A Town & Country with heavy crash damage would be a better and more useful family machine. Certainly a better investment.

All this critical heat for the loaded model is bad, bad news for the front-drive base models that run a far older and less-advanced drivetrain. Overall, it proves without a doubt that this is a car to avoid.

I would Cross the Road not to drive the Crossroad again – and therefore will highly recommend anything else to family car shoppers.