2008 Dodge Grand Caravan

Boasting the interior dimensions of a small living room, the original minivan has been redesigned—and reinvigorated—for 2008

Over the last century, you could probably count on one, and certainly no more than two, hands the number of vehicles that have truly revolutionized the automotive world: the Model T was one, the Volkswagen Beetle another. In recent decades, the Chrysler minivan would have to be at the top of the sea change list.

Yes, we've heard it argued that VW's Microbus came first, but it took Chrysler's versatile offerings to take the minivan mainstream. And in spite of all the jibes that "people movers" take on sitcoms and late-night talk shows, despite the competition from crossovers and SUVs, no multipurpose products are better suited to day-to-day suburban American family life.

In the nearly quarter century since Chrysler introduced its first Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager models—the Chrysler Town & Country followed, a few years later—the automaker has fought off an array of domestic and import competitors, and still commands roughly half the U.S. minivan market. To stay on top requires constant improvement and innovation, so TheCarConnection.com's editors wanted to see whether Chrysler still has what it takes as it gets ready to roll out the latest generation of minivans, for 2008.

On a cool, damp morning in San Diego , we got our first look at the production Dodge Grand Caravan. True, we'd seen the new minivan before, but on an auto show stage, you don't really get a good feel for what the '08 people mover really looks and feels like. Sitting on the side of the road, the first word that came to mind was "big," real big.

Stow and swivel

The fifth-generation Caravan—and its sibling, the T&C—are a full six inches wider than the '07 models, while the wheelbase and overall length have been stretched by two inches. Like Chrysler's latest Jeep SUV models, the new minivans are decidedly more upright in appearance, something that translates into an even more cavernous feel for those inside.

And if the 2008 Caravan begins to boast the interior dimensions of a small living room, it certainly seems appropriate to provide the sort of conveniences one might expect at home.

With the prior, fourth-generation vans, Chrysler introduced its Stow 'N Go system; both the second- and third-row seats could quickly be folded flat into the floor, providing a positively huge cargo compartment.

With the new '08s, Stow 'N Go is back in both the Caravan—it's standard on the SXT model—and the Town & Country. But the automaker goes one better, adding new Swivel 'N Go seats. With this optional system, the middle row can turn rearward—only while the vehicle is parked—so you create a living room-like environment. There's even a foldaway table so folks can share dinner, play cards or simply communicate, face-to-face.

Meanwhile, the power-operated back row bench can be flopped over to serve as a tailgate seat.

For 2008, Chrysler designers have done a good job updating the Grand Caravan. The goal was to create a more powerful, dynamic look and while it went unsaid during the media preview, Dodge hoped to make the new models look a bit more rugged. The Caravan gets a bigger, bolder chrome grille with a larger Ram icon in the center. The front end intentionally resembles the Dodge Charger, down to the "sneering" eyebrows over the headlights and the low-mounted fog lamps. From the side, there's a more SUV-like, two-box feel, rather than the conventional one-box minivan shape.