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The best mini-van on the market just got a little better as Chrysler Corp. finally added all-wheel drive to its two people- and stuff-haulers, the extended-length Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country.

There may not be a lot of need for the pulling power of all four wheels in Orlando or San Diego, but if you live in the Snow Belt it sure comes in handy.

Chrysler last offered an AWD mini-van in 1994. The feature was then dropped and not added until a year after the all-new second-generation mini-van arrived in 1996.

All Chrysler mini-vans have front-wheel drive, but only extended-length vans offer the extra assurance of all-wheel drive. The regular length vans don’t offer it as a matter of economics since the system adds more than $2,200 to the base price. That’s why there’s no Plymouth version either, just Dodge and Chrysler, in keeping with the theme that Plymouth is the low-cost entry-level division at Chrysler.

With full-time AWD there are no transfer-case knobs to yank, no buttons to push, no dials to turn to engage all four wheels. When the front wheels start to slip, a viscous coupler transfers added torque to the rear wheels as needed to provide added traction for straight-line acceleration, cornering or hill climbing on all surfaces.

During normal driving, up to 90 percent of the engine’s torque (power output) is directed to the front wheels. Since AWD is only activated when needed, the fuel economy numbers are kept respectable–15 m.p.g. city/22 m.p.g. highway with the one-and-only 3.8-liter, 166-h.p. V-6 offered in the AWD van.

We tested the AWD Grand Caravan SE, with AWD adding one more safety feature to a list that includes dual air bags and four-wheel ABS. The vehicle we test drove lacked one other safety feature that anyone with little kids should invest in–the optional ($225) dual-integrated child safety seats that fold out of the second row when needed, fold back in and out-of-sight when not.

Not only do the seats eliminate the need to carry a separate tie-down child seat, they encourage positioning the child in the back where he or she is farthest removed from a front-end collision.

As for seats, sadly the SE version doesn’t offer power adjustable driver/passenger seats. To get fore/aft movement you have to tug at a metal bar that runs the width of the seat underneath it. A small pull lever on the side would be easier to operate. Without power adjustment, passenger-seat movement is especially limited. You lose the hidden compartment under the passenger seat when you add power controls, but there are enough stowage bins that the loss should go unnoticed.

While we’re griping, it would be nice if the van offered a sunroof option to let fresh air in and a power slide-open passenger-side door so you can push a button and let passengers in or out or quickly open the door when approaching with packages.

There are, however, some nice features, including automatic load-leveling suspension with AWD, which helps provide optimum ride/handling/braking control when carrying a full load in back by keeping the vehicle on an even keel; defrosters in the lower windshield to help free the wiper blades of ice and snow in the morning; and a pair of power plugs–one front, one rear–to handle a phone or assorted other accessories during your travels.

And while it doesn’t come with a power slide-open passenger-side door, the Grand Caravan comes with both passenger- and driver-side manual-opening slide-open side doors for ease of entrance and exit. Couldn’t count the number of times we simply slipped open the driver’s-side slider to toss in assorted items during the week-long test drive.

Another benefit–the doors stay in place on inclines.

The AWD Grand Caravan comes only with Chrysler’s 3.8-liter V-6, which has sufficient powe r for most occassions, though you might want to give yourself a few extra feet of launch space on the interstate before pulling into the passing lane.

The suspension is a tad soft for the ride you expect in a family sedan rather than the aggressive maneuvering of a sporty coupe.

Base price is $25,275. You may want to purchase an AWD Chrysler van simply because it carries an “AWD” decal on the hatchlid. Chrysler has sold so many mini-vans you could use the decal to help spot your vehicle .

>> 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan SE AWD mini-van Wheelbase: 119.3 inches Length: 199.6 inches Engine: 3.8-liter, 166-h.p., V-6 Transmission: 4-speed automatic EPA mileage: 15 m.p.g. city/22 m.p.g. highway Base price: $25,275 Price as tested: $27,615. Includes $2,240 for preferred equipment group including air conditioning, rear window defroster, 7-passenger seating, power door locks, power windows including rear quarter vents, illuminated vanity mirrors, floor mats, and deluxe sound insulation; $100 for conventional size spare. Freight runs $580. Pluses: Dual air bags, four-wheel ABS, all-wheel drive, ample seating/storage space, very good sight lines, very good ride and handling and braking. Nice features like power plugs, front and rear, and defroster in windshield to free wipers from snow and ice. Convenience of driver’s side sliding side door. Minuses: Have to move up to LE model to get power seats for optimum positioning, especially for front passenger. Sure could use power opening/closing passenger-side door like General Motors. >>