Uncompromised Family Versatility - The 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan

The 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan leads the minivan field when it comes to family convenience and features.  The Caravan has interior convenience, capability and versatility. The Grand Caravan is designed well for hauling kids with some thoughtful features. The dual-DVD entertainment system is impressive. With the two-screen system, third-row passengers can watch one thing and second-row passengers can watch (or play) another. Sixteen-inch wheels are standard. Dodge now offers only the long-wheelbase Grand Caravan. The biggest news is Dodge has made its Stow 'n Go seating standard.  The Grand Caravan is available in SE and SXT trim levels, along with a seemingly endless list of options and packages.  For 2009, the Grand Caravan gets two segment-first safety options. One is a blind-spot monitoring system that notifies drivers of passing vehicles with icons in the side mirrors and a driver-selected audible chime. The other is a rear cross-path warning system that alerts the driver to oncoming traffic while backing out of a parking space. Also new is an updated brake system which improves braking performance.  The Grand Caravan has a starting MSRP of $22,725 ? $28,660; it has an EPA mileage of 16 ? 17 for the city and 23 ? 25 on the highway.

Inside the Grand Caravan

 
The Grand Caravan's second-row bucket seats slide rearward to ease access to the third row.  Stow 'n Go works superbly well, these ultra convenient seats which fold into the floor are only available on the Grand Caravan and its minivan cousin the Chrysler Town & Country. Stow 'n Go has bins behind the first row that can be used to fold the second-row seats into the floor. You can get a video system with one or two rear screens, wireless headphones, and remote control. You can download you music to a hard-drive radio. The Swivel 'n Go seating option is another great development from Chrysler. The overall interior volume in the Grand Caravan isn't class-leading, the competition offers more legroom, but all of these minivans are big inside and the Grand Caravan is comfortable for kids. Both rear rows are big enough for adults.

Power for 2009

There are three available V-6 engines for this model year; a 3.3 liter, a 3.6 liter, and the best performing 4.0 liter.  The standard 3.3-liter V-6 is a flex-fuel engine that can run on E85 ethanol. The 3.8-liter and 4.0-liter engines use a six-speed transaxle, compared to the four-speed in the 3.3-liter.

Driving the Dodge Minivan

Overall, the Grand Caravan is sufficient in handling and power; nothing exciting or thrilling, but perfect for the general purpose of a minivan.  For 2009, there is an optional sport-tuned suspension on the high-end SXT; all models get a revised braking system that reduces noise vibration and the harshness of the braking system. The automatic transmission offers a manual-shift feature allowing the driver more control. The four-speed has Dodge's AutoStick manual shift capability, controlled by reaching toward the center stack and notching the shift lever from side to side. The 4.0-liter engine is close in power to the best engines offered by Honda, Nissan, and Toyota. The Grand Caravan is large and it handles like a large vehicle. The brakes are plenty big, but not the quickest in braking distance.

Grand Caravan Design

The Grand Caravan is the second largest minivan on the market, smaller than only the Nissan Quest. The Grand Caravan is a big vehicle, with a 202.5-inch overall length and a 121.2-inch wheelbase. The Dodge Grand Caravan is still fresh from a complete redesign for 2008, and for 2009 the Grand Caravan gets more safety features.

2009 Lineup

The 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan SE comes with Stow 'n Go and has many available packages such as the
Popular Equipment Group ($1495), which adds power-adjustable pedals, power-sliding rear doors, and a power rear liftgate. UConnect Tunes ($725) comes with a 30-gigabyte hard-drive radio, six-disc CD changer, two additional speakers, and a USB connection.  An Entertainment Group ($1395) includes a rear DVD entertainment system with a single nine-inch screen and Sirius satellite radio.

Grand Caravan SXT includes three-zone manual climate control with rear-seat controls, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, eight-way power driver's seat with lumbar adjustment, power-adjustable pedals, power sliding rear doors, Sirius satellite radio, trip computer, compass, outside-temperature indicator, universal garage door opener, illuminated visor mirrors, 115-volt power outlet, fog lights, roof rack, overhead storage, pinpoint LED lighting, and alloy wheels.

Summary

To sum up this minivan in two words: unmatched versatility. The ride is smooth, but handling is d ecidedly minivan; the cabin is where the Grand Caravan really excels.  Flexible seating, lots of storage space, good lighting, an d impressive entertainment options can upgrade your lifestyle, at least while driving. Finding a way to make travel with kids easier is simply priceless.  To read more on the Grand caravan check out Edmunds.com review.  Front side airbags are not available. Optional safety features include a rearview camera, rear obstacle detection, and the new Rear Cross Path and Blind Spot Monitoring systems. The Grand Caravan received five-star front and side crash ratings and four stars in rollover ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  The downsides to the Grand Caravan are its noisy suspension on rough roads and cramped driving position for tall drivers.  Also, the Stow n Go seats are a bit small.  The biggest benefits for 2009 are a comfortable ride, improved braking performance, and extreme seating and cargo versatility.   For more specific pricing and spec info, click here.