The Most Dependable Minivan Is No Longer in Production
J.D. Power has announced the winner of its coveted Dependability Award for 2022, giving the 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan top marks for its reliability and resale value. However, that model year’s minivan won’t be present to pick up its award. The Grand Caravan—the minivan that invented minivans—went out of production after the 2020 model year.
What happened to the Dodge Grand Caravan?
When the first Grand Caravan rolled out of the Windsor Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada, in November 1983, it was originally dubbed the Plymouth Voyager, AllPar reports. The seven-passenger, “Kei” car-based box on wheels provided families sedan-like ease of use for transporting groceries, tools, and neighborhood children to the shopping mall arcade.
For over three decades, the Grand Caravan was a transportation solution for millions of middle-class families. As public demand for higher-riding SUVs grew, however, it wasn’t long before sales declined, leaving the Grand Caravan relegated to fleet production; this culminated in its premature end in May 2020 during the COVID-19 global pandemic, Automotive News Canada reported.
Why did J.D. Power award the 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan?
Even though it’s been out of production for two years, the 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan remains one of the best used minivans on the market. Considerably cheaper than its rivals from Honda, Kia, and Toyota, Dodge’s minivan was given positive marks in four distinct areas based on information received from “hundreds of thousands of independent and unbiased opinions of verified car owners,” J.D. Power states.
The vehicle dependability authority explained that 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan owners enjoyed the minivan’s acceleration, interior storage space, and forward visibility. On the other hand, consumers weren’t fond of driver controls styling, interior quietness, and second-row comfort.
On their 100-point scale, J.D. Power graded the 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan as follows:
- Dealership Experience: 70/100
- Driving Experience: 65/100
- Quality and Reliability: 76/100
- Resale Value: 82/100
Overall, the 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan scored 74 out of 100. That’s not bad for a bargain minivan on its way out for years and unfavored over its luxury brand counterpart, the Chrysler Pacifica, that will live on with parent company Stellantis.
How much is a used 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan?
Right now, buyers can pick up a base SE model with less than 50,000 miles on the clock for $22,000, according to Autotrader. Top-of-the-line GT Wagon models will set van enthusiasts back $28,000, providing more equipment as standard but many more miles on the odometer.
Nevertheless, all Grand Caravan trim models have the quiet yet powerful, all-aluminum 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. As the engine remains in production, powertrain issues can be mitigated through widely-available OEM components.
Should you buy a used 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan?
The Grand Caravan’s Pentastar V6 has above-average reliability, with Motor Reviewer claiming that drivers can hit 300,000 miles with proper maintenance, and some have lasted up to 500,000 miles.
Buying a used Grand Caravan also means owning a piece of history. Not only was it the vehicle that kicked off the boom in extracurricular activities, it was one of Lee Iacocca’s greats.
