When the family starts to grow and a sedan just won’t cut it for size anymore many families will turn to the minivan class to take care of their transportation needs. The 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan offers a great choice as well as a long trusted name in the minivan market. While not very flashy on the outside, the Grand Caravan has what most families crave, comfort, space, and cargo storage.
Offering capability to handle highway traffic as well as tight city streets very easily, the Grand Caravan stands out from its class including the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna with its available storage and long trusted name as well as a very affordable price.
New for the 2014 lineup is the 30th Anniversary model that offers many of the features and equipment that otherwise is package based for other models of the Grand Caravan, according to a Dodge dealer near Sulfur Springs, TX. This makes for a very nice vehicle to celebrate this long standing name from Dodge.
With 30 years to perfect the suspension and steering of a minivan, Dodge offers this one with a highly tuned suspension and precision steering that allow for a road soaking comfortable ride as well as a very responsive maneuvering from the steering. Add to this the fact the Grand Caravan has one of the most dynamic engines found in the class and the vehicle can really take care of business. Keeping the family in mind, the cabin is also very quiet, a result of 30 years of noise reduction technology, allowing for the babies to sleep or a full enjoyment of family musical fun inside the vehicle.
The high performing engine of this minivan comes in the form of a Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 engine that offers 283 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. When matched up with the six-speed automatic transmission the minivan will achieve 17 city/25 hwy mpg for regular gasoline and 12 city/18 hwy mpg for the E85 blends. The powerful engine is even able to tow up to 3,600 pounds on a trailer, making this a great vehicle to use for an outdoor adventure.
Inside the cabin is a very handsome dashboard, instrument panel and steering wheel to allow the driver full control over the vehicle and help keep all occupants safe all the way to their destination. Adding to this some well-appointed chrome accents; the minivan shows some actual style which is not always found in utilitarian vehicles. Another great feature is the ambient lighting found throughout the cabin for all to enjoy. Storage is at a maximum with the Stow ‘n Go system that allows seats to fold into the floor, or when needed allows for these compartments to carry extra gear wherever needed.
The exterior of the Grand Caravan is very plain and the one area the minivan does not outshine the competition. Anyone who has seen one Grand Caravan is familiar with the looks and it keeps very much with this same tradition. Even so, the side doors are large and power-operated and the tinting from the rear glass allows for a bit of privacy and the vehicle to stay slightly cooler. The roof rack is versatile with crossbars that can slide to offer storage for differing sizes of roof cargo, and the rear cargo area offers a vast amount of space for luggage or freight to be transported.
Standard offerings for the Grand Caravan AVP include keyless entry, heated side mirrors, a two-zone manual air conditioning, a rear wiper/washer, a rear defroster, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, second row in floor storage bins, a four-speaker stereo with steering wheel audio controls and an auxiliary port, cloth seating and 16-inch steel wheels with wheel covers. The Stow ‘n Go storage and seating is available on the AVP and standard on all other trims as well as the tinted side glass. The safety features include electronic traction and stability control, four-wheel antilock disc brakes, front, front side-impact and full length side curtain airbags to help keep everyone safe inside the vehicle in the event of a collision.
The other trims available for the Grand Caravan are the SE, SXT and R/T trims. The features for these higher trims include the Stow ‘n Go storage and seating, a roof rack, a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, a power lift gate, a navigation system, the Uconnect entertainment system, an Infinity 506-watt nine-speaker audio system, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, a rear seat entertainment system, rearview camera, a Wi-Fi hotspot, rear backup sensors, blind spot monitoring, cross path protection, manual sunshades, rain sensing wipers, power adjustable pedals, and power sliding side doors. Adding all of this makes riding in the Grand Caravan a pleasure cruise full of great equipment to explore and enjoy.
With a starting price under $21,000 the Grand Caravan is very affordable for almost every family. Heading all the way up the spectrum the price for a fully loaded R/T model comes in around $40,000 but between the two prices is a long list of equipment that can be added at a variety of prices to offer a Grand Caravan that fits anyone’s budget and style. For families that are growing and in need of a great minivan, the Grand Caravan may not be much to look at, but does offer plenty of equipment, comfort, and storage for all to enjoy.
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