2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SE CVP/ SXT

Brian Early

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

As members of the Wal-Mart generation, we've come to put a real priority on price. We can't entirely blame the American retail machine for our ways though – being frugal is as Canadian as back bacon and beaver tails.

Chrysler's Dodge Caravan line has been a Canadian-market bestseller for years, but there was some concern when the less expensive, short-wheelbase model – making up a large percentage of Canadian sales – was left out of this year's redesign, effectively making all Caravans "Grand."

Unique to our market, and filling the value-leader role, is the appropriately named Dodge Grand Caravan "SE Canada Value Package."

With an MSRP that starts at $26,495, the SECVP is one of the lowest priced "large" minivans (isn't that an oxymoron!) available; only GM's Chevy Uplander and Pontiac Montana SV6 twins can compete at this level, and they have been all but discontinued, with 2008 expected to be their swan song.

The SECVP's low price has a cost. It's as if Ninja Accountants went through the Grand Caravan to create this model: the windows in the sliding doors, which can be power operated in these vans, are fixed in place; there's no cruise control (and with a standard electronic throttle, how much could that have saved?); the "U-Connect" (Bluetooth) buttons on the CD audio system merely prompt a "Not Equipped."

The worst omission is power mirrors, which borders on criminal – consider the $600 option package that adds electric operation to them and the rear two sets of windows as mandatory.

It looks like somebody went in after the bean counters left and snuck a few frills back in, though. The CD system plays MP3s, has RDS, and somehow makes just four speakers sound decent.

There are two gloveboxes, the upper masquerading as an airbag cover, and a conversation mirror is part of the overhead sunglass holder. The (tachometer-less) cluster is backlit and has an outside temperature display, and the single-zone HVAC controls rotate with a silken feel.

SECVP's get a removable two-seater bench in the second row that is larger and probably better padded than the optional stowable buckets by virtue of not needing to be able to fit inside the floor bins.

A substantial bonus is that those in-floor storage bins, and the split/folding third-row seat that were part of last year's optional Stow 'N Go seating system, are now standard across the board.

The lidded bins remain accessible with the bench in place, and are great for hiding valuables or storing booster cables and the like.

As with some other recent Chrysler vehicles, the look and feel of some of the interior's materials suggest that the budget Ninjas struck there too – the edges of the plastic trim on my tester's steering wheel spokes were annoyingly rough.

The Grand Caravan's final area of weakness is under the hood; the standard 173 hp 3.3 L pushrod V6 lags a good 50 horses behind the competition

Teamed solely with a four-speed automatic (whose AutoStick-equipped shifter has moved to the dash), it labours noticeably to provide meaningful acceleration.

It does provide good fuel economy ratings, yet Toyota's 266 hp Sienna betters the Grand Caravan's consumption numbers, so that's no excuse for Chrysler not chosing to use its related 235 hp 3.5 L DOHC V6 instead.

I don't know about you, but I'd happily pay a few hundred dollars more to make that my starting point.

The only available upgrade – a 197 hp 3.8 L V6, mated to a segment-exclusive six-speed automatic – is an option that's limited to top SXT models.

At least when not on the boil, the 3.3 L engine is quite subdued. It's combined with a well-sorted chassis whose settings make comfort a priority.

The Grand Caravan is a very nice, very competent van at an attractive price, and still a good deal with a few must-have options added on.

However, if you're planning on cutting loose on the Dodge's option sheet, it only makes sense to also consider vans from Hyundai, Kia, or Honda, Nissan or Toyota.

You'll just have to supply your own back bacon.

Freelance auto writer Brian Early can be reached at bandb.early @sympatico.ca

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