2017 Dodge Grand Caravan vs 2017 Honda Odyssey
Posted on March 10, 2020
Minivans might not be the things dreams are made of for driving enthusiasts, but they're beyond reproach for what they're designed to do and those who own and drive them tend to love them. A big crossover can manage to carry as many passengers as a minivan, but they're nowhere near as flexible and convenient as a van and they generally cost a lot more too. So, let's take a look a couple of the best of the current bunch by comparing the 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan and the 2017 Honda Odyssey to decide which is better.
Interiors
The Dodge Grand Caravan outpoints the majority of its non-Chrysler rivals due to its superior seating system and by being at least a match for the competition in terms of features for making long-distance trips as comfortable as possible. The Dodge can accommodate up to eight people in some comfort, and it can also keep them pretty entertained along the way too. The Honda Odyssey doesn't have seating anywhere near as flexible as the Dodge, but it's still capable of transporting up to eight people. Both the Dodge and the Honda have plenty of storage spaces, cubby holes and drinks holders, and cargo space is pretty abundant as well. The Honda can be a little more luxurious, but that does come at a price. So, the flexibility of the superb Stow 'N Go seating system hands a win here to the Grand Caravan.
Engines and performance
The normal way of things is usually for a minivan to just have one engine in the range, which is the case here, so it has to be up to the job and the 3.6-litre V-6 in the Grand Caravan certainly is. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard, and the powerplant develops a class-leading 283 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. The Dodge is obviously no sports car, despite that abundance of power, but it's excellent at handling a full load of passengers and cargo with ease. The Odyssey follows the same format with front-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission mated to a V-6 engine, but the Honda's 3.5-litre unit only delivers 248 horsepower and 250 lb.-ft., so the Dodge Grand Caravan takes the honours again.
Styling
How a minivan looks probably didn't used to be as important as it is today to buyers, but consumers are now more discerning than they used to be. Having to fight harder for buyers with much more desirable crossovers means modern minivans have to try to at least be as stylish as they can. The Grand Caravan hasn't changed a lot since being launched back in the 1980s, but the boxy shape does provide outstanding outward visibility for all inside, and it pretty much looks just how we expect a van to look. The Honda Odyssey also has a few years under its belt, but the Japanese automaker does appear to have made considerable effort to make the Odyssey look better than it used to with features such as the lightning bolt-style window line and that Toyota signature grille. This round we'll have to award as a narrow victory for the Honda.
Verdict
The practicality, capability and versatility offered by these two minivans is very much what buyers want and need, especially families. There can't really be any such thing as a minivan that isn't all of the above, but the 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan is just that little bit more of all the above than the Honda, especially as the Dodge also costs less
The 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan is available right now from Caledon Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, so get in touch today for more information and to arrange a test drive in this family champion of a vehicle.