30 Days Of 2013 Ram 1500: Gas Mileage, So Far
As we roll through our 30-day road test of the 2013 Ram 1500, we're ready to file our first report... Read More
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GREEN | 6 out of 10
Gas mileage isn't as much a selling point in minivans as it's become in family sedans. And for solidly average performers like the 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan, the figures don't have to be class-leading for the minivan to be a best-seller.
The Grand Caravan returns for the new model year with the same ratings it earned last year, when its 3.6-liter V-6 and six-speed automatic were new. It gets the EPA's nod for 17/25 mpg, which is competitive with the mainstream versions of the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna, though it's a couple of miles per gallon less than the six-speed Odyssey (the most expensive version) and with the four-cylinder versions of the Sienna.
The Grand Caravan also has an "economizer" switch, which isn't the Doctor Who feature it sounds like. It's an electronically controlled mode that fiddles with shift timing to let the minivan sip a little less fuel.
There's no hybrid or diesel edition of the Grand Caravan, and with a replacement due in the 2014 model year, no other powertrains are expected before that major model change.
Conclusion
The 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan earns solid fuel-economy numbers to go with its eight-passenger package.
