10 Things You Need To Know About The 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan

2016 Dodge Grand Caravan

The 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan stays on another year as one of the most popular minivan choices for transporting the entire brood wherever they might need to go. Dodge's long history building minivans, plus a focus on feature-packed affordable editions, have helped the Grand Caravan stay relevant versus its rivals from Toyota (the Sienna) and Honda (the Odyssey). Although not quite as advanced in some areas as its competitors - and facing an uncertain future - the Grand Caravan continues to provide strong value for families seeking a do-everything daily driver. Let's take a look at 10 things you need to know about the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan.

1) The 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan is enormous inside

Although SUVs catch all the glory, when it comes to pure practicality there's nothing more capable of schlepping all of your stuff than a minivan like the seven-passenger 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The simple, box-like shape of the Dodge Grand Caravan's cabin accommodates its three rows of seating with far greater facility than most sport utility options, with respectable legroom available even for those relegated to the very back of the vehicle. In terms of cargo, the numbers are impressive: 143.8 cubic feet of storage are revealed with the second and third row out of the picture.

2) Stow 'n Go is still innovative after all these years

Swapping from bus mode to box-truck is made that much easier in the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan by virtue of its Stow 'n Go feature. Standard on all models above the base version of the Dodge minivan, Stow 'n Go allows owners to fold every seat behind the first two positions directly into the floor, at the touch of a button, creating a perfectly flat load floor. Even better is the fact that if you have a full load of passengers, you can make use of the bins built into the floor that are intended to snug away the seats, which adds 12 additional cubic feet of interior storage space to the Grand Caravan equation.

Photo by Dodge

3) The 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan offers class-leading Uconnect infotainment

The 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan is available with the Uconnect infotainment system, which is split between three distinct implementations. The base Uconnect head unit is a single-line display that can be combined with Bluetooth connectivity to allow for hands-free calling and voice controls, but the next step up - Uconnect 430 - features a 6.5-inch touchscreen that includes a hard drive for storing digital music files, while Uconnect 430N adds a navigation system and a five-year subscription to the SiriusXM satellite traffic service. It's also worth noting Uconnect's USB interface, which makes it easy to copy your own tunes to the Dodge Grand Caravan's internal storage.

4) The 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan balances value with trim choices

The 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan has long ceded the luxury van role to its corporate stable mate, the Chrysler Town & Country. This means that the Grand Caravan leans towards the value end of the pricing spectrum in order to appeal to families looking to stay below budget on a daily driver. This is reflected best by the American Value Package (MSRP $22,095), which offers a CD player, tilt steering, dual-zone climate control with air conditioning, and 17-inch steel wheels. The Dodge Grand Caravan AVP might be missing the signature Stow 'n Go seating offered by all other versions on the minivan, but you can always add it as an option - or better yet, step up to the Grand Caravan SE ($24,595) which includes three-zone climate control, Stow 'n Go, a louder stereo system, and tinted windows. Both the AVP and SE editions of the Dodge van are also eligible for several options packages, intended to satisfy buyers with a few extra dollars to spend.

5) The 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan is light on active safety

Reflecting its more affordable status - and the fact that its platform is a little older than what one would find underpinning several of its rivals - the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan doesn't offer a full complement of active safety features. This is not to say that the Dodge Grand Caravan isn't filled with a long list of passenger protection technologies: all versions of the van come with electronic stability control and traction control, dual forward airbags, seat-mounted side impact airbags, side curtain airbags that run along the entire length of the cabin, and a driver's knee airbag. You'll have to pay more, however, to sample the Grand Caravan's only piece of active equipment: an optional blind spot monitoring system that works together with the vehicle's parking assistance feature.

6) The 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan sticks with V-6 power

In a world where four-cylinder engines are quickly becoming par for the course, the minivan segment has thus far stayed true to its V-6 roots. The 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan is no different, as it sports a 3.6-liter Pentastar six-cylinder engine that develops 282 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque - strong numbers that keep it near the top of its peer group. A six-speed automatic transmission channels that output to the front wheels, and while you can't order all-wheel drive with the Dodge Grand Caravan, its respectable V-6 output will see you hitting 60 mph in eight seconds.

7) The 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan is reasonably fuel efficient

The 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan's 3.6-liter V-6 engine isn't just stout enough to handle a full load of seven passengers - it's also fairly frugal, at least as far as minivans go. In stop-and-go driving, the Dodge Grand Caravan has been tuned to provide 17 mpg, while on the highway the van turns in 25 mpg. Combined, that makes for EPA estimated fuel consumption of 20 mpg, which is better than many SUVs and crossovers its size (and without the need for a hybrid system or an automatic engine start/stop feature).

8) The 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan R/T offers a "sporty" experience

If you feel like stepping things up a bit on the drive home from the office Friday evening, but absolutely need the ultra-practical form factor of the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan parked in your driveway, then you may want to consider the R/T edition of the van. The Grand Caravan R/T is not only the most plush version of the people mover, what with its leather seats, power liftgate, and top-tier Uconnect system, but it also happens to deliver the most focused driving experience you'll find from Dodge's hauler. The secret is a suspension system that has been tuned to feel more responsive at speed, and while it would be a stretch to call the R/T a "performance van," it certainly looks the part with its body-colored trim and special rims.

9) The 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan is customizable

The 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan might not be quite as groovy as '70s van culture, but it definitely offers a respectable amount of customization in the way of options and packages. The Safety Sphere package (available on the Grand Caravan R/T) adds the blind spot monitoring system and parking assistance mentioned earlier, along with automatic windshield wipers, while the Driver Convenience package (SXT Plus and R/T trims) installs heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. Stand-alone options for the minivan include a DVD entertainment system, which features a nine-inch LCD screen for second row passengers.

10) The 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan is on the verge of retirement

The Chrysler Town & Country is no more, as it will be replaced by the Chrysler Pacifica minivan for the 2017 model year. The 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan is also soon to shuffle off this mechanical coil - but there's nothing waiting in the wings to take over its spot in the automaker's line-up. In the very near future, Dodge will be without a minivan in showrooms for the first time in a long time, which means that you'll have to move fast to take advantage of what the Grand Caravan has to offer.