Back in July of 2019, Automotive News Canada reported that the Dodge Grand Caravan was forecasted to finally head for retirement, with production coming to an end on May 22, 2020. In its place, parent-company FCA would release the all-new Chrysler Voyager.
Aside from the resurrected Voyager name, foreseeing the demise of the Grand Caravan might have been sad news for minivan aficionados. After all, it was the Dodge Caravan (alongside its Plymouth Voyager twin) that got the whole minivan movement rolling in the first place back in 1984. But, finally shelving the model after the 2020 production cycle is not exactly an unexpected move considering the current generation Grand Caravan made its debut for the 2008 model year and really hasn’t seen many updates since then.
Not that the lack of updates or restyling has been a problem for the Grand Caravan, which remains the sales leader at Dodge, outselling the Durango and the Charger. Even with an all-new Chrysler Pacifica minivan hitting the market in 2017, the Grand Caravan still holds its own, and then some.
While a bit of the Grand Caravan’s continued success may be based on price (a top-rated Grand Caravan SXT costs about the same as the entry-level Pacifica Touring), a large portion of its sales comes from fleets, especially rental car companies.
Anecdotally, when this author rented a Grand Caravan in Orlando over the summer the rental company had so many on the lot, he basically had his choice of colors, ending up with a black on black GC SXT – quite sporty for sure.
As for the Chrysler Pacifica, it might cost a bit more, but what you get is a vehicle that is light years beyond the Grand Caravan in every respect, from styling and safety to available technology. Not to knock the Dodge GC, but overall, the Pacifica is simply a generation ahead.
It’s no surprise that the Pacifica has become the best seller over at Chrysler. Of course, becoming the best selling Chrysler isn’t necessarily a challenge, considering that Chrysler only makes two vehicles.
Until now, that is.
Enter the all-new Chrysler Voyager. We say ‘all-new’, but it’s quite clear from whence this Voyager evolved. Although, we’re not sure why Chrysler dusted off an old nameplate from Plymouth’s history instead of creating a new (Pacifica-based) Grand Caravan. Perhaps this is a signal that things will be shaking up over at Dodge and a minivan doesn’t quite fit in with the ‘next generation’ of the Brotherhood of Muscle.
One might consider the Voyager a ‘low cost’ Pacifica, but even if it is, it’s still a significant advancement over the trusty Grand Caravan.
While mulling all of this over, have a quick look at this video coverage of the new 2020 Plymouth…, er Chrysler Voyager:
