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Dodge Grand Caravan Review
What's New for 2011
The 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan receives numerous styling, powertrain, suspension and interior revisions.
Introduction
Dodge has changed just about everything making the Dodge Grand Caravan" an appealing model this year. Aggressive exterior styling and a lower ride height give this Grand Caravan attitude, but the improvements run more than skin deep. There is just one engine choice: the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, which makes a class-leading 283 horsepower and returns great fuel economy.
Inside the cabin, the new Dodge Grand Caravan sports a contemporary design as well as great material quality and workmanship. Dodge engineers also have refined the suspension, yielding great driving dynamics and road-holding confidence. The Stow 'n Go seats return with added strength and comfort. These second- and third-row seats fold flat into the floor to provide a level surface for loading. (Other minivans require the manual removal of their second-row seats to achieve maximum cargo capacity.)
If you regularly change your minivan's interior configuration from passenger
transport to cargo hauler, the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan beats the competition
with Stow 'n Go seats.
Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2011 Dodge Caravan minivan can seat up to seven passengers and is offered in five trim levels: C/V, Express, Mainstreet, Crew and R/T.
The C/V is intended for commercial use and its features include 16-inch steel wheels, heated mirrors, a suspension tuned for commercial use, cruise control, rubber floor coverings, cloth upholstery, power front windows, keyless entry, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, dual-zone air-conditioning and a two-speaker sound system with a CD player and auxiliary audio jack.
The Express model is the entry-level passenger model and features a touring suspension, carpeting, tri-zone air-conditioning, a removable floor-mounted center console, second-row Stow 'n' Go bucket seats, a conversation mirror and a six-speaker audio system. The Mainstreet trim adds 16-inch alloy wheels and power second-row and rear windows, and is eligible for more optional features as well.
Stepping up to the Crew trim level gets you 17-inch wheels, foglights, a roof rack, power sliding doors, tri-zone automatic climate control, added interior storage in the center console, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a power driver seat, power-adjustable pedals, a trip computer, a universal garage door opener, a touchscreen display and an upgraded audio system with satellite radio and digital music storage.
The sporty R/T lies at the top of the Dodge Grand Caravan lineup with performance-tuned suspension, first- and second-row leather seats, a power-adjustable front passenger seat and a premium Infiniti sound system.
Available options on select models include a power liftgate, automatic headlights, automatic wipers, running boards, a trailer tow package, rear parking and cross-traffic sensors, blind-spot monitoring, second- and third-row sunshades, a rearview camera, a navigation system with real-time traffic, Bluetooth phone and streaming audio, a nine-speaker sound system, iPod integration, a rear-seat entertainment system, heated second-row seats, a heated steering wheel and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
Powertrains and Performance
All 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan models are powered by a new 3.6-liter V6 that produces 283 hp and 260 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.
Safety
Standard safety features for the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan include active front head restraints, driver knee airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, front-seat side airbags, antilock disc brakes, stability control and traction control. Optional features include a blind-spot monitoring system, rear parking and cross-traffic sensors and a rearview camera.
Interior Design and Special Features
The 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan offers a new one-piece dash and a great center stack look and the overall workmanship achieves a high standard of quality.
The bottom cushions of the second-row seats tilt back slightly to make the seating position comfortable for
passengers with long legs. The third-row seats are also comfortable. The rear quarters
afford easy access thanks to a wide opening behind the middle row.
Unlike other minivans that require the removal of the middle row of seats to achieve maximum cargo capacity, the Grand Caravan benefits from its Stow 'n Go second-row seats that fold flat into the floor. Operating these seats is fairly simple, and only a quick tug of a strap and a few gentle yanks are required to make them disappear into the floor. The third-row seats fold into a deep cargo well. Luggage space behind the rear seats is a generous 33 cubic feet. Stowing all seats opens up 143.8 cubes, comparable to other minivans.