Redesigned 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan Pushing Revolution
Minivans have lost their relevancy.SUVs and crossovers have taken minivan thunder away long ago. Even the most pragmatic buyers have moved to the larger crossover SUVs with their 3rd row seats and seven passenger capacities. Minivans have been relegated to mundane pariah. Where's the love? Is there anything that can bring sexy back to minivans?
Leave it to the folks who invented the category. Chrysler and Dodge have made an ingenious attempt to bring their progeny out of the ditch and back to consumers' good graces. And all by adding just one feature may single-handedly bring the old, tired minivan back as a contender. They've taken traveling to a whole new level where passengers are no longer just riding to their destinations, but "living" to their destinations. What does that mean? Imagine kids no longer just glued to an overhead DVD player or aimlessly gazing out the passenger window. They can no be social! They can play a board game! Have a social meal. Who know, even play a hand or two of poker.
What makes this possible is the new "Swivel and Go" seating. The new Dodge Grand Caravan and its Chrysler Town & Country sibling offer second row seats that turn 180 degrees to face completely backward. Add to this a stowable mini-table and you've now created a mobile living room. It's a real living environment.
Several years ago I remember seeing various concept cars touting how the auto interiors would somehow become these spacious cabins with full living amenities. I laughed at it. But now I eat my words as I see how this can actually happen. All that is left is to add some great fuel efficient engine that can be powerful enough to move a 2-ton vehicle while still being cost-effective and easy on the environment.
Seems like the minivan has come a long way, and with some tinkering and further refinement the "mobile living room" could really shape things to come in minivans. Who knows, it may create a whole new automotive category - familiar territory for Chrysler.
What really makes this revolutionary is that Chrysler has created new and needed differentiation to make the minivan category more relevant. Are minivans big? Sure. Are they considered uncool? Perhaps. Do they use a lot of gas? Naturally. But the good old reliable benefits are there: for a family hauler, nothing could be better. Sliding doors mean easy parking lot entry and exit with no swinging doors to get in the way. Practicality does have its merits.
Labels: chrysler, dodge, grand caravan, minivan, review
posted by Michael Shogun @ 8:55 AM
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