In 1984, Dodge created the minivan and saw that it was good. The Caravan was a big hit, and so in 1987, it introduced the Grand Caravan so that the Caravan would not be lonely. The Grand Caravan is the extended version, seven inches longer in wheelbase (119.3 inches) and over a foot longer in length (195 inches). It is a popular line because it offers more cargo space and more comfortable seating for seven people in three rows of seats.
Dodge came up with many innovations for its minivan, including being the first to offer AWD, driver's front airbags, and dual sliding doors. It is because of these innovations, its storage capabilities, and its affordability that it has remained the leader in the minivan segment, despite a bad history of repairs. But for overall comfort, ease of handling, decent gas mileage, and enough engine power to provide quick acceleration, it gets high marks from owners.
The minivan is gaining a resurgence in popularity today because it is safer than many SUVs, gets better gas mileage, and is much roomier, if not as glamorous looking. It was originally designed to appeal to suburban moms who had to lug around kids and groceries and Home Depot purchases. They wanted the storage capacity of a truck with the driveability of a sedan. Today, it offers that, plus a lot of luxurious options that create a pleasant driving experience.
