Minivans are a great vehicle for families and for this reason I never took them seriously in the past. My first preference was always sports coupes, followed by SUV's, and then sports sedans. Minivans didn't even enter my vehicle radar and I never considered owning one or even looking at one. But since I now have a family, minivans are quickly becoming a reality whether I like it or not. And one minivan I have tested and liked is the
2006 Dodge Grand Caravan, a low to moderately priced minivan.
Features/Options: The 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan holds seven passengers and utilizes a four- speed automatic transmission with overdrive. Engine sizes include 3.3 liter (180 horsepower, 6 cylinder); 3.3 liter (180 horsepower, 6 cylinder flexible); and 3.8 liter (205 horsepower, 6 cylinder).
Three trim levels are available with the Grand Caravan: CV (Cargo Van), SE, and SXT. They all come with plenty of extras like power windows and locks, four- wheel anti- lock brakes, rear child safety locks, multiple airbags (driver, front passenger, and knee), a multitude of cup holders, etc., etc. With the top of the line SXT, additional luxuries become standard like powering sliding rear doors, roof rack, dual zone air conditioning, auto locking doors, 12v DC power outlets, stow-n-go seats, power reclining driver seat, and much more.
Statistics/Measurements: Dodge Grand Caravan is a good size minivan. Its exterior measurements show a length of 200.5 inches, a width of 78.6 inches, and a height of 68.9 inches. The weight of this vehicle ranges from 3,991 to 4,093 pounds (SE is at the lower end, SXT at the higher end) and the vehicle can tow a load up to 3,700 pounds.
Interior space in the Grand Caravan is very good. The passengers in the front, second, and third row seats enjoy an amount of headroom almost identical to each other (39.6 inches, 39.1 inches, and 38.5 inches respectively); a legroom amount almost identical (40.6 inches. 39, inches, and 38.9 inches respectively); and a shoulder room that is very close (62.9 inches, 64.7 inches, and 62.1 inches respectively) to each other. The only measurement where there is a substantial difference is the hip room (57.2 inches, 67.6 inches, and 49 inches respectively). In addition to this, Grand Caravan offers a maximum interior cargo volume of 167.9 cubic feet.
The 2006 Grand Caravan is pretty good on gasoline with an EPA estimated fuel economy of 18 (city) and 25 (highway) in the SXT and 19 (city) and 26 (highway) in the SE and CV. The fuel tank has a capacity of 20 gallons.
Pricing: The pricing on the Grand Caravan is very competitive with other minivans and there is a lot of vehicle for the cost. The starting MSRP on the CV is around $20,800; on the SE $23, 265; and on the SXT $27,300. Remember that these are the starting prices. Depending on how many additions you make, the SXT can easily cost over $30,000 brand new.
Final Thoughts: The 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan is a very nice minivan and it offers a good deal of vehicle with a nice level of luxury for a fair price. I recently tested and reviewed the Dodge Caravan and rated it average overall, mainly due to its lack of extras. Dodge Grand Caravan is easily better than its base model cousin and is has enough extras to make it an above average minivan.
Dodge made a few enhancements to the 2006 Grand Caravan like optional side- curtain airbags, choice of two 3.3 liter V-6 engines, and a seat belt and loose gas cap alert warning. But the most important addition in 2006 (to me, at least) is the optional stow-n-go seating. With stow-n-go, the seats can be folded completely underneath the floor, totally out of site and out of the way. This is a great feature for those who want to convert their minivan into a cargo vehicle. In a matter of seconds, the seats can be folded away, revealing a large interior space for loading and hauling. The Grand Caravan didn't offer this until the 2006 model year. Prior to this year, one had to go with the Town & Country to get stow-n-go seating from Chrysler.
Among the things I like about this vehicle the interior ranks first among them. First, I am really impressed with the comfort of the seating and the roominess of the seats. Even when sitting in the rear seat (a 60/40 split bench seat), I felt like I had a good deal of room to move around. With some vans and SUV's, the rear seat is too tight and too uncomfortable to make it useful. But I didn't feel that way with the Dodge Grand Caravan. I could move my legs and arms with ease. This is especially true with the second row of seats where the room is very good all- around. Leather seats are optional but I found the cloth seats just as nice. Sitting in these seats, I felt so comfortable I almost started to feel a little drowsy- a great feature if you are a passenger but not so good if you are the driver.
Second, I really like the extra luxuries with the 2006 Grand Caravan. The sliding side doors are powered, which is a nice feature. I also like the dual climate control which allows passengers in different parts of the vehicle to control the temperature. A good sound system exists on all Grand Caravans and the entertainment can be improved even more with added options like DVD player and multi- disk CD changer. In fact, I recommend this if a great sound system is what you crave. The base model that comes with the Grand Caravan is only average at best.
I took a spin in the Dodge Grand Caravan SXT and I was impressed with two things: The quiet engine and the ease of steering. There is very little engine noise and the ease of steering is quite nice. Gripping the steering wheel between my hands, I was able to make a wide turn with ease and in many ways I felt like I was driving a car. The base model Dodge Caravan is the same way. Both vehicles offer well- coordinated steering that makes you feel in total control.
One thing that I am unsure about with the Grand Caravan is the second row of seats. Like the base Caravan model, drivers can select between a bench seat and a pair of captains chairs. The bench style seat is less expensive but if you select a second row bench seat, you will not be able to stow-n-go the seats. This is a definite drawback to making this selection but one other nice thing (for those with small children) is that the bench seat is available with built- in child seats. This is a great idea for families. It means you won't need to purchase or install child seats for your younger family members. The seats will already be there.
One other nice thing about the Dodge Grand Caravan is the amount of storage. There is a large storage bin, directly in front of the second row bench seat, under the floor and another large floor storage bin in front of the main passenger seat (which is also lockable, for added protection). Since the Grand Caravan is a family vehicle, the storage area in front of the second row seats makes a good place to store toys and other items needed for long trips. There is also a good deal of storage in the rear of the Grand Caravan- quite a bit more than the base Caravan model. This added length is one of the main differences between the two and it is one of the key reasons why I prefer the Grand Caravan to the Caravan. Looking at the official statistics, the Grand Caravan is 11.4 inches longer than the Caravan and the interior volume adds an additional 25.6 cubic feet of cargo space. The length might be only 11.4 inches longer, but it sure seems like more than that. I have examined both the Caravan and Grand Caravan and it certainly seems like the inside of the Grand Caravan offers more added length than a mere 11.4 inches. The added cargo space of 25.6 cubic feet, on the other hand, is evident and this is one of many reasons why the Grand Caravan is a better vehicle than the Caravan. You can easily see and feel the difference that added space makes.
Airbags worry many passengers because of the chance that they may deploy with a young child in the seat in front of them. This is something I never thought about in the past but this is now a concern since I have a little girl. Dodge Grand Caravan offers airbags but the manufacturers put your mind at ease with the sensor- checking device in the front seat. This sensor checks the weight of the passenger in the front seat and if the weight is low, the airbag is automatically disengaged. This is designed to give parents peace of mind, knowing that the airbag will not explode and injure a young child.
Dodge Grand Caravan- especially the SXT model- includes many of the luxuries normally associated with a more expensive minivan. The interior of this vehicle has just about every luxury I require and then some. And its price is less than most other minivans, ranging in the $20,000 to $30,000 range. At the lower end of that range, the Grand Caravan is a very good buy. But once you approach and exceed $30,000, the Grand Caravan loses some of its economic appeal. If I was going to spend that much on a minivan, I would probably opt for a different make and model. The reason I say this is because, as much as I like the Grand Caravan for its comfort and amenities, I don't feel its construction is as solid as some of its more expensive competitors, like the Honda Odyssey. The Grand Caravan is adequate for what you pay, but I have noticed in the 2006 models I examined (they had about 25,000 miles) that certain things were already looking worn. For example, the overhead console (containing a DVD player in the one I looked at) already showed some signs of wear on the edges of the plastic drop- down case. Maybe the person who owned it previously overused the DVD player and this was the result? I'm not sure but this seems like too much wear on a vehicle that was owned and used for less than one year. Small signs of wear exist on other interior parts too and this makes me feel like the Grand Caravan isn't built with the level of craftsmanship that some of its competitors enjoy. However, for a price in the lower to mid $20,000 range, I am willing to overlook this small problem. Besides, the exterior of the vehicle looked great- just like new and just begging to be purchased.
Minivan was a word that had not entered my vocabulary until recently. Prior to this year, I don't think I had even
driven a minivan before. I had been a passenger in this type of vehicle but I had never experienced one from a driver's standpoint. My complete lack of interest was the main reason. I had no desire whatsoever to own a minivan so I never even thought about them, even as a vehicle to rent. But now that I have kids, the possibility of buying a minivan continues to grow with each passing day. And the 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan ranks high on my list of contenders for my purchasing dollars. The quality could be higher, yes. But for a price at this level and for the great comfort, storage space, and luxury features, Dodge Grand Caravan is a minivan worth considering. It will give you basically what you want in a minivan for a very competitive price.
Be Sure to Click the Links Below to Read Reviews of Other Minivans: 2006 Dodge Caravan 2006 Chrysler Town & Country 2006 Honda Odyssey 
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