Fiat Freemont: the Dodge Journey abroad
After is redesign in 2011, the Dodge Journey, armed with a retuned suspension, new V-6 engine, and new interior, with a new PowerNet electrical architecture, was equipped with smaller base engines and a manual transmission, and sent to Fiat's strongholds as the Fiat Freemont. The Freemont enjoyed strong popularity from the start, and in January 2012, Freemont production was around 60% of Journey.
The Fiat Freemont has moderately different suspension tuning and cosmetic changes to make it more consistent with other Fiats. There are multiple trim levels: in Germany, in 2012, these were base, Urban, Lounge, and Express. Express was the only one with a gasoline engine, the V6, and it was all wheel drive only. The manual transmission was available only with the two diesels (140 and 170 hp) and front wheel drive; the automatic was available with the 170 hp diesel and V6, but only with all wheel drive.
The Fiat Freemont is built by Chrysler at the Toluca plant. The Dodge Journey was withdrawn from Europe as the Fiat version launched; under 6,000 Journeys were sold in the first ten months of 2010. Freemont easily beat that number by a considerable margin.
The Freemont has an optional touch-screen command center, which includes navigation, dual zone climate controls, and the ability to check gas prices. Four models are available with user-friendly touch-key categories, helping to make connecting and controlling personal devices simple, intuitive, and customizable.
At 283 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque, the Fiat Freemont's 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine is smooth when driven normally, but when pushed, the transmission reacts quickly and the V6 becomes a screamer. The 2.0 is likely the most popular engine, though, due to its high gas mileage.
K. Oellinger sent the following data from Germany (2012 model year). Prices
exclude tax, which is substantial (taxes in Germany include charges for health coverage). All engines conform to Euro 5 emissions.
Fiat Freemont | 2.0 Diesel
140 FWD | 2.0 Diesel
170 FWD | 2.0 Diesel
170 AWD | Pentastar
V6 (Petrol AWD) |
---|
Notes | Base, Urban, Lounge | Urban, Lounge | Urban, Lounge | All but Express |
---|
Top speed, km/h | 180 | 195 | 183 | 208 |
---|
NEDC fuel use | 8.3 / 5.3 | 8.3 / 5.3 | 9.6 / 6.0 | 15.9 / 8.5 |
---|
NEDC (combined) | 6.4 | 6.4 | 7.3 | 11.3 |
---|
Combined MPG* | 38 | 38 | 32 | 21 |
---|
Power | 140 hp DIN (103 kW) | 170 hp (125 kW) | 283 hp (206 kW) | |
---|