Green
Trucks
Luxury
Family
Brand
Muscle
See more sites from  HighGear  M E D I A  >>
Compare this car to others like it Try our car compare tool now

2008 Dodge Grand Caravan Quality Review

November 5, 2008

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

softly tuned suspension provides good ride comfort
Cars.com

you might appreciate the balance between highway comfort and around-town responsiveness
Kelley Blue Book

nice ride...much improved from years before
Mother Proof

improved over the previous Dodge Caravan in ergonomic design
Washington Post

With the 2008 Grand Caravan, Dodge provides comfort to match the minivan's reputation as an all-around family car.

Room and convenience is what the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan has to offer. Cars.com likes the Stow 'n Go second-row seats, “which fold into the floor,” and Car and Driver calls them “a masterpiece of accommodating design.” Motor Trend and other sources also note the newly optional Swivel 'n Go second-row chairs [that] flip around 180 degrees." Mother Proof says the new feature is “fun,” but had difficulty removing the optional table that also fits between the second- and third-row seats. Autoblog notes that the third-row seat “flips backwards for tailgate seating that's more comfortable than any bare-metal pickup truck bed.”

Cars.com describes the layout of the interior and different seating options: “The standard second-row bench seat and a manual 60/40-split folding third row (with the bench, the same bins in the floor that would accept folded Stow 'n Go seats, were they installed, provide covered storage); Stow 'n Go second-row captain's chairs with the manual folding third row; or Swivel 'n Go rearward-facing second-row seats with the manual third row.”

There are plenty of bins, boxes, and storage areas elsewhere in the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan; Car and Driver calls the big center console “rickety.” And most reviewers come down hard on the materials used on the dash and door panels of the Dodge; 2008’s interior “has a cheap-motel look about it, too, with plastic gestures everywhere—obvious plastic, blatant plastic,” Car and Driver adds.

Despite these drawbacks, Washington Post gives a positively glowing review, advising car buyers to go for the top-of-the-line Caravan SXT, calling it "luxurious ... like being in your living room or a family room." ConsumerGuide agrees, acknowledging the Grand Caravan as "possibly the quietest minivans." Motor Trend likes the “convenient LED reading lamps [that] dot the cabin, and there's an available overhead 'halo' light that bathes the interior in soft blue.”

TheCarConnection.com’s editors add that there is no longer a short-wheelbase Caravan model Dodge; 2008’s model range only comes as the Grand Caravan. Also, with the Swivel 'n Go second-row bucket seats and removable pedestal-mounted table, adults will find the face-to-face configuration cramped. With all rows facing forward, seating comfort is very good.

Conclusion

The 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan has a wide range of seating options, and most give riders plenty of room. Interior materials aren’t the best, though.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:softly tuned suspension provides good ride comfortCars.comyou might appreciate the balance between highway comfort and around-town responsivenessKelley Blue Booknice ride...much improved from years beforeMother Proofimproved over the previous Dodge Caravan in ergonomic designWashington Post With the 2008 Grand Caravan, Dodge provides comfort to match the minivan's reputation as an all-around family car. Room and convenience is what the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan has to offer. Cars.com likes the Stow 'n Go second-row seats, “which fold into the floor,” and Car and Driver calls them “a masterpiece of accommodating design.” Motor Trend and other sources also note the newly optional Swivel 'n Go second-row chairs [that] flip around 180 degrees." Mother Proof says the new feature is “fun,” but had difficulty removing the optional table that also fits between the second- and third-row seats. Autoblog notes that the third-row seat “flips backwards for tailgate seating that's more comfortable than any bare-metal pickup truck bed.” Cars.com describes the layout of the interior and different seating options: “The standard second-row bench seat and a manual 60/40-split folding third row (with the bench, the same bins in the floor that would accept folded Stow 'n Go seats, were they installed, provide covered storage); Stow 'n Go second-row captain's chairs with the manual folding third row; or Swivel 'n Go rearward-facing second-row seats with the manual third row.” There are plenty of bins, boxes, and storage areas elsewhere in the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan; Car and Driver calls the big center console “rickety.” And most reviewers come down hard on the materials used on the dash and door panels of the Dodge; 2008’s interior “has a cheap-motel look about it, too, with plastic gestures everywhere—obvious plastic, blatant plastic,” Car and Driver adds. Despite these drawbacks, Washington Post gives a positively glowing review, advising car buyers to go for the top-of-the-line Caravan SXT, calling it "luxurious ... like being in your living room or a family room." ConsumerGuide agrees, acknowledging the Grand Caravan as "possibly the quietest minivans." Motor Trend likes the “convenient LED reading lamps [that] dot the cabin, and there's an available overhead 'halo' light that bathes the interior in soft blue.” TheCarConnection.com’s editors add that there is no longer a short-wheelbase Caravan model Dodge; 2008’s model range only comes as the Grand Caravan. Also, with the Swivel 'n Go second-row bucket seats and removable pedestal-mounted table, adults will find the face-to-face configuration cramped. With all rows facing forward, seating comfort is very good. ConclusionThe 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan has a wide range of seating options, and most give riders plenty of room. Interior materials aren’t the best, though. 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN STYLING | [7 out of 10] Cars.com: "an improvement over the prior-generation" Car and Driver: "boxy styling doesn't do anything for the mom-mobile reputation" ConsumerGuide: "redesigned with fresh styling" Motor Trend: "scores on styling" For being the ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

If you're not sure you need all the room found in the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan, check out the Mazda5. It's sportier and more fun to drive than the Dodge. Should value be your biggest attractor, check out the Hyundai Entourage. It does not offer everything the Dodge does, but the Entourage may have enough for you.

Next Steps:

Check Insurance Rates

for the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan

Check Financing Rates

for the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan

Check Local Classifieds

for a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan near you

See the Dodge Grand Caravan in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006

Comments (5 total)

  1. By Chris #1, Posted: 7/24/2009

    This is my 2nd dodge grand caravan, 1st was a 2001, nothing but issues with the struts, tie rod ends, had them changed 4 times (3 at my own expense).got a 2008 sxt because I was informed Dodge revamped their front end and won't have the issue with the struts or tie rod ends. Guess what...under 2 years, 27,000 miles and the tie rod ends and struts need to be replaced. Not only that but within that first winter the sliding doors refused to close, no one could even force them closed! Drivers window would not come back up, air conditioning doesn't work well on those hot humid days (yeah we don't need it then); no I have a transmission leak, Maybe the repair guy didn't tighten something. Oh and the best thing was that they manufactured thousands of the vans with the wrong power steering hose for the upper midwest states, yep, once it got below freezing the hoses tend to crack and your fluid leaks out and you can't move your van! Try being stranded in below zero weather with kids and freezing rain and then have the towing people say, it's going to be about 4 hours, its slippery out there can we get it tomorrow! But thats another issue. So I will never buy another Dodge product again, we have a Chevy pickup that has over 200,000 miles on it and only maintenance items were ever needed; and my husband can work on it w/o all that electronic crap. I say manufacturers go back to what used to work.

  2. By family van #2, Posted: 8/4/2009

    i bought a 2008 caravan for all of the great features. on the way home at 12 miles a sensor went bad. the van has a wind noise from the dash. at 13000 miles the front brakes are shot. it's no wonder why people are buying other brands beside chrysler.

  3. By Frank Ochs #3, Posted: 9/2/2009

    2008 Grand Caravan
    Front Brakes went at 15,000, rear brakes went at 26,000, when is Dodge going to do something? Anyone have any ideas?

  4. By Bruce in Chicago #4, Posted: 9/19/2009

    I have a 2008 Caravan and have put new front pads on at 14K and then front and rear pads at 25K. These brake pads must be undersized. The dealer service department has to know problems like this but this sort of info should be given to buyers; $300.00+ for a front brake job only at the dealer - $150.00 at a reputable Chicago shop. I guess I'm back doing my own brake jobs again.

  5. By Matt #5, Posted: 10/1/2009

    Own a 2008, had to replace front pads at 12,000 miles, and then again at 32,000. Wind whistles through the windshield, dealer said they couldn't find the problem. All you had to do was look at the visible molding that was warped-from the factory. Now I have a wire that was attached to "something" that fell off the undercarriage. Hope it wasn't important. Piece of crap Chrysler. Won't happen again.

Post a comment

Post anonymously, or
(Required)
(Required - will not be published, sold or shared)
(Optional - your 'posted by' name will link to the URL)

Remember Me?

I have read TheCarConnection.com's privacy policy