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1996-2000 Dodge Caravan
Date Published: 2/20/08

1996-2000 Dodge Caravan
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Price Range:
$1,200 - 5,100

Class:
Minivan

CG Award: (What's This?)
1996-2000 Dodge Caravan
Expert Rating Summary
Category
Dodge Grand Caravan ES 3.3-liter Rating
Performance 4
Fuel Economy 4
Ride Quality 6
Steering/Handling/Braking 4
Quietness 6
Controls/Materials 6
Interior Room 6
Room/Comfort (rear) 6
Cargo Capacity 9
Value within Class 8
Total Score: 59
Ratings: Maximum 10 points per category
Chart: One rating chart provided for a representative model
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1996-2000 Dodge Caravan Review
Dodge and Plymouth launched totally redesigned minivans in spring of 1995 as early '96 models, again named Caravan and Voyager, respectively. More aerodynamic in shape, Caravans could be equipped with a sliding door on the driver's side--a minivan "first." Center and rear seats have cleverly innovative, built-in "Easy Out" rollers to ease their removal. Minivans came in standard (113.3-inch) Caravan and long (119.3-inch) wheelbase Grand Caravan body styles, each holding up to seven occupants. Dodges offered four price levels: base, SE, LE, and ES. Chrysler's Town & Country is the plush cousin, though also similar in structure. Dual airbags and antilock braking were standard at first, but ABS shrunk to an option on base minivans during the 1996 model year. All models were front-wheel drive during their first season. Base engine was a new 150-horsepower, 2.4-liter 4-cylinder with dual overhead cams. Three V6s were available: 3.0-, 3.3-, or 3.8-liter. The smaller two came with a 3-speed automatic transmission; the larger two, with 4-speed automatic.
Year to Year Changes
1997 Dodge Caravan: All-wheel-drive models arrived in 1997, optional only on Grand Caravans above base-level. AWD Caravans got 4-wheel disc brakes, while front-drive models kept the front-disc/rear-drum setup. Low-speed traction control became available for LE models.
1998 Dodge Caravan: For '98 the 3.0-liter V6 is mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission, and the 3.8-liter V6 gets a 14 horsepower boost to 180. Other changes include seatback hooks for plastic grocery bags and automatic headlights on ES models.
1999 Dodge Caravan: Caravan saw a host of revisions for '99. They included a cargo net between the front seats and an available "auto-manual" Autostick transmission with 17-inch wheels and tires. Child safety seats now had to be ordered with the second-row captain's chairs, and the new Sport package for the ES featured a revised grille, fog lamps, and a body-color rear spoiler.
2000 Dodge Caravan: A new Sport model joined the lineup, which replaced an SE AWD model and came only with the extended-length Grand Caravan body. All-wheel drive was standard on the Sport model, which contained the 3.8-liter V6, load-leveling suspension, fog lights, and a rear spoiler. Base models gained a standard cassette player and air conditioning. Dealers could install a new Rear Seat Video entertainment system, with VCR and 6.4-inch display screen.
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