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What's New: America's best-selling minivan is all new for 2001, with many industry-first features including a rear tailgate controlled by a mere click of a key fob, a power sliding door obstacle detection system, and a removable and powered center console, all residing under sleek new sheetmetal. Type: Minivan Pros: Lots of new options, torquey engines, available power tailgate, three-zone climate control. Cons: Still no stowable third seat, neat gadgets are pricey. Review Chrysler single-handedly inspired the phrases "mommymobile," "soccer mom," and other insipid sound bites back in 1983 when it invented the minivan. In 1989, the long-wheelbase Grand Caravan debuted, sparking anew the war for best-minivan honors. Dodge Grand Caravan has been the best-selling minivan in its segment since then, but needed to play catch-up to all the upstarts that have been nipping at its heels, such as the Ford Windstar and the Honda Odyssey. Now with this fourth generation version, DaimlerChrysler seeks to refine rather than redesign the notion of a minivan, with a more crisp exterior appearance, more powerful engines and an interior chock-full of buttons and gadgets. The Grand Caravan comes in two trim levels this year, the base Sport and the more-luxurious ES. Both are available with all-wheel drive for those who live in less-temperate climates or wish to do some light off-roading. Standard equipment for the Sport includes four-wheel ABS with front disc/rear drum setup, power windows and power door locks. The ES will get you four-wheel disc brakes, three-zone climate control, power eight-way driver's seat, power sliding doors and HomeLink universal transmitter. Leather trim and 17-inch tires are optional. Powering both Grand Caravans is a 3.3-liter V6 producing 180 horsepower, boosted 22 horses over the previous engine. Get the AWD version and you'll be rewarded with a spunky 3.8-liter six-cylinder that squeezes out 215 horses. The 3.8 is optional on ES, where Chrysler's AutoStick transmission takes care of gear changes. Dodge's Grand Caravan gives you 25.6 more cubic feet of cargo capacity than the standard Caravan, for a total of 169 with second- and third-row seats removed. Although Dodge spokespeople are wishy-washy about the lack of a stowable third seat that makes the Honda Odyssey so pleasing (the well in the back creates excessive road noise, they opine), they made installing and removing the seats easier by the use of rollers and lightening the load: the rearmost seats now weigh 55 pounds collectively. Also noteworthy are all the cool gadgets with which to outfit your ride and fill your life with necessities you never knew existed. We can't say that the standard equipment list is especially exemplary, but money can buy a lot of gewgaws. How about the power liftgate? A removable center console, fully-equipped with three power points, that you can scoot from the front seats to the rear? A pop-up rear cargo organizer? All available, should it please you. You can also opt for an in-dash four-disc changer, and dual-power sliding doors with object detection upon both opening and closing. Although DaimlerChrysler minivans have been criticized for not measuring up in terms of safety ratings, 2001's optional side airbags should boost these scores. Those, along with improved brake components, should go a long way in insuring the safety of its occupants. Grand Caravan's formerly sleek design has been rendered obsolete as well, replaced by creased, upscale sheetmetal that provides the van with a more mature look. Dodge's signature "cross hair" grille distinguishes the Grand Caravan from its Chrysler brethren. Competition is stiff in the Grand Caravan's segment of the market. While we applaud Dodge's latest effort to maintain sales leadership, we can't help but wonder why this former innovator in minivan design took such a conservative approach to this 2001 redesign. Styles & Prices at Edmunds.com | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
