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Dodge is serious about capturing more sales in the heart of the minivan segment, so it developed the Grand Caravan EX. Outfitted with the most popular equipment Ð power passenger-side door, 3.8-liter engine, dual-zone climate control, alloy wheels, power liftgate, movable center console and second-row captain’s seats Ð it is priced at $26,070 plus $655 for delivery. The bulk of minivan sales take place in the $26,000 to $27,000 range, and the EX was created specifically for that segment.

Chrysler also has an EX version of the Town and Country and it starts at $26,175. “We continue to dominate the top and bottom of the minivan market,” said Frank J. Ewasyshyn, senior vice president and general manager of DaimlerChrysler minivan operations. “We’re now focusing even more on the heart of the minivan segment.”

With the EX, DaimlerChrysler wants to challenge competing vans on content as well as price. What’s missing? The most notable item is the lack of a power slider for the left-side door. The logic must be that a power liftgate is more useful than a power door on the driver’s side of the vehicle, but I would rather have a left-side power door and a manual liftgate. When we took our grandkids to lunch I discovered that getting children in through both doors would have been easier if I didn’t have to set the smallest child down to open the door on the driver’s side. Power sliding doors are a godsend when dealing with toddlers because the doors can be opened when your arms are full.

A minivan, by its nature, is the most family-friendly vehicle around. It can swallow multiple kids, car seats, toys and portable cribs like few other vehicles. When it’s not busy hauling the family, it can transport bicycles, lawn mulch or wood for home improvement projects.

The split-folding third seat tumbles forward when extra luggage space is required, but it has to be taken out for hauling large objects. Small rollers on each seat make removal easy, but I much prefer a third seat that can be folded into the cargo floor.

DaimlerChrysler’s 2001 family of front-wheel-drive minivans was redesigned from the inside out with an emphasis on making the interior as useful as possible. Function, flexibility and convenience were key goals.

Aside from the power liftgate and power side door, people-friendly items include a climate control system with three zones so that driver and front- and rear-seat passengers can each have their own temperature.

Another good example is the center console that sits between the front seats. It has a power outlet inside and a holder for a cell phone and a small pack of tissues fits in the lid. If you have captain’s chairs in the second row, the console can be moved back there if it is more convenient. Cupholders on the second-row captainÕs seats are built into the outside so they don’t interfere with the console or the optional video system.

The seats on the new vehicle have firm padding and they are shaped to be supportive without being confining. I like captain’s seats in the second row because they are more comfortable than a bench, plus the space between them eases access to the third seat. The EX’s cloth upholstery is cool in the summer and warm in the winter, although I suspect spills might tend to stain easier than leather.

Part of the redesign included boosting the power of the 3.8-liter V-6 engine to 215 horsepower. The 3.8 has good low-speed throttle response, and the added power gives it the muscle to handle a full load of people.

The 2001 has less wind and road noise than the previous generation, and a stiffer body results in a tighter ride and less wiggle felt through the steering wheel. About 47 pounds of steel, mostly in front, were added to provide better lower leg protection in an offset frontal crash. Other safety improvements: airbags that deploy with three levels of force, depending on the severity of the impact; optional side airbags in t front seats; and seatbelt pretensioners that tighten the belts when the airbag deploys.

The EX gets standard four-wheel, anti-lock disc brakes. The brakes are larger than last year and inspire greater confidence. Traction control is standard, too. A brake proportioning valve compensates for changing loads by varying the amount of front/rear braking force.

With its EX vans, the Chrysler Group expands its minivan lineup to 17 models. From short-wheelbase simplicity to extended-wheelbase luxury, there is a model to suit just about every need. By developing on the EX, the company has a product that should fit the majority of its customers at a competitive price.

Price The base price of a Grand Caravan EX is $26,070. With side airbags and destination charges, the sticker price is $27,370.

Warranty Three years or 36,000 miles.

Point:The Grand Caravan EX is popularly equipped and competitively priced, which makes it appealing to those who are shopping imports or competing brands. The new design is conservative but geared toward improved function and flexibility, two key ingredients of a minivan.

Counterpoint: Because power side doors make it so easy to get kids inside, I would trade a left-side power door for the power liftgate. I still prefer a third seat that folds into the floor instead of seats that have to be taken out for added cargo space.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Engine: 3.8-liter, 215-hp V-6
Transmission: automatic Front-wheel drive
Wheelbase: 119.3 inches
Curb weight: 4,219 lbs.
Base price: $26,070
As driven: $27,390
Mpg rating: 18 city, 24 hwy.
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