2019 Dodge Grand Caravan vs 2019 Honda Odyssey
Posted on July 31, 2020
Choosing the right family minivan for you and your family is a big decision and it's one you'll want to get right. To help make things easier, here we put two of the potential minivan contenders for your business up against each other by comparing the 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan with the 2019 Honda Odyssey.
Exterior styling
Exterior styling isn't the strongest attribute of any minivan as much of the concentration of buyers and designers is understandably focused on the interior. However, looks still matter, and this is an area where the Honda has a slight advantage. The main reason the Honda takes the opening skirmish is because it's a newer design, and the Honda Odyssey isn't stylish enough for this minor victory to deliver anything close to a fatal blow to the Dodge Grand Caravan.
Engines
Vehicles designed to carry this many people and their belongings need a powerful engine, and both of these live up to that particular requirement. Under the hood of the Odyssey is a 3.5-litre V-6 that develops 280 horsepower, which is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. There's not much in it here, but the Dodge does take the victory thanks to its 3.6-liter V-6 powerplant boasting 283 horsepower, which is three more than its rival.
Trim levels
Every family is different and has different interests and needs, so having a wide selection of trim levels available is going to be important to a lot of buyers. The Honda has a wide range of models with six trim levels of LX, EX, EX-Res, EX-L Res, EX-L Navi and Touring. That's beaten here by the Grand Caravan though, which is now available in eight different variants of CVP (Canada Value Package), SE Plus, SXT, SXT Plus, SXT Premium Plus, Crew, Crew Plus and GT.
Seating
Both minivans have large, spacious, flexible and versatile interiors, and both can seat up to seven occupants in their entry-level forms. Both also have their own proprietary flexible seating systems, which in the Dodge is Stow 'n' Go and in the Honda is Magic Slide. Both systems offer tons of flexibility, but this is an area Dodge has more experience in and the Grand Caravan is a little more flexible and versatile than the Honda Odyssey.
Verdict
If you're a family with an almost unlimited budget, you're probably not looking for a minivan in the first place. That means affordability and value for money are likely to feature high on the list of priorities for most potential buyers, and for that and for the amount of choice and flexibility it offers, we'd recommend the 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan over its Honda rival. The Honda Odyssey has an MSRP starting from $35,490, while the Dodge Grand Caravan is priced at an affordable $25,195.
For more details about the Grand Caravan and to try one out for yourself on a test drive, get in touch with us today here at Caledon Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, your premier choice Dodge dealership, in Bolton, ON.