- 2010
2009 Dodge Grand Caravan
- Used Dodge Grand Caravan
Dodge Grand Caravan - What the Auto Press Says
Reviewers appreciate the Grand Caravan's family-friendly interior innovations, vast cargo room, and impressive safety scores. However, its base engine is underpowered and its interior materials are subpar.
Minivans are about families and most reviewers think that the 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan is a great way for parents and their children to travel. "[T]he Dodge Caravan -- particularly when equipped with Swivel 'n Go seating -- is the superior choice for a busy family life," writes About.com. "Driving the Grand Caravan made one thing clear: Chrysler's market leadership in the minivan field isn't going away any time soon." In fact, its large interior is widely praised as a kind of family room on wheels, with an innovative seating arrangement and enough entertainment features, either standard or optional, to keep kids both entertained and distracted on long drives.
However, the Grand Caravan isn't without its faults. In addition to an underpowered base engine, its interior is marked by poor material quality and some confusing controls. And even though it offers loads of cargo room, its Stow 'n Go seats -- which must be hidden to access it -- are difficult to hide.
The 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan comes in three trims, the base-model Cargo Van, SE, and SXT.
Other popular Minivan choices include the Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna.
- "Thanks to one of the most innovative interiors we've ever seen, [Dodge] now has the minivan to climb back to the top of the minivan charts." -- Autobytel
- "While the Honda Odyssey may be sportier, and the interior of the Toyota Sienna more refined, neither matches the T&C's and Caravan's blend of room, functionality, or dollar value." -- Consumer Guide
- "Despite loads of innovative, family-friendly features, the 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan is poorly made and nearly impossible to recommend." -- Edmunds
Grand-Caravan Performance - 7.6 (Good)
Test drivers favor the Grand Caravan SXT trim over all others because it's the only one powerful enough to carry a full load while passing and merging onto highways safely. Still, critics find that its other trims handle well enough. Read More
Grand-Caravan Exterior - 7.8 (Good)
Reviewers find that the '09 Grand Caravan looks good for what it is -- a utilitarian family minivan. "Dodge really hit the mark with the new styling," writes Cars.com. "It didn't go overboard trying to make it look like something other than a minivan, yet its higher hood, squared-off rear end and the most stealthy sliding side doors we've seen all combine for a presence that's not too far from what passes as a 'crossover' SUV nowadays." Read More
Grand-Caravan Interior - 7.7 (Good)
Critics praise the Grand Caravan for its versatility, but caution that it's a give-and-take. Car and Driver writes: "Interior versatility and the exclusive Stow 'n Go folding seats are excellent, but they mean sacrificing some second-row comfort, as they use a thinner seat. The Swivel 'n Go seats are a bit gimmicky, and there's no legroom once they're turned around." Read More
Grand-Caravan Safety - 8.7 (Very Good)
The '09 Grand Caravan performs impressively in federal government and insurance industry crash tests, and features such modern safety technology as a sonar ParkSense system -- which makes backing up safe by alerting drivers if anyone is behind them. Read More
Grand-Caravan Reliability - 5.0 (Mediocre)
The 2009 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). Dodge protects the 2009 Grand Caravan with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty. Read More
