Follow-Up Test: 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan EX

DaimlerChrysler's redesigned minivans haven't been an explosive success. Sure, the company will still sell more minivans than any other auto manufacturer this year, but consider that Honda easily sells every Odyssey it produces (even though the current generation has been on sale for three years). Meanwhile, DCX continues to offer generous rebates and incentives to help move its handsome new Dodge and Chrysler vans off the dealership lots during their first model year.

Are these undesirable minivans? No, they're actually quite likeable. And if you're looking for the ultimate driving experience in the minivan segment, look no further than a Grand Caravan or Town & Country equipped with the 3.8-liter V6. Yet in spite of how well it drove, a loaded T&C Limited finished fourth out of six vehicles in our 2001 Minivan Comparison Test, because it lacked important features and because it was too expensive ($7,500 more than an Odyssey EX with a nav system). We've had similar complaints about the well-equipped Dodge Grand Caravan ES in our long-term fleet. Added to the situation is the new vans' inability to match the crash test scores of the Odyssey, Ford Windstar and Toyota Sienna, as well as the previous generation's reputation for spotty reliability and poor resale value. In short, we feel that a design introduced for the 2001 model year should lead the class in practical minivan features and safety, not just price and performance.

In an effort to appease "tough sells" like us, DaimlerChrysler released the Grand Caravan EX and the Town & Country EX, vans that ostensibly bundle all of the must-have features into one affordable front-wheel-drive package. There are just two options: side-impact airbags and Inferno Red Pearl Coat paint. If the EX model nomenclature sounds odd for a Chrysler vehicle (and more in keeping with any number of Hondas from the last decade), remember that these special models are packaged and priced to compete directly with the Honda Odyssey EX (and the Ford Windstar SE). As such, these special Chrysler minis are not eligible for any of the company's rebates and incentives.

Our Grand Caravan EX test vehicle was equipped with both of the available options, and it turns out this minivan is quite stunning in Inferno Red. After a full week of activities in the EX, we can tell you that this is indeed a pleasant package. While we noted the absence of leather upholstery, the wonderful Infinity sound system, the Autostick automanual transmission and the faux wood trim that we've experienced in more upscale models, as minivan customers, we didn't miss them all that much. Left intact are segment staples like multiple-zone climate control, second-row captain's chairs, passenger-side power sliding door and a power driver seat. Also included are good old Chrysler standbys like a power-operated liftgate, removable center console and an overhead console with compass and temperature display.

In order to make the DGC EX a viable alternative for Odyssey intenders, Chrysler equipped it with the most powerful engine in the lineup, the 3.8-liter V6. This capable pushrod powerplant makes 215 horsepower and 245 pound-feet of torque and performs as smoothly as the Odyssey's more modern overhead-cam V6. Of course, as one editor noted, the availability of the 3.8-liter V6 in the EX leaves the front-wheel-drive Grand Caravan ES (and the T&C LXi) in an awkward position — it has a higher base MSRP, even though it comes with the less powerful 3.3-liter V6 (180 horsepower and 210 lb-ft). In any case, we were quite partial to the EX's Autostick-less four-speed automatic. Although the column-mounted shifter doesn't have an overdrive on/off button (comes with the Autostick setup), firmer gear detents and a larger instrument cluster display made it incredibly easy to shift down to third on steep highway descents.

Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and traction control are standard equipment. The EX is not eligible for the load-leveling suspension option (useful for towing), the touring suspension group (available for the Grand Caravan ES and the T&C LXi) or 17-inch wheels. While our test vehicle shod in 16-inch tires didn't offer quite the grip of our long-term DGC ES (which has all three of the above options), it provided excellent ride and handling nonetheless.

Like all other EX models, our test vehicle had a taupe interior with the midlevel Deluxe cloth upholstery and a power driver seat. Second-row captain's chairs are standard, as is a 50/50-split third-row bench. We found the seats to be as comfortable as those in the more expensive leather-lined models, though the rather obvious rift in the third row all but rules out seven-passenger transport (there isn't a three-point seatbelt for the center passenger anyway). The Deluxe cloth is attractive and seemed durable, but the sides of the seats are bound in a less appealing stretchy material. Additionally, we liked our test vehicle's soft-touch dash material and plastic accents on the center stack (in place of glossy fake wood inserts), but the hard plastic steering wheel and upper door trim material were unwelcome; our long-term DGC ES has a leather-wrapped wheel and soft-touch door trim, giving the driver a place to rest her left arm. And in this price range, a leather-wrapped steering wheel is expected.

The tri-zone climate control system (with particulate air filter) is an interesting piece of work. It does allow for individualized settings for the driver, front passenger and rear passengers, but it's not automatic. If you, like us, find the myriad of small buttons that comprise Chrysler's automatic system overwhelming, you'll probably like this simpler setup of dials and slide switches. But if you want automatic climate control because the Odyssey EX has it (dual-zone, at least), you might be disappointed. The stereo system includes a single CD and cassette player — performance is adequate as minivans go, but audiophiles will definitely prefer the Infinity system available in other models.

Getting people and groceries in and out of our EX test vehicle was no problem, but buyers have to compromise in this area, as well. Yes, it comes with a power liftgate — some of our editors find this feature gimmicky, while others find it useful when their hands are full. Yes, it has a power-operated sliding door on the passenger side. But the driver-side sliding door is manual. Why? Sure, it's easy enough to open, but how can this van steal sales from the Odyssey EX without two power sliding doors? And as always, there is the advantage of the Odyssey's disappearing third-row seat. The Grand Caravan's two-piece third-row seat is very easy to remove. But then you have to find somewhere to store each bulky section.

Aside from its odd design foibles, the Grand Caravan EX could still be a satisfying family vehicle if you want a minivan that's actually fun to drive or you don't want to pay at or over sticker for a Honda Odyssey. Don't skip the optional side airbags, though. With the bags, the Grand Caravan received an "acceptable" overall crash test rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety — without them, it earned a "poor" rating.

But alas, Honda has decided to give the Odyssey a serious freshening for 2002 with such upgrades as a 240-horsepower V6, rear disc brakes, standard side airbags, optional leather upholstery and an optional factory-installed DVD entertainment system. And a new production facility, ultimately capable of an annual yield of 120,000 Odysseys, will open in November. Without some serious repackaging and freshening of its own, life isn't going to get easier for DaimlerChrysler and its minivans.