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Dodge Grand Caravan - What the Auto Press Says

The 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan ranks 6 out of 6 Minivans. This ranking is based on our analysis of 25 published reviews and test drives of the Dodge Grand Caravan, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

Critics are fond of the Grand Caravan's kid-friendly interior features, strong safety scores and its impressive cargo space. Unfortunately, the quality of the interior materials doesn't match up with its price and the base trim suffers from a weak engine.

The 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan has strong safety scores and plenty of versatile passenger and cargo space. Its vast interior is widely praised, with an innovative seating arrangement and enough entertainment features, standard or optional, to keep the kids entertained on road trips. But it also has some serious drawbacks to go along with all of those nifty features. "Unfortunately, these attributes are overshadowed by the Grand Caravan's quality issues and other faults like low-quality interior materials and a feeble base engine," says Edmunds.

Additionally, some of the controls are anything but intuitive. And if you decide to go with the Stow 'n Go seats, which can fold into the Grand Caravan's floor, they aren't very comfortable.  In the end, while reviewers like what Dodge is trying to accomplish with the Grand Caravan, most agree that the execution falls flat, and that there are better minivans to choose from.

Other Minivans to Consider

If you're looking for a minivan with and upscale, comfortable and durable interior, reviewers say the Toyota Sienna is a smart choice.  Plus, the 2011 Sienna incorporates things, like a dual-view DVD screen, that reviewers like about the Grand Caravan.  The Sienna has a base price that's a little more than $1,000 more than the Grand Caravan's, but given Toyota's recent troubles, you may be able to get a deal.  For a better-driving minivan, you should check out the Honda Odyssey, which has performance and quality that few in the class can match, though it too has a higher starting price than the Grand Caravan.

Details: Dodge Grand Caravan

The 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan comes in three trims, the base-model Cargo Van, SE, and SXT. The 2010 Grand Caravan comes with a five-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, while the identical 2009 model has a lifetime powertrain warranty -- something to consider if you can find a 2009 model at a dealer.

• "The family-friendly 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan is competitive on paper, but it's too shoddily constructed to merit serious consideration in this segment." -- Edmunds
• "While interior quality and dynamic performance-we much prefer the Honda Odyssey to drive-lag behind the competition, these mobile living rooms are hard to beat for their overall versatility." -- Car and Driver

Grand-Caravan Performance - 7.5 (Good)

Reviewers recommend the Grand Caravan SXT trim over all the others because it has the most powerful  engine. Regarding the base engine, About.com says, "The 3.3 has flex-fuel capability, meaning it can run on E85, but that's the only nice thing I can say about it -- its 175 horsepower is nowhere near enough for the 4,321 lb. Grand Caravan." Read More

Grand-Caravan Exterior - 7.8 (Good)

Cars.com says, "Likely buyers aren't too concerned with how the minivan looks on the outside." Still, reviewers find that the 2010 Grand Caravan looks pleasant enough for what it is -- a functional family-friendly minivan.  Read More

Grand-Caravan Interior - 7.6 (Good)

The 2010 Grand Caravan features innovative seating options and lots of cargo room. However, critics are disappointed with the overall fit and finish. Edmunds says: "The Grand Caravan's interior design theme is plain but functional, with high-mounted audio controls for easy visibility and operation. In general, though, the Grand Caravan's materials quality is worse than all its competitors, and build quality is not up to par."  Read More

Grand-Caravan Safety - 8.7 (Very Good)

The 2010 Grand Caravan performs admirably in federal government and insurance industry crash tests, and features loads of active and passive safety features -- including traction control, an electronic stability system, and front and side airbags. Read More

Grand-Caravan Reliability - 5.0 (Mediocre)

The 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). The 2010 Grand Caravan carries a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty. Read More