2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country First Impressions

Steve Jakubiec, Senior manager of Vehicle Synthesis.

Senior manager of Vehicle Synthesis Steve Jakubiec says his team has put in "many late nights" dedicated to reducing the NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) of the Caravan by tweaking things like those listed above, as well as everything from the engine mounts to the suspension bushings to a new weather seal under the sliding door.

It's worked--because the cabin is blessed with a remarkably quiet ride at highway speeds. Even at a healthy 85 miles per hour down the Pacific Coast Highway on concrete (not quieter asphalt), the wind and road noise were only just starting to become excessively audible. You could still have a conversation without raising your voice.

Off the highway and into the winding roads carved into California's dusty red landscape, I found the steering a touch too vague, even for a minivan. This comment proved common over the course of a full day of driving, however, the large hauler pleasantly rounded corners faster than most drivers would ever ask, never putting up a fuss or acting overwhelmed. Dare I say that for a minivan, this is considerably more than adequate fun to drive.

Approaching a tight bend quickly, it never elicited a wince from me or my colleague and co-driver Marc Bouchard. He did wince more than a few times at my magnificently terrible navigational skills, though we did discover the machine U-turns very well. A rearview camera is available--so you don't accidentally back over any stray toys in the process. Navigation can be had if you're like me and can't find your way out of a parking lot without becoming disorientated.

Caravan feels sufficiently solid in most departments. Although the plastic paneling covering most of the surfaces was hard and uninviting, you begin to appreciate how easily crayon, chocolate pudding or an airborne peanut butter and jelly sandwich would wipe off. Same goes with the seats, which are treated with a special odour and stain-resistant coating called "YES essentials" to keep them clean.

The 3.8-litre engine in the model I tested is familiar, and its 197-horsepower punch was appreciated when pulling up steep hills at high altitudes. The 3.8 doesn't ever give the impression of being exceptionally powerful, if even aggressive, though it never feels strained either. With the six-speed automatic transmission offering up great shift quality with throttle-cutting, you couldn't ask for much gentler or more discreet a drivetrain. Town & Country Limited models get a new 251-horsepower, 4.0-litre V6.

The 3.8L V6 is mated to a smooth 6-speed automatic gearbox.

Minor complaints include some dated looking controls around the stereo and climate control, and side-steps which seem a touch too wide to comfortably step over when exiting the vehicle.

But the real story here is how the new Dodge Grand Caravan takes the original recipe for success and steps it up a few notches with great ride and handling, a pleasant drivetrain, and of course, plenty of utility. Dodge Grand Caravan with Canadian Value Package starts at $26,495 and will be in dealer showrooms later this fall. The Chrysler Town & Country will start at $35,995.
photo:Justin Pritchard, Marc Bouchard