Dodge Grand Caravan

2012 Dodge Grand Caravan 4-door Wagon SE Angular Front Exterior View

Enlarge Photo

Shopping for a 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan? MSRP: $20,995 - $29,995

GET A FREE PRICE QUOTE

The Dodge Grand Caravan is part of the original family of minivans. Originated as a concept at Ford, the minivan was rejected by that automaker and found a home at Chrysler. Under Lee Iacocca's leadership, the company introduced the first Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager in the 1984 model year, and the resulting success ensured Chrysler would move out of the K-car era and on to minivan leadership.

Over the years, the minivan lineup would include short-wheelbase Caravans and Voyagers, as well as short- and long-wheelbase Chrysler Town & Country minivans, and long-wheelbase Dodge Grand Caravans and Plymouth Grand Voyagers. Today, Chrysler sells only the long-wheelbase Dodge and Chrysler minivans, and builds a version with slight cosmetic touches to Volkswagen, which sells that product as the Routan.

The original 1984 Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager had been conceived in the 1970s, but moved across town to Chrysler in time for the 1984 model year--a short time before the Renault Espace minivan arrived in Europe. The concept downsized traditional vans into a more passenger-car-like size, and in fact the Caravan borrowed much of its running gear from the K-car Chryslers. Four-cylinder engines powered the early versions, with turbo fours and V-6s added along the way. The front-drive Caravan appeared in the days before airbags or anti-lock brakes, but they did offer three rows of seating for up to seven passengers, and a sliding side door for easy access. Three- and four-speed automatics were the norm, though a small number of Caravans were built with four- and five-speed manual transmissions--and in cargo-panel bodies, even. The long-wheelbase Grand Caravan joined the lineup in 1987.

In the second generation of Chrysler minivans--from 1991 to 1995--the Dodge Caravan added many safety features to its updated body, which still ran on running gear derived from the K-car era. Over time, dual front airbags became standard; all-wheel drive appeared as an option, as did integrated child safety seats and anti-lock brakes. This generation also marked the end of the line for artificial woodgrain, which had been available on the plusher versions--to the dismay of Chrysler's younger, hipper designers and customers.

With the 1996-2000 minivans, Chrysler hit its engineering and design stride in the segment. The new minivans had a new architecture underpinning them, and a handsome, rounded shape to complement numerous innovations under the skin-with hidden tracks for the side doors' sliding action. In this era, Chrysler added standard anti-lock brakes, and a driver-side sliding door became available. A range of V-6 engines and automatic transmissions dominated most order sheets, though Chrysler still offered a four-cylinder engine for the most frugal buyers. The middle and rear rows of seats gained rollers for easier removal. These minivans had better crash-test performance than previous versions, but reliability became a concern for the early model years, as the automatic transmissions were cited for frequent failure by various consumer groups.

In the 2001 model year, a reskin of the previous generation minivan added more distinct grilles for the Chrysler and Dodge versions. The Plymouth version left the lineup as the brand was shuttered. The Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan gained a crosshair grille that would find its way across the brand lineup. Wider and longer, the new minivans added features like power operation for the sliding side doors. A cargo version reappeared in 2003, and Chrysler experimented with electric and CNG-powered minivans in this time. For 2005, the company revamped the vans with new Stow 'N Go seating, which allowed drivers to hide the second and third-row seats under the floor, or to use the allotted space for storage. The feature was planned in as Chrysler spun a new crossover, the Pacifica, from the same architecture. The seating flexibility remains among the best in the class, five years later. Side airbags also were added as an option.

In 2008, Chrysler updated the minivans with more upright styling, which seemed to be more appropriate for the Dodge Grand Caravan. The short-wheelbase Caravan disappeared at the same time, and Chrysler fitted the new vans with a plasticky, inexpensive-looking interior as it struggled to avoid bankruptcy. A flex-fuel version that could run on E85 fuel was added, and a new Swivel 'N Go option added a picnic table and rotating seats to the popular minivan. Stability control became standard, along with curtain airbags; options included satellite radio and TV, provided by Sirius. Three V-6 engines made up the engine lineup, and a new six-speed automatic joined the powertrain roster.

For the 2011 model year, the Dodge Grand Caravan continued to resonate with families on the go, more than 25 years after the minivan first rolled out of showrooms. It gained a new interior with much nicer finishes than it had in the prior three model years, and a new 283-horsepower V-6 coupled to a six-speed automatic became its sole powertrain. Mild updates to its handling and sheetmetal were less dramatic. Safety features and flexible seating continued to lead the class of minivans, and it was awarded almost perfect crash-test scores. Fuel economy approached best in class, at 17/25 mpg.

The Grand Caravan was carried over largely unchanged for the 2012 model year.

2012 Dodge Grand Caravan 4-door Wagon SE Angular Rear Exterior View

Enlarge Photo