Photo by Paul Clinton.

Photo by Paul Clinton.

The Dodge Grand Caravan passenger minivan has provided steady fleet sales for FCA US in the commercial, government, and rental segments, including use in van pools and as an affordable choice for airport shuttle operators.

FCA US has announced plans to eventually discontinue the vehicle, but the Grand Caravan will remain in the lineup through at least the 2017 model year. FCA US is introducing a revamped Chrysler Town & Country for the 2016 model year that should bring higher transaction prices. The Ram C/V Tradesman, the cargo variant of the Grand Caravan, was phased out with the arrival of the Ram ProMaster City in early 2015.

The Grand Caravan has been an affordable shuttle that won't break a fleet acquisition budget, and it's also surprisingly enjoyable to drive. The 3.6L V-6 provides good power when the van is unloaded and the minivan's lower profile minimizes body roll during cornering maneuvers. The V-6 is yoked to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

FCA has been offering a "blacktop" edition of the van, and fleets can delete the roof rack when they order the van.

Photo by Paul Clinton.

Photo by Paul Clinton.

Power sliding doors on the right and left sides allow passengers to enter and exit the van comfortably. A second row of captain's chairs accommodates two passengers, while a third-row bench accommodates three passengers. The van uses the "Stow N Go" seating storage system that provides 143.8 square feet of space when the third row is folded down.

The 2016 Grand Caravan SXT Plus starts at $27,595. Our model would retail for $34,415 with options including the customer preferred package that adds 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels and other interior upgrades, dual DVD Blu-Ray rear seat entertainment, upgraded radio with navigation, and a spare tire.

The rear entertainment package allows passengers to view movies and TV shows using a disc or via a thumb drive supported by 28GB of available hard-drive space. The dual DVD Blu-Ray rear entertainment option uses 9-inch VGA screens.

About the author
Paul Clinton

Paul Clinton

Former Senior Web Editor

Paul Clinton covered an array of fleet and automotive topics for Automotive Fleet, Government Fleet, Mobile Electronics, Police Magazine, and other Bobit Business Media publications.

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