2008 Dodge Grand Caravan

While SUVs and crossover vehicles have become de rigueur in the world of family hauling, we'll always have a soft spot in our hearts for the perennial favorite, the good old minivan. To us, nothing says minivan like a Dodge, who pretty much invented the segment in 1984 with the original and much-imitated Caravan. In fact, I spent a large portion of my youth in the backseat of one of those, looking straight ahead wondering why I was forced to play soccer instead of football.

But recently, minivans have gotten a little--well, a lot--more staid in the last few years. While most of the bling has gone into the SUV, the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan goes a long way to change that image and present a compelling case for owning something smaller, more fuel-efficient and let’s face it, old school.

“While we love our soccer moms, we know they aren’t the only moms out there. We wanted to include the Harley moms too,” says Kathy Graham, Manager, Minivan Product PR at DaimlerChrysler. Graham has been known to haul her hog around with her minivan and that’s the point of the Grand Caravan. “Dodge is aimed at an active and younger buyer. It’s a “do more” minivan, it’s the family helper.” says Ann Fandozzi, Director, Front-wheel Drive Product Planning.