7 Passenger minivan Dodge Grand Caravan

The Dodge Grand Caravan is a good minivan, but it sits in a segment where very good and excellent are the norm.

An important issue for the Grand Caravan is its safety scores. While it does well in most categories, it scores poorly on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s small overlap front crash test. This test measures what happens if the front corner of the minivan strikes a pole or another vehicle. As for active safety features (technology designed to help you avoid accidents), the Grand Caravan lacks many. However, you’ll find them in the Chrysler Pacifica. For example, the Pacifica offers blind spot monitoring, rear parking sensors with automatic braking, a 360-degree parking camera system, automatic forward braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane keep assist. The Grand Caravan offers none of these.

Though the 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan has ample power from its V6 engine to haul your family on the daily commute or trips across the country, it won't provide the most comfortable ride. It cushions most bumps, but there’s a lot of body roll through turns. When you press the gas pedal hard, the engine gets unpleasantly noisy, and the automatic transmission doesn't always make sharp shifts.

The Grand Caravan’s interior hasn’t been updated since 2011, and the materials used inside are designed more for long-term wear and tear than style. One saving grace for the Grand Caravan is its standard third-row Stow 'n Go seats, which optimize its cargo capabilities.

Should I Buy the Dodge Grand Caravan?

You will not find a cheaper minivan than the Grand Caravan. With a starting price of $24, 995, the Grand Caravan is about $1, 600 cheaper than its closest-priced competitor, the 2016 Nissan Quest. It’s $3, 600 less than its corporate sibling, the Chrysler Pacifica, and $4, 800 less than the Honda Odyssey.

The Grand Caravan will provide you with a good, functional minivan that moves people reliably from place to place without a lot of bells and whistles. And the standard third-row Stow 'n Go seating gives you a lot of flexibility for hauling cargo. If you want a more comfortable, family-friendly minivan, however, the Pacifica and the Odyssey are worth a look – even though they cost more.

The Pacifica not only delivers more standard features, like second row Stow 'n Go seating, an 8-way power driver’s seat, a more powerful engine, and better handling, but it comes with a lot of entertainment options. Its optional rear-seat touch screens can play DVDs, Blu-ray Discs, or whatever's on your HDMI-equipped devices – video games included. If you forget to bring your own entertainment, the touch screens have built-in video games like Checkers and The License Plate Game. Play against the computer or link up the screens and play the person next to you. Of course, all of this comes at a price. It is standard in the Touring L Plus, which has a starting price of $37, 895. It is available as an option in the Limited trim level for $1, 995.

The Odyssey starts some $4, 800 more than the Grand Caravan, and that price is hard to justify. Even in the base model, however, you get a large 8-inch touch screen and a rearview camera. It’s a well-made minivan, but adding features requires moving up in trim level. For example, adding Honda LaneWatch, which shows you what is on the right side of your car when you turn on the right turn signal, requires moving from the LX trim level at $29, 850 up to the EX trim at $33, 000.

We Did the Research for You: 63 Pieces of Data Analyzed

For this review, our team analyzed 63 pieces of data to help you decide if the 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan is the best choice for you. Our research includes crash test results, reliability ratings, and professional reviews of the Grand Caravan. Our team does this work so you can make an informed choice. The last redesign for the Grand Caravan was in 2008. It’s seen few major changes since. As a result, this overview uses applicable research and reviews from the 2008 through 2017 model years.

Why You Can Trust Us

Our team has been analyzing and ranking new cars for close to a decade. We have a combined 75 years of experience covering and working in the automotive industry. Our intent is to help you make a thoughtful decision. Our editors don’t accept expensive trips or gifts from manufacturers. Plus, the advertising on our site is handled by an outside team.

How Much Does the Dodge Grand Caravan Cost?

The 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan’s starting price is $24, 995, the lowest in the minivan segment. While it’s $1, 000 below the base price of the 2016 Grand Caravan, it also has less features. Second-row Stow 'n Go seating used to be standard – it’s now optional.

The SE Plus trim is next up. It starts at $27, 695 and adds second-row Stow 'n Go seating. The Blacktop package adds some nice interior upgrades, like a leather-wrapped steering wheel and the Uconnect voice command system.

The SXT trim costs $30, 395 and adds items like leather upholstery, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and power-sliding rear doors. The line-topping GT trim, starting at $33, 395, comes with an eight-way power-adjustable front-passenger seat, heated second-row seats, navigation, and a nine-speaker audio system.

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