2019 Dodge Grand Caravan Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Dodge created the minivan segment more than three decades ago with the Caravan, which entered the market in 1984. Through five generations,...

Dodge created the minivan segment more than three decades ago with the Caravan, which entered the market in 1984. Through five generations, the Grand Caravan has grown in size and comfort. The Grand Caravan has soldiered on largely unchanged since 2008, all the way up to the 2019 model year.

The Grand Caravan features sliding doors on both sides, a rear hatch, and three rows. Buyers can opt for second- and third-row benches, with room for eight, or second-row captain's chairs, bringing seating capacity down to seven.

With the rear seats folded, the Dodge Grand Caravan has 140.3 cubic feet of cargo space. This short of the Honda Odyssey (144.9) and Toyota Sienna (150). With the third row folded, the Grand Caravan has 78.9 cubic feet. With all seats up, it has 31.1 cubic feet.

The Grand Caravan is rife with family-friendly features, including an overhead driver’s console with toggles to control the sliding doors and the rear hatch. The Grand Caravan also features a helpful observation mirror for the driver and front passenger. This wide-angle mirror allows the parents to keep an eye on the kids without turning all the way around.

Trims for the Dodge Grand Caravan include SE, SE Plus, and SXT. The SE comes standard with a dark insert grille, dark-capped power heated side mirrors, quad-halogen headlights, manual sliding doors on either side, and 17-inch steel wheels. It also comes standard with remote keyless entry and the 6.5-touchscreen radio system.

The SE comes with features that cater to the whole family, including three-zone manual temperature control, easy-clean floor mats, and the Stow ’n’ Go third-row bench seat. The available second row captain’s chairs have fold-flat seat backs with hard plastic. This allows them to turn into tables for third-row passengers.

Moving up to the SE Plus, adds the Blacktop Appearance Package. It comes with 17-inch aluminum wheels, fog lights, gloss black grille, and headlight bezels. Inside, it comes with an all-black headliner and seats, as well as black door insert panels with silver accents. You also get a leather shift knob, Uconnect voice controls, and SiriusXM satellite radio.

The range-topping SXT trim comes standard with power sliding doors, automatic headlights, bright-finish roof rack, remote start, additional storage console, and an 8-way power driver’s seat.

The SXT is available with the Driver’s Convenience Group. It features three-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, a second-row overhead console, and second-row window shades. Tech features include a rear-seat DVD entertainment system with wireless headphones, as well as multiple USB ports and a wall-style power outlet.

A 3.6-liter V6 engine making 283 horsepower and 260 pound feet of torque powers the Grand Caravan. Power is sent to the front wheels through a 6-speed automatic transmission. The transmission is operated via a dash-mounted shifter, placed up near the navigation screen. When properly equipped, the Grand Caravan can tow up to 3,600 pounds. The Grand Caravan features trailer-sway control.

Fuel economy for the Dodge Grand Caravan is 17 mpg city, 25 highway, 20 combined.

Standard safety features on the 2019 Grand Caravan include a second-row child-seat anchoring system, tire-pressure monitoring system, electronic stability control, a reversing camera, and a full array of front- and side-impact airbags. Unfortunately, the Grand Caravan is not available with many modern driver-assistance features.

The Grand Caravan may be long in the tooth, but it has the cargo space, passenger capacity, and family-friendly features that every minivan needs. It also is the least expensive minivan on the market, ensuring there will still be an option for families on a budget.