2019 Dodge Grand Caravan

The $27,595 minivan comes with a 3.6L V6 engine with some decent torque for the inclines and good power for the highways. Despite the lack of decent handling characteristics, the boat-like minivan gets the job done it you take corners slower. Speed up and the bouncy suspensions rock the minivan from side to side.

Minivans have gotten surprisingly modern with many features as standard to give the customers a better ride as a daily driver, but Dodge does no such thing. Against the strong winds of the competition from the Honda Odyssey, the Chrysler Pacifica, the Toyota Sienna and the Kia Sedona, lets see if Dodge Grand Caravan can beat them with functionality alone.

Available in three trims; the SE, SE Plus and the SXT at the top end, starts at $26790 and adds the price as you climb up the trim ladder. The SE Plus gets not just a few performance upgrades but also numerous aesthetic exterior upgrades to make the minivan look a bit more pleasing. The SXT gets all the features on the bucket list and wraps it up neatly under an affordable price tag.

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Unless you're getting the Dodge Grand Caravan as a fleet vehicle, there is no point of getting the SE trim. As a daily driver, the SXT will be the best value for your money and has all the basic features you'd need on a daily basis.

The Grand Caravan is adequate from a performance perspective, which is all you really need from a minivan. Though it does little truly wrong from behind the wheel, it lacks refinement in both its powertrain and suspension tuning relative to its competition. - Edmunds

Engine and Transmission

The 3.6-Liter comes unchanged from the 2008l, with the bass-heavy rumbling V6. The 283hp engine mated to a 6-speed transmission delivers great power for the minivan. However, the transmission lacks refinement, especially in the lower gears. The engine response is smooth, albeit sluggish, but you'd barely notice it in city driving.

The Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Pacifica more powerful minivans with a beefier V6 making 296 hp and 287 hp, along with the Ford Flex with a similarly powered engine. The Kia Sedona has the least power of the lotwith 276 hp to the wheels. The 9-speed automatic in the Pacifica and the Odyssey are smoother and reliable.

Acceleration

Judging minivans on the basis of acceleration is like asking a fish to climb a tree. Nonetheless, the Dodge makes it to 60 miles an hour in sub 8 seconds. Despite the initial lurch, the V6 carries the minivan surprisingly well.

The fastest one to 60 is the Honda Odyssey taking merely 6.6 seconds, most sedans can't manage that. Followed by the Ford Flex with 7.0 seconds on the clock. The Kia Sedona ties with the Grand Caravan taking same time in the 60 mph sprint, however, the Dodge pulls ahead in the quarter mile.

Ride and Handling

The Grand Caravan's ride is surprisingly soft and comfortable, necessary for minivans during long drives or if you're planning to spend all day inside. Although the minivan is quite easy going for city rides, it gets quite cumbersome in maneuvering and tight cornering. At high speeds, the Dodge holds onto the tarmac pretty well and has respectable driving dynamics.

The competition, however benefit from driver assist features like collision warning, which make the job of city driving and parking much easier. The Honda Odyssey and the updated Chrysler Pacifica handles well not only in the city, but also on the highways.

Braking

The brakes are quite mushy and the minivan clumsily lurches into a nosedive upon heavy braking. However, the brakes are adequate to stop the minivan and you won't experience any brake fade after continuous use.

The braking distance has not been tested, but it's heavier curb weight would translate to a bit longer distance than the competition. The Dodge's cousin, the Chrysler also quite a long stopping distance from 60mph to a halt, despite the bigger disc brakes. The Toyota Sienna demonstrated the shortest distance on the panic braking test.

Although untested by the EPA for fuel economy, the Dodge drinks fuel like a camel. With an unimpressive 20 miles to the gallon combined fuel economy, it's not a very great fleet vehicle. Comparatively, the other minivans in the segment boast a better fuel economy of 22 miles to the gallon, since the high gear ratios in the 9-speed transmission make the drive surprisingly efficient on highways.

This is a minivan with enough luxuries and features to handle all-day drives. The ride comfort is acceptable, and its interior is loaded with comfort-enhancing amenities. - Edmunds

Seating and Comfort

You probably won't purchase a minivan for the looks or its performance, what you're looking for is a spacious and practical interior, and that's exactly where the minivan delivers. The second and third rows of the minivan are spacious and, despite the lack of premium upholstery, the cloth seats are comfortable for long journeys.

Compared to the competition, the head and leg room in the second and third rows may feel cramped for the taller passengers. The seats in the Honda and Toyota are a bit more comfortable than the ones in the Dodge.

Infotainment System

On the tech front, the Dodge's infotainment is adequate for a minivan. On the center console you'd find a 6.5 touch panel, but you won't have the assistance of either Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. What you'd get is an un-updated version of Chrysler's Uconnect. The tiny buttons are difficult to toggle while driving, and the lay-out isn't ergonomically intuitive.

On the steering you'd find controls for audio, calling and cruise control. You can connect to the infotainment via Bluetooth or WiFi. The rest of the dash is clad in cheap plastic, however, the low price justifies the lack of expensive materials.

Cargo Capacity

The Dodge has included Stow n Go seats in the minivan, which can be folded and stacked in the underfloor space, essentially converting your people carrier into a full-fledged cargo hauler. The side doors are sliding while the rear double-doors and the low load height make it easy to load and unload the cargo.

However, you'd find the Stow n Go feature also on the newer Chrysler. In other minivans, you'd need to completely remove the second and third rows to make more room. The Toyota has the largest cargo capacity of the lot.

The 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan offers a view into the distant past. Its basic shape can be traced back to the 1983 model year. If minivans were as hotly sought after as Porsches, this would be Dodge's 911. - Car connection

Design and Dimensions

From the outside, the minivan has subtle styling and blends into the crowd with ease. The cross at the front grille give the Grand Caravan a signature Dodge character. The boxy design is a departure from the curvy styling most brands have adopted for their modern minivans. Sliding side doors on the minivan improve accessibility to the second and third seats.

The Ford Flex is the heaviest minivan of the lot, followed by the Dodge Grand Caravan a few pound deficit. While the Pacifica is the longest minivan among the rivals, which haunts the maneuverability in tight corners. The Honda Odyssey sits low at 4.5 inches ground clearance with the Kia Sedona on the other end of the spectrum with 6.7 inches under the bodywork.

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• Side Impact Beams
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
• Curtain 1st, 2nd And 3rd Row Airbags
• Airbag Occupancy Sensor
• Driver Knee Airbag
• Rear Child Safety Locks
• Outboard Front Lap And Shoulder Safety Belts

Dodge Grand Caravan vs Chrysler Pacifica

The Chrysler Pacifica is one of the best looking minivans in the class. With the equally impressive interior and engine. The transmission is much smoother on the Chrysler, however, the Dodge gets you much more of the top-end power which you need for hauling trailers and campers up the inclines.

Dodge Grand Caravan vs Honda Odyssey

Despite the overpowering engine in the Grand Caravan, the Honda pulls ahead with better features, better handling, well-laid interiors and comfier seats. The engine may not be as brutal as the Honda's but the smoother 9-speed transmission not only improves shifting, but also saves fuel in higher gears. So, power aside, the Honda is a better minivan for your garage.

Dodge Grand Caravan vs Toyota Sienna

The Sienna is a good-looking minivan in the segment, compared to the awkward front grille in the Dodge. On the inside, the Toyota has a much better interior as well as a much more advanced infotainment than the Dodge. However, the engine on the Toyota feels underpowered compared to the Toyota Sienna.

The Dodge Grand Caravan is a thrifty minivan with very basic amenities and none of the shiny bits you get on the more expensive vans like the Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna. The cargo space and hauling capacity of the Dodge is better than most minivans you'd spot in the segment.

However creature comforts like plush seats and premium materials is a miss. From the outside, the minivan looks nothing short of a fleet van, so if that's your main goal for purchasing this, the Dodge is the perfect work horse and won't let you down.