Due to SUVs becoming the new soccer-mom-mobiles, vans often fall to the wayside. However, the 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan may just change that. Its stylish grill and attractive colors add to its desirability while the specs and price tag make it even more appealing. It gets decent gas mileage, has great towing capabilities, and is packed with some innovative technology. And because of these various characteristics, this van may start to sway drivers back to the market. So let’s dive in and take a closer look at the details that make this such an influential vehicle.
The Trims and What They Offer
The Grand Caravan comes in three trims, which include the SE, the SE Plus, and the SXT. The cool part about this vehicle is that its overall strength and dependability are the same regardless of trim. That said, each trim does add more technology features than the last, which could ultimately lead picking one over the other. The base trim, the Grand Caravan SE comes with 28 available gigabytes of storage (GB), a 6.5-inch touchscreen display, an auxiliary input, and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls. It also comes with six speakers; it sounds like this is a great vehicle to blare your favorite songs in.
Regarding safety, this base-level model does not disappoint. Despite its lower price, it still includes daytime running lamps, front and side airbags, and a child seat anchor system. This, along with its vast seating options, makes it an excellent ride for busy parents. You’ll also get keyless entry, along with other basic safety and security features such as sliding door alerts and low washer fluid warnings. Plus, electronic stability control (ESC), a rear back-up camera, a tire pressure warning alert, and trailer sway damping (TSD) are included. Just in case a few of these sounds unfamiliar, let’s go ahead and explain exactly what they do.
For starters, ESC is a technology that uses automatic braking to prevent oversteering and understeering. Still unclear? In short, ESC helps the driver better control the vehicle, particularly when things start to go south. This is especially handy for rookie drivers. Next up, we have trailer sway damping. TSD helps keep everything steady if you’re towing a trailer, which, yes, is something you can do with the Grand Caravan.
Both the SE Plus and the SXT come with all the above and more. As far as technology is concerned, these two are equipped with Bluetooth audio, and one year of SiriusXM Radio. Additionally, they have a security alarm and a remote-start system for those extremely cold or hot days. So, if you have some extra money in your budget, a higher trim can offer conveniences you won’t get otherwise. However, the entry-level for this vehicle does still offer an extensive list of features.
Aesthetic Options
While the interior certainly plays a significant role in choosing a vehicle, the exterior appearance can be important too. You want to like the way your car looks on the outside; luckily, all three trims of the 2020 Grand Caravan offer six paint color options, ensuring you can get what you want. This color palette includes your typical black, gray, silver, and white selections, along with the beautiful indigo blue and octane red options.
Now, despite the fact that all three trims come in any of the six colors, one benefit of upgrading to the SE or SXT trim is something called the Blacktop Package. This package costs $995, and it does exactly what its title indicates. The Blacktop Package comes with black rims, a black grille, black headlamp bezels, black interior accents, and more. It’s totally and completely blacked out! This package pairs well with all exterior color options, and it certainly gives the van a unique appearance that is sure to turn heads. With all of these options, no matter what you are looking for in terms of appearance, the Grand Caravan can deliver.
Fun Extra Additions
Picking through these standard options is not the only way to make the Grand Caravan fit your lifestyle; there are more packages you can add. One example of this is the Driver Convenience Group Package. This optional package comes with 2nd-row window shades, 3-zone temperature air conditioning, sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors, a universal garage door opening, and much, much more. And it is not the only add-on available. The Single DVD Entertainment System can be added to this van and includes an overhead DVD player, wireless headphones, and a remote control.
You can combine multiple packages for the vehicle or decide only to purchase one. Or if you’re not feeling any of these, you can always pass on them and keep the stock options. The options are there to allow every driver to customize their experience, including you. But there is much more to a vehicle than its interior and exterior options.
What’s Under the Hood?
The 2020 Grand Caravan has a 3.6-liter V6 engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The engine produces 283 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, which is easily comparable to the SUV competitors. The Grand Caravan is a front-wheel drive vehicle, but still, impressively has a towing capacity of 3,600 pounds. So, while it isn’t a four-wheel-drive vehicle, it’s still pretty strong, making it a rather versatile vehicle. Sure, it’s no pick up truck, but it’s strong enough to haul your ATV, your motorcycle, or even your lawnmower. And it’s definitely strong enough to compete with today’s SUVs.
Pricing and Warranty
Now that you have a full understanding of the Grand Caravan and likely an interest, you may be wondering how much it is going to put you out. Or you are asking, what does the warranty look like? Well, it turns out that this van is pretty affordable, especially at its base price, and the warranty gives you even more bang for your buck.
The standard Grand Caravan SE starts at $27,530. The Caravan SE Plus begins at $30,330, and the SXT starts at $32,995. That’s a pretty great deal, no matter what route you take. It’s important to note that these prices will change if you add any of the aforementioned packages, or if you upgrade other aspects of these vehicles, but it is a very affordable vehicle regardless. As for the warranties, they vary. The Basic Warranty goes for 36,000 miles or 36 months. The Powertrain Warranty goes up to 60,000 miles or 60 months. The Roadside Assistance Warranty lasts for 100,000 miles or 60 months. And finally, the Rust-Through Warranty is available for 100,000 miles, and 60 months. These are great warranties, and as we mentioned, they only add to the vehicle’s value.
Drive a Grand Caravan
The 2020 Grand Caravan is an all-around reliable vehicle to purchase. It comes in a variety of colors, comes with great features and options to upgrade, and it’s excellent for family commutes and vacationing. The best thing about it is that even the base-level package is equipped with nice features. You don’t have to spend a ridiculous amount of money on the Grand Caravan to get your dollars’ worth.
If you enjoy the practicality of a minivan but want to avoid the bland, boring visual appeal, the 2020 Grand Caravan just might be for you. No one can deny how cool that the Indigo Blue exterior in combination with the Blackout Package looks. But hey, don’t just take my word for it. Go give it a test drive and see these remarkable features in action for yourself.
