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Dodge Caravan minivan sets a new pace for practical utility
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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SEATTLE, Wash. -- On the multi-lane I-90 pontoon bridge floated over Lake Washington, too many commuters slowed the flow of traffic crawling into Seattle.
The snail's pace wasn't a concern for one driver, however, because we were quite comfortable inching along in the ultimate carpooling computer's vehicle -- a Grand Caravan minivan by Dodge. Besides, this particular drive was a test run designed to collect impressions and experience the nuances and intricacies of a new generational design for the minivan through various driving situations, and that would include the commuter's too-frequent drama of getting stuck in congested stop-and-go freeway traffic.
Despite the noisy tangle of honking metal and puffing mufflers surrounding our vehicle, we noted that the situation inside Caravan was remarkably different: It was a quiet and serene space, with all external sounds muted and the in-coming air filtered and conditioned. Soothing symphonic music from the in-dash CD deck filled a large cabin fitted with luxurious appointments as we sat in supportive buckets with a commanding view of the world around us.
Forward visibility, expanding outward through a massive display of tinted window glass, encompassed the road scene in the best design yet. The steering wheel, set precisely to the angle we prefer, felt of soft leather, as did the chair-like driver's seat. A handy cupholder, with ratchet-like gripper arm, cradled our Starbucks mug within easy reach.
With little effort, we cranked the steering wheel to the right and deftly moved the minivan into the outside lane for the exit to Mercer Island, a cushy Seattle suburb laced with twisty two-lane roads that challenge a vehicle's suspension and steering systems. A tap to the throttle at the exit summoned serious horsepower and we left the carpooling crowd behind on the bridge: It was time to play.
During the ensuing day we cycled through various iterations of the new designs for Caravan, cast in regular and extended lengths with choices for three powertrains plus traction formats of front-wheel-drive and all-wheel drive.
Overall impression from these rides: Once again, designers at Dodge (and Chrysler, which shares the Caravan under two other names) sets the benchmark for minivan styling in terms of power and performance, space utilization, but particularly for the easy operation and everyday practicality.
One could argue that Dodge and Chrysler had no choice but to establish a new standard in minivan design. After all, this was the company that coined the concept of a convenient carpooling box-on-wheels back in 1984, then set the pace for every subsequent year. Rivals turned out keen alternatives to the previous Dodge-Chrysler benchmarks of 1996, so it was time to raise the bar again.
Caravan's new generational designs for the editions of 2001 begin with larger and stronger structures that contain more space for riders in cabins outfitted with plush comforts and new convenience features, flexible layouts for seating on three rows, and new safety protection.
Six variations emerge, including two trims for the standard-wheelbase Caravan (SE and Sport) and four for the extended wheelbase Grand Caravan (Sport and ES in front-wheel-drive or Sport plus ES with all-wheel-drive).
All look contemporary with clean sheetmetal styling and all contain interiors with revised three-tier seat systems that present options on the second row for a three-person bench or two buckets. The rear bench, cast on wheels and split into equal sections, folds and unlocks for quick one-handed rollout removal when more cargo space is needed.
Further, a clever design for a center console allows it to be moved from the front row to the second in quad-seat editions, or removed entirely to create walk-through aisles.
And power motivation for opening and closing doors applies to both sliding side slabs, if desired, as well as the rear liftgate, which has a driver-controlled switch for pop-up or drop-down lid movement.
Another smart idea goes to the rear bay where a modular cargo organizer with folding partitions springs up from the floor to an elevated position and can accommodate up to six sacks of groceries in conjunction with sack hooks mounted on the back side of the rear bench. When raised, the shelf shows space beneath that's deep enough to stow a collapsible stroller or several sets of golf clubs, and the elevated height of the shelf aligns perfectly with flat-folded seatbacks on second and third rows. Together, they form a large horizontal plane extending to front seatbacks that's deep and wide enough to carry 4x8-foot sheets of wallboard.
A new optional video entertainment system is also available for Caravan and Grand Caravan.
Designed for riders on second and third tiers of seats, the package -- dubbed Rear Seat Video -- adds an overhead fold-down video color TV monitor above front seats and a video cassette player mounted in the center floor console, plus wireless audio headsets.
New safety gear includes a safety-cage structure, stronger and smarter brake systems, larger and more powerful headlamps, multi-stage frontal air bags and new side-impact air bags, with seatbelt pretensioners and load-limiters. And pinch sensors, alert during power door and tailgate movement, will stop the action instantly if an object -- like a child's hand -- gets in the way.
Three engines were reworked for the new minivans and the largest delivers best-in-class horsepower.
The value version, a short-wheelbase Caravan SE, stocks Chrysler's dual-cam 2.4-liter in-line four-cylinder engine that produces 150 hp and fuel economy figures as high as 25 miles per gallon.
Caravan Sport, for short- and long-wheelbase front-wheel-drive versions, gets a re-worked 3.3-liter V6, pumped up in the new treatment with output increasing from 158 to 180 hp.
Also, the 3.3-liter six is optional for Caravan SE.
Elongated Grand Caravan Sport AWD and top-drawer ES AWD use a more powerful V6, which increases in this generation from 180 to 215 hp. It's also available for the front-wheel-drive Grand Caravan ES.
An automatic transmission works in all issues, with a three-speed variation for the four-pack and a four-speed in each V6.
Grand Caravan's full-time all-wheel-drive system carries an inter-axle viscous coupling that automatically channels engine torque to front and rear axles.
Under normal driving conditions, the device sends up to 90 percent of the power to front wheels, so the minivan drives like a front-wheel-drive model. Yet when on-board sensors detect wheel slippage in front, the coupling immediately transfers some of the power -- up to 100 percent, depending on the amount of slippage -- to the rear wheels. By channeling power to all wheels, Grand Caravan AWD remains stable on wet or dry pavement.
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 2001 DODGE CARAVAN Specs |
| Description: |
Compact minivan
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| Model Options: |
Compact minivan
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| Wheelbase: |
Caravan: 113.3 inches
Grand Caravan: 189.1 inches
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| Overall Length: |
Caravan: 119.3 inches
Grand Caravan: 200.5 inches
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| Engine Size: |
DOHC 2.4-L I4
OHV 3.3-L V6
OHV 3.8-L V6
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| Transmission: |
I4: Auto/3
V6: Auto/4
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| Drive: |
Caravan: FWD
Grand Caravan: AWD
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| Braking: |
FWD: Power disc/drum/ABS opt.
AWD: Power 4-disc/ABS
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| Airbags: |
2 (front) + 2 (side)
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| Gas Mileage: |
2.4-L FWD: 20/25 mpg
3.3-L FWD: 18/24 mpg
3.8-L FWD: 17/23 mpg
3.8-L AWD: 16/22 mpg
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| Price: |
$ 20,000 to $ 38,000 |
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