Showing the sporty side of Dodge’s 2012 Grand Caravan is the flagship R/T trim. With its standard sport-tuned suspension, this 4-door, 7-passenger minivan shouts fun and practicality in the same breath, while 17-inch alloy wheels, a roof rack and its unique grille, along with body-color moldings and mirrors, keep it styling at the curb or on the road. Of course, the leather-upholstered, power-adjustable front bucket seats and reclining second-row Stow n’ Go seats, also slathered in leather, don’t hurt this mini’s image, nor do the burnished aluminum cabin accents or the leather-wrapped steering wheel with mounted audio and cruise controls. Tri-zone auto climate control, telescoping tilt-wheel steering, a rear-view camera, remote engine start and a 506-watt single-CD player with 9 Infinity premium speakers, not to mention standard satellite radio and the UConnect multi-media entertainment center, round out the more glitzy standard features aboard.
And yes, Virginia, there are options with the posh Grand Caravan R/T, including upgraded Bluetooth/UConnect services and a navigation suite. A towing package is also optional, as is a load-leveling suspension, power liftgate, heated front and second-row seats, and a heated steering wheel.
A standard 283-hp 3.6-liter Flex Fuel V6 engine powers the front-wheel-drive-only 2012 Grand Caravan R/T, and combines with the standard 6-speed shiftable automatic for 260 lb-ft of torque. Trailer toting with the available towing package is maxed out at 3,600 pounds, while gas mileage, with variable valve timing (VVT), is estimated at 17 mpg city/25 highway.
The usual standard safety features, such as 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front side-mounted airbags, active front headrests, a driver’s side knee airbag and 3-row head airbags equip the flagship Grand Caravan R/T for 2012. Added standard safety features over its lesser siblings, meanwhile, include a remote security system and front fog/driving lights, while rear parking sensors with cross-path warning, as well as a blind-spot alert system, are optional.