Dodge Grand Caravan

The Dodge Grand Caravan continues on, as its corporate sibling, the Chrysler Town & Country, has been replaced, complete with a new name: Pacifica. The Dodge offers a lower price, but there is no escaping the reality that this is an older design that falls short as a family road-trip machine. For instance, the second-row seats are thin, low, and uncomfortable. Although the 283-hp V6 is powerful, its fuel economy is lousy at just 17 mpg overall--the worst among all minivans in our tests. And the van scored a Poor in the IIHS small-overlap frontal crash test. Don't be swayed by the massive incentives that will probably be available on this minivan, already the cheapest one on the market.

A major reworking for 2011 improved the ride and brought a nicer interior, but still failed to measure up to the class leaders. The infotainment system is behind the times and while blind spot monitoring is readily available, forget about forward-collision or lane-departure warning systems or automatic braking -- safety features that were beginning to proliferate quite broadly during this time. Poor performance in the IIHS small-overlap crash test throws up another red flag.

The 2008 redesign brought new features and improved safety, but handling, braking, fuel economy, and fit and finish still fell short. Safety features include standard stability control and curtain airbags. A blind-spot detection system was also offered as an option. Ride quality is improved, the cabins are better finished and the rear windows roll down. But the model still lagged behind the best in the class.

The Caravan and extended-length Grand Caravan have some good points, but have been mediocre competitors for years. However, you can expect a quiet ride and OK handling. The Stow-'N-Go seating system that debuted in Grand Caravans for 2005 allow both rear rows to fold flat into the floor. The standard 3.3-liter V6 provides lackluster acceleration and unimpressive fuel economy. A stronger 3.8-liter V6 was also available.

This long-wheelbase version of the Dodge Caravan rides quietly and handles nimbly. (The Chrysler Town & Country and Plymouth Grand Voyager are similar.) The 3.3-liter and the 3.8-liter V6s both accelerate adequately. The front seats are fairly comfortable, but some of our testers found the padding a little lumpy. Tall drivers may find leg room a little tight. The middle and rear seats are very heavy, but they're easy to unhitch. A second, left-side sliding door is a handy option.