2011 Dodge Grand Caravan and 2011 Chrysler Town & Country First Impressions
 

Never did I imagine using the words "fun" and "minivan" in the same story, let alone within one sentence.

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http://www.auto123.com/ArtImages/125...an-2011_i1.jpg

</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding: 0px 6px;" class="caption" id="image_1_caption">The Dodge Caravan and Town&Country are built at the Windsor, Ontario Assembly Plant. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush/Auto123.com)</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
Okay, so maybe my driving partner and I were feeling a little punch-drunk after driving a back-to-back onslaught of new Chrysler products, or maybe it was the Lucas Valley route that took us past the Skywalker Ranch in the bright California sunshine that accounted for our ebullient mood.

Regardless, we concluded that the cozy cabin of the new Dodge Caravan was a most agreeable place to be.

Never mind that our boxy, white tester was about as photogenic as a freezer on wheels. Dubbing it "The Bionic Refrigerator" we laughed at the unruffled aplomb with which it handled the twisty mountain roads.

The segment-spawning Dodge Caravan has been the top-selling minivan in Canada since its inception twenty-seven years ago. For 2011, the Caravan and its uptown luxury sibling the Town and Country, return with additional technology and a completely overhauled chassis and suspension.

Externally, they're differentiated by the blunt, crosshair grille on the Caravan, and the winged-badge and chrome-brightwork on the Town & Country.

Both feature LED taillights and moving up through the trim levels adds backup camera, Garmin navigation, Stow N' Place roof racks, adjustable pedals, leather wrapped steering wheel, and a host of 40 safety features, collectively known as "SafetyTec", including Blind Spot Monitoring, Brake Assist, Enhanced Accident Response, Electric Vehicle Tracking System, and Rear Park Assist.

The more luxurious Town and Country receives such extra niceties as a heated steering wheel, premium top-grain leather and ambient lighting.

Dodge CEO Ralph Gilles regaled us over a media luncheon with tales of a souped-up family Caravan, long-gone but not forgotten. Perhaps it was the inspiration for the Caravan's more spirited driving dynamics, and the introduction of a sportier R/T model, affectionately known as the "man van".

<table align="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td>http://www.auto123.com/ArtImages/125...an-2011_i2.jpg</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding: 0px 6px;" class="caption" id="image_2_caption">Chea p, hard plastics, and tupperware-like storage have been replaced with fine leather, soft touch dash materials, tastefully designed centre stack and instrumentation, and a console unit whose drawers slide on bearings like well-crafted cabinetry. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush/Auto123.com)</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

Almost every aspect of the Caravan's suspension has been overhauled, including retuned front shocks, lowered ride height, increased damping and re-worked rear axles with larger rear shocks.

Certainly, we're surprised that such a large, UPS-shaped vehicle can manage to feel "sprightly".

There's one powertrain: the 283 hp Pentastar VVT (variable valve-timing) 3.6L V6 mated to a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission. A driver selectable fuel economizer switch alters the shift points for maximum fuel efficiency. Estimated ratings are (L/100 km) 12.3 city and 7.9 hwy.

The brilliant multi-configuration Stow N' Go seating system has forever endeared the Dodge Caravan to those with large families, although the cabin quality has always left a little to be desired. Swivel N' Go has been discontinued, but a revised and simplified Stow N' go returns for 2011 with wider, more comfortable second and third row seats.

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http://www.auto123.com/ArtImages/125...an-2011_i3.jpg

</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="padding: 0px 6px;" class="caption" id="image_3_caption">Sto w N' go returns for 2011 with wider, more comfortable second and third row seats. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush/Auto123.com)</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
The cabins of both our testers are testament to the sweeping changes that Chrysler's interiors have gone through. Cheap, hard plastics, and tupperware-like storage have been replaced with fine leather, soft touch dash materials, tastefully designed centre stack and instrumentation, and a console unit whose drawers slide on bearings like well-crafted cabinetry.

Connectivity comes in the form of a "Uconnect Media Centre" with satellite radio, navigation and real-time traffic service, touchscreen and voice command for a host of multiple media sources and outputs.

The Dodge Caravan and Town&Country are built at the Windsor, Ontario Assembly Plant. Both have been in dealerships since the end of November.

The Dodge Caravan R/T "Man Van" should be in dealerships by spring of 2011.