2006 Dodge Caravan Review

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Summary

The Dodge Grand Caravan and the shorter Caravan are family friendly vehicles offering the features and flexibility most buyers want. Anti-lock brakes and side-impact airbags are available. Dodge redesigned the seating system last year, and the result is one of the most versatile interiors available for a family vehicle. Called Stow 'n Go, the optional system features second-row and third-row seats that flip down into the floor, leaving a huge, perfectly flat cargo compartment behind the front seats. With the seats folded down, the Grand Caravan offers more cargo space than sport-utilities, including the mammoth Chevrolet Suburban. With the seats in place, the Grand Caravan can carry seven. Selectively folding away the seats allows versatility in hauling a mix of passengers and cargo.

Full Review 2006

Styles and Options Lineup 2006

Caravan is the short van, Grand Caravan is the long van, 6 inches longer in wheelbase and 11 inches longer overall.

Caravan SE ($18,380) is the base model powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. It comes with hand-crank windows, manually adjusted mirrors, and a limited list of options, although rear-seat video entertainment is now available on all Caravan models. The tire-pressure monitor is standard, but Stow'n Go seats are not available.

SXT does add second-row bucket seats, dual-zone manual air conditioning, tilt steering, cruise control, power windows, power heated mirrors, power locks with remote keyless entry, an upgraded AM/FM/cassette/CD stereo, a rear window defroster, sunscreen glass, 215/65 tires on 16-inch aluminum wheels, and other niceties, plus an expanded list of options.

Grand Caravan SE ($22,920) is a long-wheelbase base model similarly equipped to the Caravan SE. But it's powered by the 3.3-liter V6 engine, and comes with more sophisticated airbags with Occupant Classification System (OCS) and driver's side inflatable knee blocker. It also comes with a rear defroster, speed control, tilt steering column, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, and a few other appointments not included in the short-wheelbase SE. Standard second-row seating reverts to a bench with covered storage bins, although Stow 'n Go is optional.

Grand Caravan SXT ($26,680) is powered by a 3.8-liter V6 and comes standard with Stow 'n Go, along with second-row adjustable seats, a 60/40 split third-row bench with tailgate feature, dual power sliding doors, fog lamps, three-zone air-conditioning system, roof rack, eight-way power driver's seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel, steering-wheel audio controls, and an overhead console with trip computer and HomeLink universal transceiver.

Middle- and third-row seats include child-seat anchors for a more secure installation. Optional side curtain airbags are designed to offer head protection for outboard occupants in all three rows.

Exterior Design 2006

Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan are large vehicles, but not outrageously so. The standard Caravan measures 189.3 inches bumper to bumper. Grand Caravan's extra 11 inches makes a big difference in the amount of cargo it can carry with all three rows of seats in place. Caravan rides on a wheelbase of 113.3 inches, while the Grand Caravan stretches across a wheelbase of 119.3 inches.

Grand Caravan and Caravan are sleek and attractive with steeply raked windshields and aggressive grilles. The tracks for the sliding side doors are cleverly camouflaged under the rear side windows for a clean appearance. For 2005, Dodge freshened the Caravan's appearance with a new U-shaped grille featuring black bars behind Dodge's trademark body-color crosshairs, a design cue shared with the new Dodge Magnum. Models with power sliding doors on both sides add convenience when moving passengers. From the second-row seat, the power sliding door can be opened and closed by pressing a button; it can also be opened manually. Pulling on the outside lever opens the power door manually, with just slightly more effort than opening a regular manual door.

The standard manually operated sliding doors are easy to operate, smoothly gliding open and closed with the pull of a nicely designed lever.

Style and Interior Features 2006 Caravan

Dodge Caravan's interior is comfortable and convenient. Both Caravan and Grand Caravan can accommodate seven passengers in a 2/2/3 arrangement.

The seats in our Grand Caravan SXT were nicely finished in light-colored leather. The power seat adjusters have exposed screws on them that do not feel aesthetically pleasing. The Stow 'n Go seating system, standard on Grand Caravan SXT and optional on Grand Caravan SE, is the best seating setup on the market. The second and third rows of seats fold flat into the floor leaving a perfectly flat platform for cargo. Folding and unfolding the seats is a quick three-step process. Very few seats fold perfectly flat and no one else (except Chrysler) has a second row that does this. Alas, the front passenger seat does not fold down, so you may want to secure that kayak to the roof rack.

The second-row seats move fore and aft to optimize legroom for rear passengers. Once back there, the third-row seating is comfortable, though the seat bottoms are steeply raked.

Grand Caravan SE and both Caravan models come standard with the traditional seating setup instead of the new Stow 'n Go system, so the seats must be removed to turn them into effective cargo haulers. We found the second-row bucket seats and third-row split bench easy to remove, however. The low floor makes getting in and out through the side doors easy. Caesar the 160-pound mastiff requires a ramp to get into an SUV, but he stepped easily and without hesitation through the rear and side doors of our Grand Caravan. Likewise, the low load height makes loading cargo easier, and the Grand Caravan can carry more stuff and bigger items than any SUV. There's a fair amount of cargo space behind the third row. When the seats are in place for passengers, there are wells behind the third-row seats that are perfect for groceries.

2006 First Drive

The Dodge Grand Caravan and Caravan are smooth, quiet vehicles, particularly when measured by minivan standards. Ride quality is supple and well-controlled on the highway. The Grand Caravan tracks true at highway speeds, so there's no need for constant, minor steering corrections. Indeed, the Dodge Grand Caravan offers superb driving dynamics. Grand Caravan's relatively tight turning radius makes getting into parking spaces easy. The 3.8-liter V6 in the Grand Caravan SXT delivers strong power. Numbers for the Caravan's four-cylinder were affected only slightly and for the 3.3-liter V6 not at all, but the 3.8-liter is now rated 205 horsepower and 240 pound-feet instead of the 215 horsepower and 245 pound-feet advertised last year. We recommend the 3.8-liter V6 to anyone who regularly carries a heavy load of passengers. An optional towing package is available with the 3.8-liter engine that raises the trailer rating to 3800 pounds.

Models equipped with the 3.3-liter V6 have enough power to climb hills without breathing hard. The 3.3-liter is rated 180 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque, which is significantly less than the 3.8-liter. Fuel mileage is only slightly better than the 3.8-liter, at 19/26 EPA city/highway. Both engines allow the Grand Caravan to be certified as low-emissions vehicles in all 50 states.

The Grand Caravan's brakes offer good feel, performance and durability. Standard brakes for the short-wheelbase Caravan are discs in front with heavy-duty rotors and drums at the rear. ABS is optional on the short SXT, and standard on all Grand Caravans. Four-wheel disc brakes are standard on Grand Caravan SXT.

2006 Dodge Caravan First Conclusions

The Dodge Grand Caravan one of the most versatile minivans available when equipped with the Stow 'n Go seating system. It's one of the best solutions available for quickly switching between big loads of people, cargo and pets. "A grand machine. A Grand Caravan with Stow 'n Go is arguably, one of the best all-around vehicles of any type, from any manufacturer, at any price." says Consumerguideauto.com The driving experience is controlled and enjoyable. And there's lots of V6 power available in the lineup. "The 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT hits the trifecta for tech options, including cell phone integration, navigation, and MP3 playback" adds CNET.com in a review. The shorter Caravan is a good, practical minivan at a low cost of entry. A wide selection of models means there's a Caravan or Grand Caravan to fit most budgets.