It’s time to say goodbye to the legendary family hauler, which has been on the roads of North America for decades. According to the latest reports, the current generation has been officially discontinued and production will end this May. Instead, FCA has prepared a replacement, in the form of the downgraded Pacifica, which comes as Chrysler Voyager. Will this model be able to reach Grand Caravan’s popularity? It’s hard to say. In any case, if you still want to get this minivan, you should hurry, as the production ends soon. The 2021 Dodge Grand Caravan won’t happen, but a good thing to know is that the 2020 model is on sale and you can get one of this at pretty affordable price.
The base design of this minivan hasn’t changed for full 12 years. The current generation has been introduced in 2008 and we’ve seen just a couple of minor updates. Therefore, if you don’t necessarily need loads of modern technologies and design solutions, but rather an affordable and practical vehicle, this is your last chance to get one of these.
2021 Dodge Grand Caravan Design
The 2021 Dodge Grand Caravan won’t come, and it looks like the company doesn’t prepare a successor either. Instead, there is a new Chrysler Voyager, which is designed as a cheap alternative to comfortable and convenient Pacifica, which is also notably more expensive. On the other side, this one is currently available in the price range you won’t find in any other place. Of course, the main reason is an outdated design, where not only the styling seems old, but the ride quality as well.
Still, that doesn’t change the fact that this is a quite practical vehicle. If you don’t mind the plastic interior and archaic dashboard layout, you will find this cabin very interesting. First of all, the cabin is quite spacious and comfortably accommodates up to seven passengers. The famous, super-practical Stow ‘n Go seats are standard in the third row, while you can also get them in the second row, as well as power sliding rear doors.
The cargo area is where this model still shines. You may count on 31.1 cubic feet of room behind the third row, 78.9 cubic feet behind the second row, and a total cargo capacity of 140.3 cubic feet. These are pretty respectable numbers, even for today’s standards.
Features
When it comes to standard equipment, this minivan won’t provide you with too many things. In terms of tech goodies, the list of standard features includes a 6.5-inch touchscreen and a pretty basic 6-speed sound system. On the other side, higher trims offer goodies like navigation, satellite radio, Bluetooth, a USB port, and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system.
When it comes to comfort and convenience, higher trims offer things like power-sliding rear-passenger doors, leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel.
When it comes to safety, the Grand Caravan feels quite rudimental, as a rearview camera is the only advanced safety feature on the list of standard equipment.
2021 Dodge Grand Caravan Engine
When it comes to the powertrain, you may count on a good-old 3.6-liter V6. With 293 horsepower, the Grand Caravan is still among the most powerful models in the class. Driving dynamics are good, but the overall ride quality doesn’t seem too refined. Moreover, it can be pretty noisy at higher speeds. The engine comes in pair with a 6-speed automatic transmission, which is smooth but very slow with downshifts. That’s one of the reasons why Grand Caravan accelerates slower than the competition.
Fuel economy isn’t the strongest point of this model either, though things aren’t too bad either. You may count on about 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway, which are slightly below-average ratings for the class.
2021 Dodge Grand Caravan Pricing
Officially, the Grand Caravan starts at around 27.000 dollars, but things are much better in reality. Simply, local dealers want to seel all the remaining models, so you may count on discount prices in many places. Moreover, some dealers even offer this old minivan for prices that go under 20.000 dollars.
Chrysler Voyager Comes as Replacement
The newly-introduced Voyager is here to fill the gap. It comes as a downgraded version of Pacifica and replaces its entry-level trim. So, you may count on a lot of the same features, including a capable V6 engine. On the other side, the list of standard equipment is notably shorter. Also, the latest reports suggest that the 2021 model won’t get all those updates that were introduced for the new Pacifica. This includes styling, AWD system and all other updates. Still, the price seems pretty fair, as the base model goes slightly under 27.000 dollars. On the other side, Pacifica starts around 34.000 dollars.
