2019 Dodge Grand Caravan

The range begins with the SE at an MSRP of $27,040. This price excludes tax, licensing registration, and a destination charge of $1,495. Moving up a trim level is the SE Plus at $29,805. The 35th Anniversary SE costs a smidgen more at $29,840. The SXT trim level tops the range - it costs $32,540 in standard form and $34,135 for the 35th Anniversary SXT.

作为一辆小型货车预计,道奇在草地已调整nd Caravan's suspension to prioritize comfort. After all, this is what most buyers would be looking for when hauling a family and their paraphernalia out of the city for a lengthy trip. So, while more substantial road surface imperfections can occasionally result in a perceptible jolt through the suspension, the Grand Caravan is largely unruffled and feels suitably calm at speed on the highway. Road noise and general refinement are also within class expectations.

Thankfully, the Dodge doesn't unravel in the corners, either. While a large minivan is never going to exhibit sporty handling, the Grand Caravan does well to contain body roll and provide the driver with sufficient feedback to avoid any nervy moments. For extra security in wet or snowy conditions, shoppers may want to consider the Toyota Sienna with its available all-wheel-drive system - the Grand Caravan is solely offered with front-wheel-drive.

Braking performance is fair in everyday driving conditions, but emergency braking exhibits noticeable nosedive, which can be rather disconcerting.

In the motoring industry, a decade is a long time indeed. Evolving technologies, dramatically improving safety standards, and modern design have seen the Dodge Grand Caravan fall from an accomplished competitor at launch to one struggling to maintain its relevance today. One of the few class-leading aspects that has been maintained is the innovative Stow 'n Go system, allowing the Grand Caravan to be transformed from a seven-seater into a mega cargo-carrier quickly and conveniently. There's also the value aspect, but even then, for just a little bit more than a spartan SE model, you can drive away in the far more appealing Chrysler Pacifica. The Grand Caravan simply can't compete in terms of safety tech, build quality, and performance, and it doesn't help that the Dodge has both middling crash safety scores and a patchy reliability record. The time has arrived for this grandfather to retire.

The SE Plus trim manages to maintain the value aspect of the Grand Caravan - one of the model's few advantages over the competition - while adding some essential features that make the interior feel a bit less basic. We'd also be tempted to go for the 35th Anniversary SE Plus with its power driver's seat and the excellent Stow 'n Go for the second row, as this really enhances the usability of the Grand Caravan's interior space.

While the Toyota Sienna may not be a class-leader, it's still a better overall minivan than the Dodge Grand Caravan. At just over $31,000 for the base model, the Sienna is a fair bit more expensive than the Grand Caravan but also feels that way from behind the wheel, where quality levels are much higher, even if the Toyota also has a somewhat dated dashboard. The Sienna also offers many of the latest infotainment and driver-assist safety technologies, which are distinctly missing from the Grand Caravan. A wider range of trims and the availability of all-wheel-drive are further points in the Sienna's favor. If you want the most affordable minivan, get the Dodge Grand Caravan in SE or SE Plus trim. In any other scenario, the Sienna is the smarter choice.

They may both share Fiat Chrysler Automobiles as a manufacturer, but the Dodge Grand Caravan and the Chrysler Pacifica are otherwise little alike. This is no surprise since the far newer Pacifica was only launched in 2017, while the Grand Caravan soldiers on in the same basic form since its 2008 launch. The sleeker, far more advanced Pacifica also uses the Grand Caravan's Stow 'n Go system, essentially the Dodge's lone remaining advantage. This is no contest: where the Dodge has fallen off the radar, the Chrysler competes for best-in-class honors.