Dodge Caravan is one of the most popular cars on the road.
Dodge sells more than 350,000 of them every year; one in every five minivans sold is a
Dodge Caravan.
Dodge Caravan's popularity comes from its family friendly attributes: The Grand Caravan can carry half the little league team while delivering a smooth car-like ride and reasonable fuel mileage, and offering the features and flexibility America wants. A broad range of models means that nearly anyone who needs a minivan can find a Caravan that fits their needs and budget.
While the Chrysler Voyager starts at $19,800 and the Town & Country Limited has a base price of $38,000, the Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan stake out the middle ground, offering the most popular options at an affordable price. Dodge Caravans range from $19,155 for a front-drive Caravan SE to $33,320 for an all-wheel-drive Grand Caravan ES that's stretched across a long wheelbase.
Dodge completely redesigned the Caravan for 2001, but several new features are available for 2002: adjustable pedals, DVD rear-seat video and audio, a tire-pressure monitoring system. There's also a new Grand Caravan EX model loaded with a powerful V6, a power rear liftgate and other popular options.
Eight versions of Caravan are offered for the 2002 model year. That includes two standard-wheelbase Caravans and six extended-wheelbase Grand Caravans: Caravan SE ($19,155); Caravan Sport ($23,420); Grand Caravan SE ($21,785); Grand Caravan Sport ($24,275); Grand Caravan EX ($26,070); Grand Caravan ES ($29,480); Grand Caravan Sport AWD ($29,825); Grand Caravan ES AWD ($33,320).
Grand Caravan models are significantly longer (11 inches) than Caravan models. Grand Caravans are 200.5 inches long, stretched over a 119.3-inch wheelbase. Caravans measure 189.3 inches across 113.3-inch wheelbase. That makes a big difference in cargo capacity when all three rows of seating are in place.
Caravan SE comes standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, hand-crank windows, and a limited list of options. SE comes standard with air conditioning, variable intermittent wipers, and an AM/FM stereo cassette audio system. The bigger Grand Caravan SE is similarly equipped, but gets a 3.3-liter V6 engine.
Sport models are next on the features ladder. Caravan Sport and Grand Caravan Sport models come standard with the 3.3-liter V6 engine. The Sport gets fancier seats with upgraded cloth and standard rear defroster, anti-lock brakes, power door locks, speed control and other features. Snowbelt residents will appreciate the superior all-wheel-drive traction of the Grand Caravan Sport AWD.
Grand Caravan EX comes loaded with popular features, such as the power up-and-down rear liftgate, removable power center console, 50/50 split removable seats on rollers, three-zone temperature control, four-wheel disc brakes, traction control, and a more powerful 3.8-liter V6 engine.
Grand Caravan ES is the top of the line, available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. ES adds an overhead trip computer, the option of leather and heated seats, the option of 17-inch wheels (fwd only), and an optional Auto-Stick transmission.
Dodge redesigned the Caravan and Grand Caravan just last year, for 2001, improving its appearance, reinforcing the body structure, and refining it throughout.
It looks sleek, by minivan standards. The styling is actually quite dramatic with an aggressive grille and steeply raked windshield. It is a very attractive vehicle, making the boxes of the past look bland.
The tracks for the sliding side doors are disguised under the rear side window for a cleaner appearance. The D-pillars and backlight (rear window) are steeply inclined for a sporty look, with a discrete spoiler added to the trailing edge of the roof. Flared wheel openings add strength to the appearance. Headlamps and taillamps are big, the latter wrapping around to the sides. The roof rack is hunkered close to the roof, stylistically less obtrusive and perhaps less likely to generate wind noise, but also offering less clearance for the thicker hooks of some tie-downs.
At 200.5 inches long and less than 5-feet, 10-inches tall, the Caravan will fit just about where any full-size sedan will fit.
