Midsize crossover vehicle makes great use of its innovative interior space.

The Dodge Journey is a great example of what a car company can achieve when it focuses the sum of its experiences to create one of the most practical, utility-minded and comfortable midsize crossover vehicles available.

The Dodge Journey (MSRP $21,600) strikes a balance between the minivans the brand is famous for and more truck-like sport utility vehicles like the Durango. In terms of exterior styling, the Journey is undeniably a Dodge, bearing the ram’s head logo proudly on the large crosshair grille with which the company has become associated. Although the vehicle’s profile suggests the Grand Caravan in terms of its greenhouse presentation and roofline, a shorter rear deck and greater ground clearance place it firmly in the crossover category. Additional sporty fender flares remove any doubt that the Journey bears anything more than a tangential relation to its minivan cousin.

The most attractive features that set the Journey apart from other crossovers can be found once any of its four doors are opened and the interior is examined for the first time. Capable of transporting up to seven passengers thanks to an optional third row of seating, the Journey is a competent people mover that incorporates several innovations into its cabin management. Stadium seating prevents those riding in the back from feeling lost in the shuffle during a road trip, and the Tilt ‘n Slide feature makes it easy to access that final row of seating by getting the second row up and out of the way in a hurry. Every seat save that of the driver folds forward in order to provide for a nine-foot cargo bay that can accommodate up to 67.6 cubic feet of luggage or other gear. The front passenger position also offers a storage bin that is hidden under the lower portion of the seat cushion, accessible via a simple forward flip.