Affordable Price - Excellent Value

Dodge Caravan Review - 2007

Changes for 2007 Dodge Caravan are minimal; two new shades of blue - Modern Blue Pearl Coat and Marine Blue Pearl Coat - are new.  The Dodge Caravan is the shorter version of the more popular Grand Caravan. It has been excluded from modern updates that the Grand Caravan has gotten. Dodge, instead, has focused on its affordable price and excellent value.  Furthermore, it is a family friendly vehicle, with smooth riding and responsive driving.   The Dodge Caravan was one of the original minivans, and it started an entire new segment in the automotive industry.  The first Caravan model dates back to 1996.

Caravan Cabin

The 2007 Dodge Caravan passenger minivan seats seven occupants. Getting in and out of the Caravan is easy with its low floor height. Cargo volume behind the rear seat is 15.1 cubic feet. With all seats removed, the Caravan holds 142.3 cubic feet of cargo. Caravans are 189.3 inches long overall and 68.9 inches high to the top of the roof rack.   A pair of cargo nets can be suspended from hooks, providing well-designed bags to keep your groceries from rolling around.  Another net can be secured between either the second-row or front-row captain's chairs. Hooks on the backs of the seats are useful for holding shopping bags. Super High Density Foam, developed by NASA for the space program, is used in the minivan's seats.  The SE model is less abundantly equipped, but options are available.  The standard manually operated sliding doors are easy to operate, smoothly gliding open and closed with the pull of a nicely designed lever.  Dodge Caravan's interior is comfortable and convenient. The downside of the Caravan models is they come standard with the traditional seating setup instead of the new Stow 'n Go system, so the seats must be removed to turn them into effective cargo haulers. The second-row bucket seats and third-row split bench can be popped out and rolled away, but despite the flexibility, it does mean hauling them in and out of the car, as compared to Stow 'n Go in which they fold into the floor.  Dual-zone air conditioning, a rear defroster system, tilt steering wheel, heated power mirrors, sunscreen glass, power door locks and keyless illuminated entry are standard on the SXT. Power-adjustable pedals are optional.

 
Engine

The Caravan can have either a 150-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder or a 3.3-liter V-6 that develops 170 hp and 200 pounds-feet of torque. Each engine works with a four-speed automatic transmission.

Driving the Caravan

The Caravan rides more softly than an SUV, gliding over bumps with ease. It's an excellent choice when transporting passengers.  Ride quality of the Caravan is decent and well-controlled on the highway. The 2007 Dodge Caravans are smooth, quiet vehicles; furthermore, additional sound-deadening measures added last year reduced wind noise.  The rack-and-pinion steering responds nicely and provides a good driver connection through the steering wheel.

Dodge Style and Design

The Dodge Caravan is a sizeable vehicle, but small enough to easily maneuver through the city.  Aluminum wheels hold 16-inch tires on SXT minivans, while SE models roll on 15-inch steel wheels. Power operation for the passenger-side sliding door is optional on the SXT. The 2007 Dodge Caravan's exterior is sleek and attractive with steeply raked windshields and aggressive grilles. The tracks for the sliding side doors are cleverly camouflaged under the rear side windows for a clean appearance. The D-pillars and rear window are steeply inclined for a sporty look, and a discrete spoiler rises from the trailing edge of the roof. Flared wheel openings add strength to the appearance.  Dodge's familiar crosshair grille appears up front and has a U-shaped design. The standard Caravan measures 189.3 inches bumper to bumper. Caravan rides on a wheelbase of 113.3 inches.  The front also contains a molded license plate pocket. Headlamps and tail lamps are big.

Safety Features

Front seatbelt on the Caravan use pre-tensioners to take up slack during a collision.  Middle- and third-row seats include child-seat anchors for a more secure installation. An inflatable knee blocker helps protect the driver. The optional side curtain airbags are designed to offer head protection for outboard occupants in all three rows.  Safety features that come standard include the required front airbags, which feature multi-stage inflators designed to automatically compensate for the severity of an accident.

2007 Lineup

There are two trims for the 2007 Dodge Caravan.  SE is the base model powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. It comes with hand-crank windows, manually adjusted mirrors, and a limited list of options, although rear-seat video entertainment is now available on all Caravan models. It does have standard air conditioning, variable intermittent wipers, AM/FM/CD stereo and 215/70 tires on 15-inch steel wheels. The tire-pressure monitor is standard, but Stow'n Go seats are not available.

Caravan SXT is the short van equipped with a 3.3-liter V6 and a higher level of standard equipment, though it does not get Stow 'n Go. SXT does add second-row bucket seats, dual-zone manual air conditioning, tilt steering, cruise control, power windows, power heated mirrors, power locks with remote keyless entry, an upgraded AM/FM/cassette/CD stereo, a rear window defroster, sunscreen glass, 215/65 tires on 16-inch aluminum wheels, and other niceties, plus an expanded list of options.

The 2007 Caravan is a true family vehicle.  It easily fits seven people, and getting in and out is easy with the sliding doors.  The 2007 Dodge Caravan's estimated fuel economy range is 26 mpg Hwy, and 20 mpg City. The Caravan SE is the base model powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission.  For another view on the Caravan, read Edmunds.com's review. The Caravan SXT is equipped with a 3.3-liter V6 and features second-row bucket seats, remote keyless entry, sunscreen glass, and 215/65 tires on 16-inch aluminum wheels. Both models come with a standard low tire pressure monitoring system and dual front airbags. The Dodge Caravan is a family friendly vehicle offering the features and flexibility that many buyers seek. For details on pricing and specs, click here.