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Minivans aren’t as popular as they once were, but that didn’t matter to my grandkids. They loved the Dodge Grand Caravan.

After all, what youngsters wouldn’t like a vehicle with three TV screens, satellite television and two DVD players? It’s no wonder Dodge calls it a “family room on wheels.”

We took our two youngest grandchildren, ages 6 and nearly 3, to a drive-in for lunch in the Grand Caravan. Sirius backseat TV has three channels – Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and Cartoon Network Mobile – that are delivered through the satellite radio service. When you’re parked, the LCD screen in the dash can also display videos. Eating lunch in the vehicle wasn’t nearly as much fun as checking out all of the entertainment options.

A 30-gigabyte hard disc can store music, photos and videos, and there’s an iPod interface as well.

The combination of screens and different input sources means kids in the second and third rows can watch different programs or movies.

The test vehicle from Chrysler’s press fleet was a Grand Caravan SXT. The base price was $29,325, and the sticker price was $41,915 due to the long list of entertainment items.

The test car was equipped with a dealer-installed mobile WiFi connection that turns the vehicle into a mobile WiFi spot. Called Autonet Mobile, the system connects to the

Web via a 3G cell system. Passengers can surf the Web, make dinner reservations or upload photos to Web sites, all while on the go. The cost is $449 plus $29 per month.

Dodge also added a blind-spot monitor and a rear path monitor that alerts the driver if any traffic is moving toward the vehicle when it is in reverse.

In addition to the entertainment items mentioned above, the current-generation Dodge minivan, and its cousin, the Chrysler Town & Country, have optional swiveling seats and second-row seats that fold into the floor. Combine the folding seats with a third seat that folds into the floor and you can create a huge cargo space without ever removing the seats.

I’ve always thought a minivan was the single most utilitarian family vehicle on the planet because it can haul more people, and more stuff, in a reasonably sized footprint, with decent gas mileage.

The test car was equipped with the 251-horsepower, 4.0-liter V-6 and six-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy is rated at 17 miles per gallon in the city and 24 on the highway.

The Stow ‘n Go seats that fold into the floor are tremendously handy when you need a flat cargo space for hauling large items. The second- and third-row seats tumble into bins in the floor. These bins are also great places for hidden storage when the seats are upright.

The third seat tips over backward to create a seat for tailgating. The small table from inside can be mounted on the trailer hitch as a place for outdoor picnicking.

In spite of the fact that these new vans are larger in every dimension, they don’t feel big on the road. Wind and road noise are nicely muted.

Price

The test vehicle’s base price was $29,325. Options included heated leather seats, blind-spot monitor, rear-seat entertainment center, trailer towing package, 17-inch alloy wheels, three-zone climate control system, wireless headphones, power sunroof, overhead console, rearview camera, power side doors and a power tailgate. The sticker price was $41,915.

Warranty

Three years or 36,000 miles with a lifetime powertrain warranty.

2009 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT

Engine: 4.0-liter, 251-hp V-6

Transmission: Automatic

Front-wheel drive

Wheelbase: 121.2 inches

Base price: $29,325

As driven: $41,915

MPG rating: 17 city, 24 hwy.

Tom Strongman’s e-mail address is tom@tomstrongman.com. Tom Strongman’s e-mail address is tom@tomstrongman.com.