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With a simple stroke of badge engineering, Fiat the Italian automotive giant, has effectively found its replacement for the ageing Ulysse MPV. One of the benefits of taking over an ailing American company, namely Chrysler (who surprisingly was once part of the Mercedes Benz comglomerate), is that Fiat has a cupboard full of fairly new cars for them to adopt, scrap, redesign or market. Hence the Dodge Journey rebadged (or mildly revised) into the Fiat Freemont. Set for launch at the upcomming 2011 Geneva Motor Show the Fiat Freemont brings in some Americana into the usually very Italian Fiat automotive group. I suppose it brings in more than a touch of sanity and boredom has usually we've come to expect quirky, zany and unique looking vehicles from Fiat, even if they are MPVs. Those that remember the Multipla would agree with what I am trying to convey here. I mean, take a look at the 'Freemont' name. It sounds like something run of the mill. From the Ulysse, which is very Greek Mythology to something from middle America. It's like going from Xena the Warrior Princess chic to maths teacher in a blink of an eye. The only differences that enable the Dodge Journey to turn into a Fiat Freemont are revised bumpers, a different grille and some LED rear lights. This is like watching a Mitsubishi Lancer turn into a Proton Inspira or a Toyota Passo into a Daihatsu Sirion. The only really chic addition aside from the nicer looking front bumper are the larger 17inch wheel setup. Compare this to the Dodge and the Fiat looks slightly better. But it still lacks that extra Latin flair in my opinion. It looks quite Japanese instead. A decent Mitsubishi Outlander/Airtrek look (if you squint) with some touches of a Kia instead of an Italian job. Come launch time, the Freemont people carrier will be powered by a 2.0liter Fiat Multijet diesel with 140bhp or 170bhp running through a manual gearbox to its front wheels. There will be an all wheel drive variant as well as one with an automatic transmission that will be launched at a later date together with a 276bhp 3.6liter V6 petrol powered flagship model. Expect it to be on sale in Europe in the second quarter of this year. Pricing has not been announced as yet and one now wonders. If you bought a Dodge Journey here in Singapore, could you buy the bumpers, the grille, the rear lights and slap on some Fiat badges? This would add from added flair to something remarkably dull. Especially with those undersized wheels in the original Journey displayed above. Or.....would you actually buy the Fiat variant if its brought in?

So I recently had the chance to take the Dodge Journey for a spin (review here). Nothing exciting I know but it left me slightly impressed with the overall quality of the car. Interior plastics were better than expected and the myriad of storage locales around the car was a delightful addition. So why did we hate American cars again? Bad plastics? Lousy and thirsty engines? Soft suspension setup? Someone needs to refresh my memory cos I've forgotten. The last American car I had the chance to drive was the Hummer H3 and boy did that leave me hugely impressed. So, for me, the Journey has cleanly lacquered and sealed in those sentiments. While driving it I kept comparing it to the Kia Sorento (review here). Although the Kia benefits from a far longer equipment list, leather seats and a much better designed interior, I couldn't help but appreciate how the Journey was a different animal altogether. Seats were good quality fabric seats. Steering was light, which should be the case in such a family mover don't you guys agree? The Sorento had an unnatural mechanical weighted steering which didn't put you in contact with the road at all. You've got so many storage locations and even a air-conditioned compartment above the glove compartment. The rims on the Journey were smaller than the Sorento though, which left an ugly gap between the tyres and the arches. Down to fuel economy though, the Journey does just a little worse than the Korean car. So why so much hate for the American again? Both cars are around the same price anyways. I personally would take the Journey for its far more practical uses...what would you guys take?