2007 Dodge Grand Caravan
Dodge Grand Caravan: An old friend, updated
Sun, Dec 3rd 2006
| VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS | |
|---|---|
| type | 4 door, other, 2wd |
| msrp | $27,775 |
| trans | automatic |
| gas mi. | 18mpg/25mpg |
| rating |  |
Meet the new car, same as the old car. Except, well, it’s not.
When I started these reviews, it was because my 1998 Plymouth Voyager SE, a/k/a Forrest — as in forest green — was getting a little tired of hauling dogs coast to coast, in all kinds of weather, through all kinds of terrain. Not really meant to ford shallow streams and plow over rutted fields, Forrest was starting to drop things, like pieces of his bumper, when out in the fields where I train my dogs.
I needed to start thinking about something new, and … well, here we are, with the dogmobile reviews.
Forrest has been a trooper, and I have no complaints. But I wanted something this go-around with off-road capability, along with that which all dog-lovers crave: Cargo space galore and value. Plus, I wanted something a little less soccer-mommy. I know a minivan is perfect for me, especially one with all-wheel drive (like the Toyota Sienna). But I just don’t want a minivan anymore.
Which is why I sighed when the nice men from the company that handles all the manufacturers’ media requests took away the Land Rover and left a Dodge Grand Caravan in its place. After a couple weeks of having people wonder who was driving that stylish L3 or head-turning yellow Toyota FJ Cruiser, I was back to being an invisible middle-aged, minivan mom.
Really, I need to talk to a therapist about how suddenly my self-worth is influenced by what I’m driving. Because in fact, a minivan is still one of the best dogmobiles ever, and this particular minivan, with “Stow ‘N Go” seating, is truly an eye-popper.
One of the problems I’ve seen with many of the vehicles I’ve driven is that the manufacturers have traded cargo space for passenger space. Third-row seats that are hard to get rid of and second rows that don’t fold flat seem more common than ever. Swell for the folks hauling little Susie and all her Brownie troop friends, but hell for those of use who are trying to ditch the seats (cup holders, DVD players, etc.) and make room for Rover.
Nothing I’ve yet seen handles this challenge as well as the Stow ‘N Go seats in the Dodge and Chrysler minivans. You can go from having a seven-passenger van to having a wide-open cargo van in less than five minutes. You can have some seats but not others. The seats disappear into the floorboards in so many different ways and so easily that even I, with my minivan ennui, was impressed beyond all measure. The seats you don’t stow? Pull up the floorboards in front of them and … more there’s cargo room underneath!
It’s truly, truly an astonishing feature.
As for everything else, the changes in 10 years since Forrest joined the family are all good ones, if not as revolutionary as the Stow ‘N Go seats. The Caravan I tested stickered-out at a tick under $36,000, with every imaginable option on board, from DVD player to heated seats to a towing package. It’s still a comfortable, responsive drive and not too much of a gas-sucker (18/25). The side doors and rear hatch entry open automatically with two presses of the key fob, with the same controls repeated on the inside console.
Honestly, you can’t beat these minivans, and heaven knows with the one I have, I’ve sure tried. If ol’ Forrest is any indication of durability, the new Dodge and Chrysler vans will take you just about anywhere — still not recommended for off-road, though — with any configuration of people and pets for many years to come. They’re still not exciting, but if you’re more mature and sensible than I am, you’ll snap this puppy up next time you’re in the market for a dogmobile.
-- Gina Spadafori
Carguy Comments: Dog owners who are historically anti-minivan will do a double take with the Dodge Grand Caravan. Seating 7 passengers (humans), the 2008 Dodge Caravan comes in two styles with V-6 engines: the SE (175 horsepower/LEV II) and SXT (197 horsepower/ULEV). Also, new in 2008 is a “Swivel ‘N Go” seating system that turns the second row of seats around to face the third with a table in between. Total cargo space for the Grand Caravan is 199.9 cubic feet.
-- Keith Turner, The Family Car
Dodge Caravan cures the minivan blues
Barking Lot Banter: It used to be that minivans were for church groups and soccer moms only. Today, the new Dodge Caravan proves to win over the dogmobile crowd by offering a versatile vehicle that can handle whatever size and shape of species you load into it.
Comments
Great vehicle but we are hearing a high pitch whine that a new Alternator didn’t fix and neither did a new A/C pump. Dealer baffled, no help from Chrysler. Louder when hot, when geared down and/or when A/C cuts in and runs.
Anyone have suggestions?
2009-07-04 13:21:00
Love the Caravans and thought about getting one more then once. But I require 4 wheel drive for my lifestyle and work. The best kept secret in big SUV’s is the Tahoe and Suburbans. I have an 04 burb and get over 21+ mpg on the highway and average 17-18 mpg. That’s driving light though. Get on it often and you can get much less. It is great compared to the full size Ford I had which even when driven lightly only averaged 12 mpg. The best I could ever get was around 17 on the highway.
Woofman
2009-05-22 22:49:52
I am trying to find out what REAL gas mileage does a new 2008 caravan get. i have a 1998 plymouth voyager 4 cylinder and it gets me almost 30 can’t beat it. i had a town and country 3.8l 6 cylinder and it gave me like 10 mpg it was awful. I have to fix my voyager and i was considering getting a new one but if it says 17/24 on the sticker it might mean 10/18 in real life. My town and country said 17/24 and gave me less than 10 you could see the gas lever fall as you were driving. Anyone has an idea let me know. oh and i have 2 basset hounds, theodore roosevelt and bella dona.
thanks e-mail me at
first@fdn.com
2008-12-10 20:32:26
the heck with all of these newer models and years. I have a 1986 with a 195896 original miles on it and need to find parts for it unfortunately I cant because of 2 main reasons 1 all of these newer models and there “Review” articles and 2 because Dodge is the sorriest car manafacturer out there they dont and never will keep supplying parts for their older vehicles like mine
truckinforjesus@windstream.net
as it stands I know they were recalled and that they were made out of stupid plastic because the morons at dodge mfg. didnt wanna spend something like $30-$45 and make it out of metal so it wouild last.
In case anyone on here reads this stuff If you have a 1984-1987 dodge caravan i hope that you own a welder mig /arc a angle grinder some scrap metal abt 1/4 ” thick and soem pretty good know how cause you will have to build your own just as i have resorted to doing!!! Thanks dodge for screwin me over ! email me if you want to know how to build one or if you have any comments regarding my post .
I do not post this to defame or tarnish dodges name or reputation in any way and do not mean this to be offensive to dodge just tired of getting the raw end of the deal as far as vehicles are concerned.
2008-11-20 00:03:34
I bought a 2008 Grand Caravan because I often drive long weekends away with my three German shepherds. They can stretch out with the middle seat tucked in the undercarriage. They enjoy the side windows down. Although the van is not the best with mileage, the ride is comfortable.
2008-10-16 15:11:12
I recently purchased a Dodge Grand Caravan and the feature I like the most is the stow-away seats. Lots of room for the dog to stretch out. The sliding doors that open on both sides is a great addition. I love this van!!
2008-08-13 23:06:35
I have a Town and Country- before this I had a Ford Windstar. You really can’t beat a minivan for a dog car, especially if you have kids also. I have 8 Australian Shepherds and 2 kids and unlike the Element where you have to fold up passenger seats, I can fit both kids, a husband and two dog crates in my car.
I found the Chryslers and Fords to be quite a bit cheaper than the Hondas/Nissans and I don’t have a image conscious nature I guess. Although occasionally I think I would like to be seen in a honkin’ big pick up arriving at the stock dog trials rather than a minivan, practiacality and gas mileage won out over image.
I do wish the back was easier to clean though. I few times I have used my minivan to haul hay and that took a lot of work to clean out.
2008-07-14 08:49:02
I had a 1986 Dodge Grand Caravan and put over 250k miles on it. I loved that it had higher clearance and all the room. When it finally died, I got another used Grand Caravan and I’ve put another 250k miles on it as well. The only problems I’ve heard reported is a consistent problem with the transmission. Just make sure you get a warranty to cover it, or buy it after the transmission has been replaced. It’s the only thing I’ve found that will hold four big dogs with crates comfortably. I could go with a cargo van, but they’re uncomforable and gas hogs. I’ve been toying with going to something smaller with better gas mileage, but I’ll probably go back to the Caravan. It’s hard to argue with the dependability and versatility of this car.
2008-04-07 13:32:58
I drove a Plymouth Voyageur for almost 10 years. When they were no longer made, we switched to the Dodge Caravan. It has almost 250000 KM on it and still runs as smoothly as it did when we got it with only regular maintenance and the odd repair. I can haul up to 4 Weimaraners in crates and still have room for their stuff and my own. I love it. We take the seats out and go. We already have our eye on a newer model with the stow and go seats. This will be much more useful with the Grandkids – and still lots of room for the dogs.
2007-10-09 18:59:10
I’m glad to hear the continued good reviews on the Dodge/Chrysler minivans. I have a “Forrest” myself – green ‘98 Grand Voyager. It’s pushing 262K miles and still gets me where I want to go. (I average around 30K miles a year.) Any time I think about getting away from a minivan, I just can’t come up with a viable alternative (including decent gas mileage and ability to haul three 300-400 sized crates and gear). My driving is almost all highway, and I still get close to 22 mph, so I’m not complaining.
I hope my Forrest still lasts a while, but I’m sure there will be another Dodge/Chrysler minivan in my future after that.
2007-09-19 10:20:53
We’re on our third Plymouth/Dodge/Chrysler van. We’ve had one of each! The first was a Grand Voyager (the old square one, sliding door on one side only), then a ‘98 Caravan and now a Town and Country.
We bought the Chrysler last year. We looked at other non-Chryslr vans. We didn’t like the Oddyssy AT ALL, liked the Sienna a lot but thought the Chrysler was better value for the money, so we replaced our Caravan with the T&C. We sort of toyed with a Kia, but no dealer near us.
Three generations of minivans, and they’ve taken a lot of miles, a lot of bad roads (we live in WY) and a lot of kid, horse, dog stuff. Love them and will probably buy another when this one wears out. Our daughter took the Dodge to college (although she hates it, too bad, not a “cool car” ... LOL!)
2007-09-16 21:52:06
We love our 2007 Grand Caravan. It’s done some serious driving fully packed with 4 dogs (3 over 50 pounds), camping equipment and flyball gear without an issue. Heck, we even slept in it a couple of nights without much of an issue. While our 3rd row is typically stowed, it’s been a good option to have for large family gatherings when we need to accommodate 7 adults. We’re looking forward to many more years with it!
2009-07-30 18:52:34