I was also surprised at how comfortable the seats were. Sure they weren't quite as form fitting as those in the 5-Series, but for the most part not too far off. I especially appreciated the adjustable shoulder belts and headrests for all outboard occupants. The van's tall seating position was better for posture overall, and visibility was superior to anything I'd ever driven. In actual fact, the new van boasted a 30 percent increase in glass area compared to the old '95 model.
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| The new Caravan boasted a 30 percent increase in glass area compared to the old '95 model, and up to 12 cupholders. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler) |
The '96 through '00 vans were the glory days for cupholder fans, with the two that slid out from the center stack large enough for big gulps, let alone regular cups of hot chocolate. What's more, the big brutes kept drinks from tipping over even with me at the wheel - an amazing feat indeed. Altogether the 3rd generation vans featured up to 12 cupholders, almost two per occupant! Since Chrysler came under the control of Daimler management, however, the cupholders have never been quite as good.
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| The interior of the Caravan was first rate compared to the majority of domestic products at that time. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler) |
The rest of the interior was first rate, with much better plastics quality than the majority of domestic products at that time and excellent fit and finish. Little things, such as a new seamless passenger front airbag, situated behind an elegantly designed dash and center console, improved the interior styling. Convenient features such as 12-volt DC power outlets on the dash and in rear cargo area made plugging in accessories easy, plus the electric defroster at the base of the windshield thawed out snow and ice build-up quickly.
Dodge offered dual bucket seats for the middle row, or a single bench. I opted for the bench to save money. It looked just fine as it matched the rear seat bench. While the Caravan's ads spoke of how light and easy to manage the new seats were, and the latch mechanism was truly a masterful piece of work, I defy anyone to pull out the rear one on his/her own without breaking a sweat. It took all the energy I had to tug it out, but thankfully once on the ground it was equipped with tiny wheels to make rolling it into the garage easier. Due to its mass, the rear seat stayed in the garage for almost the entire three years of ownership. When it wasn't in the garage, it was often found in my office standing in for a couch or around the fire pit in the backyard - watch out for sparks if you're getting any ideas.