Dodge Grand Caravan Crew

Recently, I had a new Dodge Grand Caravan for a week-long test drive. Yes, I know it is a minivan, but with so many manufacturers re-introducing them, it certainly appears they are making a come-back.  The Dodge Grand Caravan has always been very family-friendly. Many have considered the Dodge Caravan as a main-stay of the vehicle line-up. It has been steady and reliable for many years. However, with the big and bulky SUV's that permeated the industry these past few years, up-and-coming males turned up their noses at the minivan. Now, more moms are convincing their husbands of the advantages and flexibility of the family minivan.

The 2011 model Dodge Grand Caravan has been redesigned and is better engineered, some major changes in the interior, more fuel efficiency, some touch-up on the exterior, and an improved power train. Dodge is marketing this as a “Man Van” instead of a minivan, hoping to erase the stigma for many potential customers. Interestingly, almost all minivans for 2011 are getting make-overs and even complete overhauls.
Our test model was the Crew trim level with a Stone White clear coat exterior paint job. The interior colors were a nice combination of black with light graystone. The interior in previous models had a lot of thin plastic, but now the trim inside has been upgraded significantly. There is still quite a bit of plastic, but it is more upscale with a lot of metallic trim.

Buyers do not have a large choice of engines. There is only one power-train for the Caravan, a 3.6 liter V-6. The engine produces 283 horsepower and is matched with a six speed automatic transmission. Chrysler Corporation is calling their new engines by the name Pentastar. The Pentastar in the Caravan sounds smooth and drives smooth. Typically, minivans are not very quick to accelerate. Parents do not want to floorboard the pedal and push their children's heads into the seat backs. The Caravan is about serving the family's needs first. However, Chrysler's engineers did not leave the Pentastar engine to simply plod along. It can go from 0 to 60 in slightly less than 8 seconds. This new V-6 engine is stronger and faster than previous Caravans. It almost behaves like a large, rugged SUV.

If a consumer is looking at a minivan, they are probably thinking about the advantages and utility that will benefit the passengers and their cargo. The Dodge Grand Caravan excels in this area. There are fold-away second row seats. There are three rows of seating allowing for seven seat spots. The Stow 'N Go fold-away second and third row seats is terrific and for 2011, there is a one-touch fold-down mechanism.
Our daughters enjoy the advantages of a minivan since both of them have young babies. My wife, playing the role of grandma, said that this is just perfect for accessing the seats, hooking up carriers, and carrying all the baby “stuff.” The Dodge Grand Caravan definitely offers a lot of family conveniences over most SUV's. Although there was a large number of standard items, out test model was equipped with an abundance of optional items as well. This allows a family to tailor the special packages and add-ons to fit their own family lifestyles.

A Passenger Convenience Group added heated seats in the second row, third row window shades, and a rechargeable & removable flashlight. The Driver Convenience Group added front row heated seats, Bluetooth, a remote USB port, and auto dimming rear-view mirror with a microphone. The Safety Sphere Group added blind spot detection, rain sensitive wipers, and a rear parking assist. The Entertainment Group added an overhead 9-inch viewing screen for the second row, wireless headphones, video remote control, and a second-row DVD console.

The base MSRP for our test model Caravan Crew model was $28,695. With all those extras as well as a few more and the delivery charges, the bottom sticker price was $35,650. It had an EPA mileage rating of 17 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. Our average for the week was about 22 mpg overall.
The Dodge Grand Caravan is easy to drive, handles well, and is so utilitarian and convenient. Check it out a Chrysler dealership yourself and see if this might be the vehicle that will best serve the needs of your family.
by Alan Gell - MyCarData