Dodge Caravan

Which Dodge Caravan Version Should You Buy?

The Dodge Caravan version to choose depends chiefly on whether you want maximum performance, lower recorded fuel consumption, AWD, or a simpler drivetrain. Among the versions with complete performance data, the fifth-generation and restyled fifth-generation 3.6 AT is the quickest: 283 hp, 352 Nm, 7.8 seconds from 0–100 km/h, and 11.7 L/100 km combined.

The Dodge Caravan version to choose depends chiefly on whether you want maximum performance, lower recorded fuel consumption, AWD, or a simpler drivetrain. Among the versions with complete performance data, the fifth-generation and restyled fifth-generation 3.6 AT is the quickest: 283 hp, 352 Nm, 7.8 seconds from 0–100 km/h, and 11.7 L/100 km combined. The fourth-generation 2.4 AT with 152 hp is the most economical version with a recorded combined figure, at 10.7 L/100 km. Buyers requiring AWD must look at the second, third, or fourth generations; every fifth-generation version in the data is FWD. The catalogue covers 6 generations of the Dodge Caravan minivan, from 1983-11-01 to 2023-01-31, including the fifth-generation restyling.

Dodge Caravan generations: what changed?

The 1 generation, produced from 1983-11-01 to 1990-07-31, is a Minivan with 11 versions. Its Gasoline engines span 2213–3500 cm³ and 84–150 hp. Most versions are naturally aspirated, but the 2.5 MT, 150 hp and 2.5 AT, 150 hp have Turbo engines. All listed versions are FWD, with either Manual or Automatic gearboxes. Recorded ground clearance is 130 mm.

The 2 generation, produced from 1990-08-01 to 1995-08-31, is a Minivan with 11 versions. It offers 2501–3301 cm³ naturally aspirated Gasoline engines producing 102–165 hp. Manual and Automatic transmissions are available, as are FWD and AWD. Ground clearance remains 130 mm, while the tank is 75 L.

The 3 generation, produced from 1995-02-01 to 2000-06-30, is a Minivan with 15 versions, of which 12 are shown in the supplied data. Engine capacity ranges from 2429 to 3778 cm³, with outputs from 152 to 166 hp. This generation combines Manual and Automatic gearboxes with FWD or AWD. Its recorded clearance rises to 140 mm, and listed wheel sizes are 205/75 R14, 215/70 R15, and 215/65 R16.

The 4 generation, produced from 2000-01-01 to 2007-07-31, is a Minivan with 10 versions. Its naturally aspirated Gasoline range covers 2429–3778 cm³ and 152–233 hp. FWD and AWD remain available, while the gearbox choices recorded here are Automatic units with 3 or 4 gears. Depending on the version, ground clearance is 140 or 142 mm; the listed wheels are 215/70 R15, 215/65 R16, and 215/60 R17.

The 5 generation ran from 2007-08-01 to 2011-01-31 as a Minivan with 4 versions: 3.3 AT, 3.6 AT, 3.8 AT, and 4.0 AT. All are naturally aspirated Gasoline, Automatic, and FWD. Outputs range from 173 to 283 hp, and ground clearance is 130 or 140 mm. The 5 generation, restyling 1, produced from 2011-02-01 to 2023-01-31, stays within this generation and adds 2 versions, 3.6 AT and 3.8 AT. Both are naturally aspirated Gasoline, use Direct injection (direct), a 6-speed Automatic, and FWD. Clearance is 142 mm.

Dodge Caravan engine options and specs

Repeated version names are identified by generation, power, and drive so that similarly named variants remain distinct.

Dodge Caravan performance and fuel economy

The fifth-generation 3.6 AT is the strongest fully measured performance choice. Its 283 hp and 352 Nm produce a recorded 7.8-second 0–100 km/h time and 180 km/h maximum speed. Consumption is 13.8 L/100 km city, 9.4 L/100 km highway, and 11.7 L/100 km combined. The restyled 3.6 AT records the same figures.

Within the pre-restyling fifth generation, the 4.0 AT has 251 hp, reaches 0–100 km/h in 9.5 seconds, and has the group’s highest maximum speed at 184 km/h. It uses 14.7 L/100 km city, 10.2 L/100 km highway, and 12.4 L/100 km combined. The 3.8 AT also records 12.4 L/100 km combined, but its 197 hp gives a slower 10.6-second result. The 3.3 AT takes 11 seconds and returns 11.8 L/100 km combined.

The restyled 3.8 AT has the catalogue’s highest output at 287 hp, only 4 hp above the 3.6 AT, and torque rises by only 1 Nm, from 352 to 353 Nm. Its 0–100 km/h time and maximum speed are not measured; combined consumption is 11.8 L/100 km.

For earlier generations, many economy and performance fields are not measured. The fourth-generation 2.4 AT with the 4-speed Automatic records 12.1 seconds, 183 km/h, and 10.7 L/100 km combined, making it the lowest-consumption measured option. The fourth-generation 3.5 AT FWD cuts acceleration to 9 seconds, while consumption is not measured. The fourth-generation 3.8 AT with 201 km/h has the highest recorded maximum speed in the data; its fuel consumption is not measured.

Dodge Caravan dimensions, weight, clearance, and tank size

Exterior length, width, height, interior dimensions, and weight capacity are not measured in the supplied data. Kerb weight, gross weight, clearance, tank size, and selected wheel sizes are available for some versions.

The lightest recorded version is the second-generation 2.5 MT or 2.5 AT at 1453 kg kerb weight. The heaviest recorded version is the fifth-generation 4.0 AT at 2135 kg. That is an 682 kg difference. The 4.0 AT has a gross weight of 2745 kg, while the fifth-generation 3.8 AT records 2080 kg kerb and 2690 kg gross.

The fifth-generation 3.6 AT is unusually favorable in the supplied weight data: 1720 kg and 283 hp, or about 6.1 kg per hp. The 4.0 AT has about 8.5 kg per hp, while the 3.8 AT, 197 hp has about 10.6 kg per hp. The restyled 3.8 AT records 2050 kg and 287 hp, or about 7.1 kg per hp. Gross weight for both restyled versions is not measured.

Clearance ranges from 130 mm on the first and second generations and several fifth-generation versions to 142 mm on the fourth-generation 2.4 AT, 4-speed and both restyled fifth-generation versions. Tank capacity is 75 L in the second through fourth generations and 76 L in the fifth generation; first-generation tank capacity is not measured.

Third-generation listed wheels are 205/75 R14, 215/70 R15, and 215/65 R16. Fourth-generation listings include 215/70 R15, 215/65 R16, and 215/60 R17. Wheel sizes for the fifth generation are not measured.

Which Dodge Caravan version should you buy?

Choose the fifth-generation or restyled fifth-generation 3.6 AT when measured acceleration and fuel economy matter most. It combines 283 hp, 7.8-second acceleration, and 11.7 L/100 km combined. Compared with the pre-restyling 4.0 AT, it has 32 hp more, accelerates 1.7 seconds faster, and consumes 0.7 L/100 km less on the combined cycle.

Choose the restyled 3.8 AT if maximum listed horsepower is the priority. Its 287 hp is the highest figure, but performance measurements are incomplete: acceleration and maximum speed are not measured. Its 11.8 L/100 km combined figure is 0.1 L/100 km above the restyled 3.6 AT.

Choose the fourth-generation 2.4 AT, 4-speed for the lowest recorded combined consumption, 10.7 L/100 km. The trade-off is 152 hp and 12.1-second acceleration. The fourth-generation 3.5 AT FWD has 81 hp more and is 3.1 seconds quicker, although its consumption is not measured.

Choose an AWD version only from the second, third, or fourth generations. The fourth-generation 3.5 AT AWD offers 233 hp and 339 Nm, the strongest AWD figures in the supplied data; acceleration and consumption are not measured. The fourth-generation 3.8 AT AWD has 218 hp, 332 Nm, a 10.8-second 0–100 km/h time, and 200 km/h maximum speed, while consumption is not measured.

For a Manual gearbox, the choice is confined to the first three generations. The first-generation Turbo 2.5 MT provides 150 hp and 240 Nm, while the third-generation 2.4 MT provides 152 hp and 226 Nm with either FWD or AWD. Their acceleration, maximum speed, and consumption are mostly not measured, so the data supports a drivetrain choice more confidently than a running-cost comparison.