Dodge's future rests on fate of Journey, Durango

Journey: A three-row could become a Jeep.

The future of Dodge — not long ago the top-selling brand of the former Chrysler — likely hangs on yet-to-be-declared decisions on whether the ancient Dodge Journey and the Dodge Durango are redesigned or eliminated from the brand’s lineup.

The fate of the Journey will be revealed next year, when Fiat Chrysler Automobiles decides whether to badge a new three-row vehicle as the Journey or a Jeep.

The Durango’s destiny will be determined in 2021.

Charger: Dodge will freshen the aging sedan in 2019, although it faces potential elimination in 2021.

Challenger: As with the Charger, its linemate, one more freshening is slated, for 2019, before a potential elimination in 2021.

The decisions for the Charger and Challenger likely hang on the long-term fate of FCA’s Brampton Assembly Plant in Ontario, which needs major improvements.

Journey: What difference does a brand make? FCA may find out with the replacement for the aging compact crossover. A three-row utility vehicle will return to showrooms in 2019.

It will either retain the Dodge Journey name or bolster the Jeep lineup, possibly as a variant of the Cherokee, where it’s likely to command higher prices. If it moves to Jeep, it won’t come back in Dodge form. 

Durango: After SRT and Pursuit versions were introduced in 2018, the SUV could be redesigned in 2021. Or it could be eliminated then, replaced by a three-row version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Grand Caravan: The long-in-the-tooth minivan, a favorite of both fleet and budget-conscious customers, got a reprieve from the gallows in 2017 when it was brought into compliance with new side curtain airbag requirements. But its fate is likely sealed in 2020.

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