Car "Dodge Caravan": photos, specifications, reviews

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Engineers of the American company Dodge regularly carry out restyling and refinement of already released car models. The next update has affected the Dodge Caravan - one of the cars that are rightfully considered family cars.

Model history

The first generation Dodge Caravan was released in 1984. Buyers in the reviews of the Dodge Caravan noted a roomy and practical interior, a high level of comfort, a line of powerful engines and a fairly hardy chassis, which guaranteed the new overall multivan considerable popularity.

The success of the first generation allowed the company to release in 1991 the second generation of the car. The updated version of the Dodge Caravan has increased in size and has acquired a new 3.8-liter engine. The package of options has significantly expanded, among which a tow bar, air conditioning and cruise control have appeared. In 1994, a version appeared with a 2.5-liter diesel engine, equipped with either a four-speed automatic or five-speed mechanics. The third generation was released towards the end of 1995.

The third generation of the Dodge Caravan was the first to be supplied to the Russian automotive market. The concern made this decision closer to the end of the release of the version - in 1999. Despite this, the car has gained considerable popularity among domestic motorists.

The fourth generation Dodge Caravan was introduced in 2001, and sales of the car started in 2002. The car got a new body with resized dimensions and new power units in the lineup: buyers were offered five engines to choose from. The manual transmission is a thing of the past, replaced by a four-speed automatic.

In 2003, a version of the Dodge Caravan with a 2.8-liter engine was released specifically for the Philippine car market. Despite the fact that the car's engines have undergone repeated restyling, motorists can still purchase a Dodge Caravan with a 2.4-liter gasoline engine that comes with a three-speed transmission. Many experts and car owners note that innovative technologies are not the strength of American cars, since their main goal is spaciousness and comfort of operation.

Exterior

Today, the company produces the fifth generation of the Dodge Caravan, which, however, is considered exotic in our country. This version of the car made its debut back in 2008, but a few years later the minivan was restyled in order to change its appearance. The facelift was a great success for the manufacturer, as can be seen from the photo of the Dodge Caravan in a new body.

The minivan is notable for its considerable dimensions, the branded radiator grille with crosshairs,on which the nameplate of the brand is located, light-alloy wheels. The restyling left the car with a new shape of optics, a modified bumper and an updated body stern.

Despite the fact that the exterior of the Dodge Caravan can hardly be called modern and unique, many French competitors look much more aesthetically pleasing and neat (which is noted by motorists in the reviews), the car has its own advantages. The main advantage of the body design is its relevance at any time: even a few years after the release of the minivan, it will look very harmonious on the roads.

Interior

The interior of the car has enough space for seven adult passengers who can comfortably fit in comfortable seats.

The materials used in the interior trim leave much to be desired in places: the cruise control buttons on the steering wheel look rather cheap, and some parts are made of hard plastic. At the same time, the owners of the Dodge Caravan note that there is enough free space in the cabin for transporting goods and three rows of full-fledged seats.

In the door panels and under the seats of the second row there are various niches and compartments for storing and transporting small goods. The volume of the luggage compartment is rather big and is 750 liters. By folding the third row of seats, you can increase the trunk to 2000 liters, and by adding the second row - up to 4551 liters.

Dimensions

• Body length - 5142millimeters.
• Width - 1953 mm.
• Height - 1750 millimeters.
• Ground clearance - 140 millimeters.
• The volume of the fuel tank is 76 liters.

Specifications "Dodge Caravan"

The new, fifth generation Dodge Caravan will continue to be equipped with a 2.8-liter power unit, available, however, only for the Philippine market. For the Russian consumer, the Dodge Caravan is offered with a 3.3-liter engine, previously installed on the previous generation of the minivan. It was left in the line of power units due to its unpretentiousness and the affordability of spare parts, which was highly appreciated by motorists.

The remaining units of the fifth generation are completely new: a 3.6-liter engine with 283 horsepower, a 3.8-liter engine with 197 horsepower, and the last four-liter engine with 251 horsepower. The old engine comes with a four-speed automatic transmission, while the new powertrains come with a six-speed automatic.

Test drive Dodge Caravan

The behavior of a minivan on the road is largely correlated with used cars, despite the fact that the chassis of the car has undergone significant changes.

Excellent sound insulation of the cabin completely dampens all third-party noise. Good ground clearance and energy-intensive suspension absorb most shocks except for the largest bumps in the track, which willtransferred to the salon. The level of visibility is not bad for a minivan: the driver can easily control the extreme points of the body.

The transmission, unfortunately, when shifting gears gives out unpleasant jerks. The control of the Dodge Caravan minivan is in many ways similar to a truck: the steering wheel only captures the intention of the driver, while the car itself reacts with a delay.

Caravan keeps a good trajectory, but heels quite noticeably when cornering. Despite the rather powerful engines in the lineup, the Dodge Caravan is not very dynamic and definitely not designed for sports driving.

Prices

The cost of a new Dodge Caravan model in Russian markets may be 33 thousand dollars, despite the fact that the fifth generation is not officially sold in the country. However, you can always buy a used car.

The minimum cost of a used minivan "Dodge Caravan" is 700 thousand rubles. A complete version in more or less good condition will cost at least a million rubles.

Dodge Caravan Benefits

The owners noted the following advantages of the car:

• Good interior soundproofing.
• Spacious interior.
• Affordable price.
• Rich equipment.
• Comfort and convenience.

Flaws

Of the minuses, the owners note:

• Average handling.
• High fuel consumption.
• Hanging and jerking automatictransmission when changing gears.
• Uninformative steering.