2014 Dodge Grand Caravan Pros vs Cons

The Dodge Grand Caravan has been a constant in Dodge's lineup and the automotive industry for 30 years. The release of the Grand Caravan revived what had been a sagging market in the sale of vans and has been a standard for the category ever since. Upon its release the Dodge Grand Caravan proved that vans did not have to be big, bulky vehicles with horrible gas mileage. The Grand Caravan did not only change opinions about vans it also changed the family vehicle landscape as a whole and gave large families another choice in vehicles besides the traditional station wagon.

There have been no significant changes to the Dodge Grand Caravan since 2011 and this may be by design. It is rumored that the Grand Caravan will be revamped into a crossover sport utility vehicle or discontinued completely for the 2015 model year. The 2014 model may be the last of what has become an American classic. There are still plenty of reasons to buy a Dodge Grand Caravan, even though its long run in the industry may come to an unfortunate end.

10 Reasons to Buy a Dodge Grand Caravan

• With a starting MSRP of $20,595 and a maximum of $29,995 the Grand Caravan is more affordable than most other options. This makes it a great choice for young families and those looking for a second vehicle.

• The Stow 'n Go seating makes expanding the cargo space of the vehicle much easier, as the seats fold into the floor and do not need to be removed. The tailgate function of the seat allows for the seat to face the back doors and creates a great seating option for picnics, parades and other activities.

• The Grand Caravan has more than enough cargo space for a vehicle of its class. 33 cubic feet with all seats, 83.3 cubic feet with the rear bench removed and a whopping 143.8 cubic feet when the middle seat is removed as well. This is a vehicle that can haul people and cargo at the same time.

• The 3.6-liter V-6 engine provides 283 horsepower that gives more than enough acceleration in highway situations and steep inclines.

• Handling works well with the front wheel drive and offers a good turning radius on the streets and in the parking lot. The 4-wheel disc brake system is reliable and more than up to the task.

• While the stated mileage for the Grand Caravan is 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway, it is not unusual for drivers to see better gas mileage than what is stated.

• With Blu-ray, dual screens, a nine speaker sound system, 115-volt outlets, audio streaming and two USB ports the Grand Caravan has more than enough to keep a family busy over that long car trip.

• The Infotainment system and the blue tooth connectivity for cell phones makes it easy to keep one's eyes on the road and not on the control panel.

• The Dodge Caravan includes many standard safety features such as multiple air bags, traction control and assisted braking.

• In all tests conducted the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Dodge Caravan its best rating available. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives the Grand Caravan four out of five stars in all their tests except the side crash test, where it gave the vehicle five stars.

The Dodge Grand Caravan has been around for thirty years and it seems like in that space of time all the kinks could have been worked out, but unfortunately that doesn't seem to be the case. While the Grand Caravan has more than enough reasons to be considered, there are things that consumers should know about the vehicle before purchasing.

Reasons You May Not Like the Dodge Grand Caravan

• While the amount of power available is more than adequate, the Grand Caravan does have noise issues during intense acceleration. The engine can become very noisy when the motor is asked to perform a heavy duty task.

• The Grand Caravan handles well, but it can be a stiff ride that lacks accommodation when it comes to less than optimal road conditions.

• Stow 'n Go is a great feature, but the front seats must be pushed up to store the middle seat and the back seat is heavy and hard to move about.

• Seating may be a problem for some as the middle seat sits low to the floor and is tilted, making it difficult for adults to ride there. While the third seat is supposed to fit three adults, it more often than not only seats two comfortably. The driver's seat may not offer enough leg room for taller drivers.

• The Infotainment system can be difficult to navigate and the CD player is positioned poorly and has small buttons that can make use a trial.

There is a reason that the Dodge Grand Caravan has lasted as long as it has in what can be a fickle automotive market. It not only helped start a whole new class of vehicle it has also stood as the standard in that class for 30 years. The Dodge Grand Caravan has been at the forefront of introducing new features to the automotive industry including safety features like air bags and the now very popular entertainment systems that include Blu-Ray players, multiple viewing screens and ports to plug in the latest gaming systems. Not only did it change the industry, the Grand Caravan changed the way families traveled both at home on a day-to-day basis and also allowed families to travel long distances for holidays and vacations comfortably. The Dodge Grand Caravan changed the landscape of America, both in the cities and on the highways. The Grand Caravan has enjoyed a long life in an industry known for quick flame-outs and the reason is simple: it is dependable and it does what it sets out to do.