A Journey of a thousand miles -- or just up the street -- can begin with a single step into the driver's seat of the new Dodge crossover that bears that name, previously associated with a durable rock band known for "Wheel in the Sky."

The musicians merit mention because, if you happen to have their greatest hits on your MP3, you can amp up the apt audio on the Dodge Journey's 368-watt Infinity sound system, deafening your passengers or intimidating your neighbors.

Indeed, this 2009 crossover (a car in SUV clothing), can operate as an entertainment system on wheels with a full load of options. The rear-seat video package adds a DVD player with drop-down, roof-mounted screen, the Infinity system and wireless headphones. Journey even has "theater" seating for the back passengers, meaning elevated accommodations for heads-above-the-crowd visibility.

Drivers will find the 235-horsepower V6 engine highly entertaining, though not quite as loud. Performance was so brisk that favorable comparisons to the lusty Volkswagen Touareg came to mind.

If you've followed Dodge's tracks in recent years, the R/T's power comes as no surprise. Dodge has built a real rep for automotive muscle, especially through its SRT (Street and Racing Team) models. Journey rides on a modified Dodge Avenger platform.

The R/T with all-wheel-drive tops a Journey line that begins at $19,995 for the SE powered by the base 2.4-liter, 173-horsepower, four-cylinder World Engine shared with Hyundai and Mitsubishi. The mid-level SXT is priced at $22,985 in front-drive and $25,530 in all-wheel-drive. The R/T's base price of $26,545 rises to $28,295 with AWD.

The price of power, unfortunately, is higher fuel consumption, which is becoming increasingly costly amid record pump prices. The V6 burns unleaded at the rate of 16 miles per gallon in the city and 23 mpg on the highway for an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,209.

Option packages are hard to resist and quickly run up the price. The review car topped out at $32,265, including the $625 destination charge. Even though the Journey just arrived, parent corporation Chrysler is already offering $1,000 cash back for buyers. That's how tough the automotive market is this year.

Styling is classic SUV rather than hyper-curvaceous like some of the competition, say the Nissan Rogue.

The Dodge crosshair chrome grille bears the trademark Ram's head stamped in the center. Quad halogen headlamps flood the road with light, and optional fog lamps enhance the cosmetics while adding a margin of safety in bad weather.

Journey's end is notable for its lightweight composite liftgate that lightens the load on the road and at the supermarket. Four-piece red tail lamps bejewel the backside, as do the chrome-tipped dual exhausts that come standard with V6 power.

The interior is sophisticated and stylish. The R/T comes with heated leather seats for the front passengers, a console/arm rest and power adjustments. Instruments and gauges are fairly intuitive, but the LCD selector for the radio station is placed low on the center stack, forcing the driver to take his eyes off the road to change to a certain station. On the plus side, audio controls are also mounted on the steering hub.

Designer eased access to the back seats with doors that open to 90 degrees and middle rows that flip and fold forward to open a path to the third row. A third row is available on SXT and R/T models only.

The elves of Auburn Hills added Flip 'n Stow storage, integrated child booster seats, a Chill Zone glove box for beverages and other nifty features.

With Flip 'n Stow, the Journey's front passenger seat cushion flips forward to reveal a large 10.75 x 8.75-inch bin under the seat cushion. The bin is large enough to store a purse, umbrella, planner or headphones with the seat down.

"Theater seating" elevates the second row 1.6 inches higher than the first row. The third row sits another 0.6 inches higher than the second row and 2.2 inches higher than the first-row. The third row still claims 2-inches more headroom than similarly equipped competitors.

Behind the front seats are two storage bins to keep a dozen 12-ounce cans plus ice or other items out of sight. The under-floor bins have latching lids and removable, washable liners.

Parents of young children will welcome the segment's first child booster seats in the back and a forward-sliding second row that allows the person riding shotgun to tend to the tots more easily.

Safety features are also family friendly, particularly the front and side air bags, bolstered by side-curtain head protection.

With minivans struggling to escape their soccer-mom stigma, crossover vehicles such as the Journey are filling the gap between fashion and function.