Originally introduced 24 years ago, Dodge's minivan keeps soldiering on and defying the odds. After all, consumer demand for this type of vehicle is melting faster than snow on a hot spring day. In February, Automotive News released numbers to illustrate just how fast things are going south for minivans. In 2003, 43.5 percent of American minivan owners who bought a new vehicle again chose a minivan. Last year, it was only 36.8 percent.

Upon redesigning the Grand Caravan, Dodge gave it a new personality.

Chrysler executives acknowledged that minivans are declining by replacing the small Caravan (short wheelbase) with the all-new Journey crossover. Now, the automaker is banking on the Grand Caravan and its luxury variant, the Chrysler Town & Country, to maintain a stronghold on a market segment it basically created (although, if you remember, Volkswagen was selling the Microbus in the U.S. as early as the 1950s).

Upon redesigning the Grand Caravan (for the last time?), Dodge gave it a new personality. Gone are the curvy lines brought in by the third generation (1996-2000). The new model looks angular and massive, almost like an SUV.

Simplified lineup
The lineup now includes two trim levels: the base model is called SE and the premium model is known as SXT (which we tested). At Chrysler, two models are also offered, both of which are essentially SXTs with even more features.

Our tester was powered by the optional 3.8L V6. Producing 197 horsepower (3 less than last year), this mill is now mated to a smooth-shifting 6-speed automatic transmission. The latter makes the 3.8L seem livelier than the standard 3.3L V6 (now rated at 175 horsepower). Replacing the old 4-speed autobox (except on the base model), this new transmission is clearly more flexible, which adds to the driving pleasure and ride quality.

The upgraded powertrain also boasts reasonable fuel economy, at least when compared to other minivans. At the end of our 600-km road test, which included a combination of city and highway driving, we wound up with an average of 11.5 L/100 km.

Producing 197 horsepower, this 3.8L V6 is now mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The queen of versatility
In addition to fuel economy, typical minivan buyers are naturally interested in functionality and versatility. Well, in both cases, the Grand Caravan continues to stand out.

Let's remind you that Chrysler introduced the Stow'n Go system back in 2005 as a way to make the 60/40 split-folding rear bench completely disappear into the floor (like in the 1995 Honda Odyssey). The second-row bucket seats also fold into their respective compartments under the floor.

The flat cargo floor is large enough for 4'x8' plywood sheets.

This clever setup (which eliminated the all-wheel drive system to accommodate the seat storage compartments) allows you to "empty" the interior in just a few minutes without having to retrieve and carry heavy seats. Voilà! You get a flat cargo floor that's large enough for 4'x8' plywood sheets.

With the 2008 Grand Caravan, designers went even further by adding the new Swivel'n Go system. The second-row captain's chairs rotate 180 degrees for face-to-face interaction with the third-row occupants. There's also a removable and stowable table between them. The idea seems fantastic on paper, but in reality, the process is rather complicated. Installing said table requires a good deal of flexibility, while legroom is limited once the table is in place. Therefore, it's not really suited for adults. At least, this innovative option proves cheap ($625).

Cupholders to spare!
Those who like stats and numbers will be happy to learn that the interior of this new minivan offers not one but two large glove boxes and no less than 13 cupholders next to the seven available seats.

What's more, the Grand Caravan can tow a 816-kilo trailer. By selecting the optional towing package, you can increase the vehicle's capacity to 1,588 kilos.

The stylish white-face gauges prove easy to read.

On the road, the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan delivers the same familiar performance. The soft suspension makes the ride pretty cozy, giving the impression that you're sitting in your living room. Unfortunately, the front seats are too soft and lack side support for tight cornering maneuvers. On top of that, body roll is significant. I did like the precise steering, though.

The four-wheel disc brakes deliver progressive stops. They're backed by antilock and traction control systems, not to mention a host of airbags.

The four-wheel disc brakes deliver progressive stops.

Compared to models from the previous generation, noise insulation is improved. Meanwhile, the flat beltline provides decent visibility given the size of the vehicle. A ParkView camera system can be added for greater peace of mind. It really makes parking maneuvers easier; after all, the Grand Caravan is over five meters long.

Redesigned dashboard
The stylish white-face gauges prove easy to read. However, on the center stack, the air vents have been lowered to accommodate the LCD monitor for the optional MyGIG multimedia entertainment unit and navigation system.

MyGIG includes a 20GB hard drive capable of storing over 4,000 music files. That's roughly 200 hours of entertainment. You could make a two-way trip from coast to coast and never hear the same song twice!

The gear selector has been moved to the right of the steering wheel, on the dashboard. It's closer to your hand, which is ideal for the AutoStick manual mode of the transmission.

The gear selector moved up to the right of the steering wheel.

In today's shrinking minivan segment, the Dodge Grand Caravan is kind of squeezed between the high-end Japanese models (Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna) and the affordable Koreans (Kia Sedona and Hyundai Entourage). In my opinion, though, while interior fit and finish is still a notch below any Japanese's, the gap has been considerably reduced with the fifth-generation Grand Caravan. Furthermore, the value offered by Dodge remains superior in many respects to that of the Korean twins.

The new Grand Caravan looks angular and massive, almost like an SUV.