2010 Dodge Grand Caravan
2010 Dodge Grand Caravan - Ultimate Family Convenience
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The Dodge Caravan started a revolution in the way a family can travel on the road: the minivan. Over the years the Caravan has gotten larger, more powerful, and more advanced as automotive technology increases. The 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan carries on this tradition and continues to lead the minivan field when it comes to family convenience and features. The Caravan has interior convenience, capability and versatility. The Grand Caravan is designed well for hauling kids with some thoughtful features. The 2010 Grand Caravan continues in base SE and up level SXT models. Sales split about evenly between the two. Affordability is central to this minivan’s success, and the 2010 pricing is expected to be similar to 2009. The ride is smooth, but handling is d decidedly minivan; the cabin is where the Grand Caravan really excels. Flexible seating, lots of storage space, good lighting, and impressive entertainment options can upgrade your lifestyle, at least while driving.
Grand Caravan Power
There are three available V-6 engines for 2010; a 3.3 liter, a 3.6 liter, and the best performing 4.0 liter. The standard 3.3 uses a four-speed automatic transmission, the others a six-speed automatic. The only changes for 2010 are in pursuit of better fuel economy. They involve such tuning tricks as finessing the transmission’s shift schedule, or switching to tires with mileage-enhancing tread and compound. A driver isn’t likely to notice the changes, but even a 1- or 2-mpg gain in EPA ratings helps. All Grand Caravans come with four-wheel disc brakes, antilock technology, and brake assist, which automatically applies full braking power even if the driver fails to fully depress the brake pedal. And if sensors detect an imminent sideways slide, the standard antiskid system kicks in to apply individual brakes and modulate engine power until stability is restored.
2010 Grand Caravan Design
The Grand Caravan is the second largest minivan on the market, smaller than only the Nissan Quest. The Grand Caravan is a big vehicle, with a 202.5-inch overall length and a 121.2-inch wheelbase. The Dodge Grand Caravan is still fresh from a complete redesign for 2008, and for 2009 the Grand Caravan gets more safety features.
Minivan Driving and Handling
You can’t deny that a minivan is going to drive like a minivan. Its purpose is family convenience and cabin space, not thrilling road performance. Still, the 2010 Grand Caravan is sufficient in handling and power; perfect for the general purpose of a minivan. There is an optional sport-tuned suspension on the high-end SXT; the automatic transmission offers a manual-shift feature allowing the driver more control. The four-speed has Dodge's AutoStick manual shift capability, controlled by reaching toward the center stack and notching the shift lever from side to side. The brakes are plenty big, but not the quickest in braking distance.
Inside the 2010 Grand Caravan
The well known Stow ’n Go seating is standard on this minivan. The other option is the newer Swivel 'n Go; an option priced around $500. Stow 'n Go works superbly well, these ultra convenient seats which fold into the floor are only available on the Grand Caravan and its minivan cousin the Chrysler Town & Country. Stow 'n Go has bins behind the first row that can be used to fold the second-row seats into the floor. Swivel n’ Go allows the middle seats to spin around and face towards the rear. A stowable table is also included. A single-screen rear DVD entertainment system can be added as can a dual-screen system. The Grand Caravan's second-row bucket seats slide rearward to ease access to the third row. You can download you music to a hard-drive radio. The overall interior volume in the Grand Caravan isn't class-leading, the competition offers more legroom, but all of these minivans are big inside and the Grand Caravan is comfortable for kids. Both rear rows are big enough for adults.
2010 Caravan Lineup
SE standard features include air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, and cruise control, power windows in all doors, power locks, and heated power mirrors are also standard. So are remote keyless entry, a rear-window wiper/washer, and 16-inch tires with wheel covers. Standard audio system has a mini-plug for iPods and other MP3 devices. 
The SXT trim includes the SE equipment and adds alloy wheels, a roof rack, and fog lamps, rear-seat climate controls and a separate rear air-conditioning system. An eight-way power driver’s seat with lumbar adjustment and power-adjustable gas and brake pedals are SXT standards. The sliding side doors gain power operation, too.
Popular Equipment Group ($1495)adds power-adjustable pedals, power-sliding rear doors, and a power rear liftgate. UConnect Tunes ($725) comes with a 30-gigazbyte hard-drive radio, six-disc CD changer, two additional speakers, and a USB connection. An Entertainment Group ($1395) includes a rear DVD entertainment system with a single nine-inch screen and Sirius satellite radio.
Summary
The Grand Caravan has an EPA mileage of 16 - 17 for the city and 23 - 25 on the highway. Finding a way to make travel with kids easier is simply priceless – and the 2010 Grand Caravan does this. The Grand Caravan received five-star front and side crash ratings and four stars in rollover ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The downsides to the Grand Caravan are its noisy suspension on rough roads and cramped driving position for tall drivers. Also, the Stow n Go seats are a bit small. The biggest benefits for 2009 are a comfortable ride, improved braking performance, and extreme seating and cargo versatility.
