1986 Dodge Caravan Reviews, Pricing & Specs

We take cupholders for granted today, but there was a time when this was hailed as the most amazing innovation to hit cars since the internal combustion engine. Who remembers now that the first car to offer cupholders was the Dodge Caravan, the first minivan in the world?

The 1986 Dodge Caravan differs little from the 1985 model. Why change what's working, when sales continue to rise? Available in standard, SE, and LE, this front-wheel drive handles well in snow, gives families the storage utility of a small truck, but still fits in the family garage. It still comes in both a 4 and 5-speed manual or 3-speed automatic, 2.2-liter engine, or optional 2.6-liter. Fuel economy is 19/22.

As a representative of the first generation of minivans, a 1986 Dodge Caravan was chosen for the "America on the Move" exhibit at the Smithsonian Institute in 2003.