Does A Dodge Journey Have 3rd Row Seating? | Third-Row Truth

Most Dodge Journey models include a small third-row seat, best for kids or short trips, with cargo space shrinking when it’s up.

If you’re shopping a Dodge Journey, the third row is often the make-or-break feature. You want to know if it’s there, if it’s usable, and what you trade to keep it ready.

Across its run, the Dodge Journey was sold in both five-seat and seven-seat setups, depending on model year, trim, and options. For 2020, Dodge says seven-passenger seating was standard across the lineup in the U.S. Stellantis’ 2020 Dodge Journey fact sheet.

Does A Dodge Journey Have 3rd Row Seating?

Yes—many of them do, but you can’t assume every used one has it. The third row is a two-seat bench tucked behind the second row. When it’s present, the layout is 2–3–2.

Some Dodge Journeys were built as five-seaters with a deeper rear cargo area and no third-row hardware. Online listings can be sloppy, so treat “7-passenger” as a starting clue, then verify on the car or its original equipment list.

Dodge Journey Third Row Seating By Model Year

The Dodge Journey ran from the 2009 model year through 2020 in the U.S. Dodge marketed third-row seating as available on many trims over the years, and by 2020 it was described as standard. 2020 fact sheet. The fleet buyer guide also lists a seating capacity of 7 for the 2020 model. 2020 Journey buyer guide (PDF).

If you’re comparing years, treat the third row like AWD: verify it, don’t guess. Two Dodge Journeys can look identical in photos and still differ inside.

How To Confirm The Third Row In Two Minutes

You can verify a third-row setup fast, even in a dim used-car lot:

• Open the rear hatch and look for seatbacks. A seven-seat cabin will have split seatbacks with pull straps or release handles.
• Lift the cargo floor if it’s a flat panel. Third-row versions often have a panel that flips to expose the seat well.
• Check the rear seat belts at the back corners and roof pillars near the hatch.
• Test the access motion on the second row. A smooth slide-and-tilt makes the back row far easier to use.

Why Listings Get This Wrong

Marketplaces often auto-fill specs. Sellers also copy text from another listing, and a trim badge can sit on more than one seating setup. Photos can hide the third row if the seatbacks are folded and the floor is set flat.

If you can get the VIN, ask for the original window sticker or a clear photo of the open hatch with the rear floor lifted. That one photo settles the seating question.

What The Third Row Feels Like On Real Drives

The Dodge Journey’s third row is a “use it when you need it” seat. Legroom is tight, the cushion is low, and adults tend to sit with knees up. Kids usually handle it better.

Still, a third row can be the difference between one car and two. It can save your day on carpools, short airport runs, or a last-minute family outing when extra riders show up.

Best-Fit Passengers

• Kids and teens fit best, since foot space is limited.
• Small adults can manage short trips when the second row slides forward a bit.
• People with stiff knees or hips may find entry and posture annoying.

Getting In Without The Awkward Shuffle

Entry is where the Dodge Journey can feel good or bad. If the second row slides, move it forward before anyone climbs back. If it only tilts, keep the floor clear and swing the seatback upright so it moves out of the way.

Once someone is seated in the third row, set the second row so the middle passenger still has knee space. A small shift forward can help the back row without wrecking the rest of the cabin.

What You Trade When The Third Row Is Up

The trade is cargo. With the third row raised, you get a shallow space behind it. The 2020 buyer guide lists 10.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, and 67.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. 2020 buyer guide (PDF).

In plain terms: a couple of grocery bags, a folded stroller, or a few backpacks will fit. Full-size suitcases get tricky fast. If you travel with seven people, plan on a roof box or hitch carrier, or split luggage between passengers’ feet.

Table: Third-Row Ownership Checks Before You Buy

Check Item	What To Look For	Why It Matters
Third-row seatbacks	Two seatbacks with release straps/handles	Confirms it’s a seven-seat cabin, not a five-seat cargo setup
Third-row seat belts	Belts and buckles at both rear corners	Missing belts can mean the seat was removed or swapped
Floor panel and hinges	Panels that flip to expose a seat well	Broken panels make daily use annoying
Second-row movement	Slide/tilt works and latches cleanly	Better access keeps the third row usable
Headrests	All headrests present and adjustable	Headrests change comfort on longer rides
Latch points	Anchors visible where the manual expects	Helps with child-seat planning
Rear airflow	Air reaches the back row with fan on	Back-row riders get warm fast in summer
Fold-and-restore test	Fold both rear rows, then set them back	Shows if straps, latches, and hinges still work

Third Row Seating And Child Seat Planning

For many families, the third row is for kids. That makes car-seat fit and daily buckling routines matter more than adult comfort.

Start with the basics: the safest car seat is one that fits the child, fits the vehicle, and gets installed the right way every time. The U.S. government’s car-seat guidance lays out age and size ranges and explains when to use rear-facing, forward-facing, boosters, and seat belts. NHTSA car seat and booster seat guidance.

In many Dodge Journeys, the second row is the easiest spot for a bulky convertible seat, since you get more room to work with. The third row can still make sense for older kids in boosters once they can buckle with less help. If you need to reach back to tighten a harness daily, the third row can wear you out.

Seating Setups That Tend To Work Well

• Two kids in the third row, adults up front: works best when kids can climb in and buckle on their own.
• One harness seat in the second row, one booster in the third: keeps the daily harness seat easy to reach.
• Third row folded on normal days: keeps cargo space open, then the seat is ready for friends.

Fuel Economy With A Full Cabin

A full cabin changes how any crossover feels, and it can bump fuel use in stop-and-go traffic.

If you want a clean baseline, the federal fuel economy database lists MPG estimates by year and drivetrain. You can search the Dodge Journey by model year and see the official ratings and vehicle class notes. FuelEconomy.gov Journey results.

On the road, plan for a small dip when you’re carrying six or seven people plus gear. Keep tire pressures set to the door-jamb label, and don’t let the cargo area turn into a rolling storage closet.

Safety Checks To Run Before You Buy

Before you commit to a used family vehicle, check safety history early. NHTSA’s vehicle page for the 2020 Dodge Journey is a solid starting point for safety ratings and recall links. NHTSA 2020 Dodge Journey page.

During inspection, check that every seating position has a working belt, the buckles click cleanly, and the retractors pull back without sticking. In a three-row vehicle, one damaged belt can ruin the reason you bought it.

Table: Third-Row Comfort And Cargo Cheatsheet

Use Case	Third-Row Move	What To Expect
Daily school run	Keep third row folded until needed	More room for bags and sports gear
Carpool pickup	Raise third row, slide second row forward a notch	Kids fit fine; adults feel cramped
Airport run	Use third row only if luggage is light	Rear space gets tight fast
Weekend trip	Plan roof or hitch storage	Cabin stays ok; cargo needs a plan
Two child seats	Put harness seat in second row	Easier installs and daily buckling
Seven adults	Skip long trips	Short hops only for most groups

Shopping Tips For A Seven-Seat Dodge Journey

If your must-have is three rows, shop with proof, not hope. Filter listings to “7-passenger,” then confirm with photos of the open hatch and the rear floor lifted. If you see a flat load floor with no seatbacks, treat it as a five-seater until someone proves otherwise.

On the test-drive, do a full seat routine: fold the third row down, raise it back up, then do the same with the second row. If straps are frayed or latches jam, daily use will get old fast.

Questions To Ask The Seller

• Is the third row installed and used, or has it stayed folded for years?
• Can you send a photo of the cargo area with the rear floor lifted?
• Do all rear seat belts lock and retract smoothly?
• Have open recalls been completed?

Choosing Between Five Seats And Seven Seats

A five-seat Dodge Journey can be the better pick if you rarely carry more than five people and you want the simplest cargo space. You get fewer moving parts and a deeper rear load area.

A seven-seat Dodge Journey earns its keep when your week includes kids’ friends, cousins, or a rotating carpool. Even if the third row is up only a couple times a month, those days can make you glad you bought it.

Think about your normal routine, not the once-a-year holiday trip. If your day-to-day load is two kids and a stroller, the third row may stay folded. If your day-to-day load is five people plus gear, the third row is still handy, but you’ll want a cargo plan.