2011 Dodge Grand Caravan: Many more to come
For a lot of people, myself included, a car’s style and driving pleasure are much more important that its practical aspects. This is proved by the fact that, despite having two young kids, I owned a MINI Cooper for four years. That’s right, I managed to chauffeur my kids around without a minivan. That said, it has become abundantly clear that this type of vehicle is very practical, and every time I test one I find it easy to understand why so many people go for a family van.
A segment in decline?
If you think that the minivan market is dead, think again. In 2010, the Grand Caravan ranks third among all vehicles sold in Canada, just behind the Ford F-Series and Honda Civic. With many competitors disappearing off the market, Chrysler has seized the opportunity to ramp up its market share – to 68%, no less. This new generation, which is a genuine success, has only fanned Chrysler’s flames in this segment.
So, what’s behind the Dodge Grand Caravan’s success? It’s actually quite simple. Chrysler has created a vehicle that meets the needs of families, comes well equipped and, above all, is affordable. While the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey are superior in some regards, not everyone can afford a car that starts somewhere between $28,000 and $29,000 and comes with less equipment to boot. That’s the Grand Caravan’s secret. Plus, for 2011, its appeal is being taken up a notch with the addition of more factory-standard equipment, a more powerful engine and an only slightly higher price tag.
Change under the hood
The 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan, like most of 2011 Dodge/Chrysler products, comes with a new Pentastar V6, the new ace up the automaker’s sleeve. Adios to the old V6, it’s the Pentastar or nothing. This 3.6-litre engine produces 238 horsepower – that’s 108 hp more than the old 3.3-litre V6 and 30 more than the 4.0-litre V6 that came in the SXT. This engine makes the Grand Caravan the most powerful minivan in its category. The next runner up is the Sienna V6 featuring a 266-hp 3.5-litre six-cylinder engine. Unlike on other Dodge products, they had the brilliant idea of pairing this engine with an automatic six-speed gearbox.
Few changes have been made to the vehicle’s exterior. You would really have to inspect it closely to find the subtle differences on the 2011 model. The most noticeable is the reworked face bar and the new, more stylized headlamps. Not much more to say about exterior changes.
The arrival of this new generation also presents the opportunity to correct several important elements. There’s no ignoring the excellent work that has been accomplished aboard the Grand Caravan. Dodge has finally equipped it with a quality interior that no longer sends the message that this is a bargain-priced vehicle. The quality of the materials is better, as is the fit and attention to detail. The dashboard has been given some curves and a more modern appearance, particularly the instrument cluster with its lovely bluish lighting. In short, the new Grand Caravan is a far cry from what we’ve seen from Dodge in the past. We used to enjoy its practicality, but the presentation left something to be desired.
As for the rest of the vehicle, the Grand Caravan continues to hook buyers with its exclusive features, most notably the Stow’n Go seats that fold entirely into the floor – a very popular functionality. In fact, some people and companies buy this vehicle entirely because of this unique attribute.
On the road
Drivers will appreciate the new tilt steering, which helps you find a good driving position with ease. The new layout of the dashboard also makes you feel like you’re driving a car or SUV rather than a classic minivan. Plus, its curved style helps soften the square aesthetics of past models.
Once you put your foot into the accelerator, you will immediately notice the surge in the V6’s power. This engine is well suited to the Grand Caravan, which certainly doesn’t lack in pep, even when fully loaded. According to manufacturer, this engine offers some pretty interesting fuel economy figures: 12.3L/100 km in the city and 7.9L/100 km on the highway. Driving the Grand Caravan, you will also note that its handling has been made more dynamic with a completely revamped suspension and somewhat reduced height. Granted, this is no sports sedan, but these little changes do a lot to make this minivan’s handling less soporific.
Chrysler is definitely not done churning out copies of the Grand Caravan. The 2011 model has kept all of the vehicle’s best qualities and gained some notable improvements – especially the new engine and more refined interior. You can bet your bottom dollar that it will continue to be a bestseller!