The Dodge Grand Caravan shares its name with the vehicle that helped create the minivan segment three-and-a-half decades ago, but now this affordable and versatile people mover appears to have been forgotten by its maker.
Dodge's parent company, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), is now focusing on the newer and flashier Chrysler Pacifica, leaving the Grand Caravan without any changes for another year.
The Grand Caravan wears a design that turns 10 years old in 2018, its boxy lines in stark contrast to those of the Pacifica, not to mention Dodge's Asian competitors, the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna and Kia Sedona.
So just like last year, the Grand Caravan uses a 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine that makes 283 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque and comes connected to a six-speed automatic transmission. Those two make a good team, moving this minivan with authority and earning fuel consumption estimates of 13.7 L/100 km in the city, and 9.4 in highway driving.
Dodge will outfit your Grand Caravan in one of six trim levels: Canada Value Package, SXT, SXT Premium Plus, Crew and GT.
As its name suggests, the base model is a value leader, packing in practical basics at a low price. In fact, you have to move a couple rungs up the ladder to SXT Premium Plus to anything beyond the basics: that trim comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, three-zone manual air conditioning, leatherette seats, leather-trimmed steering wheel and shifter, power second-row windows and third-row quarter windows, fog lights and a 10-way power driver's seat with lumbar.
Crew also builds on the SXT and brings automatic temperature control, a six-speaker stereo (adding two) and an illuminated front door storage.
Crew Plus adds ambient interior lighting, 6.5-inch infotainment display, backup camera, power sliding doors and tailgate and leather-faced seating with heated front chairs and lighted vanity mirrors.
Finally, GT models get an all-back interior, auto-dimming rearview mirror, heated second-row seats and steering wheel, nine-speaker amplified stereo, performance suspension, remote engine start and second- and third-row window shades.
The Grand Caravan is a perfectly functional family vehicle, but the driving experience and interior materials reflect this vehicle's outdated design. Other minivans are better to drive, and while mid-size, three-row SUVs sacrifice overall interior space and flexibility, they tend to feel more substantial over the road.
