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Driving Impressions
The Caravan's suspension makes it drive like a sedan. The rigid chassis works with the suspension to keep the tires firmly planted in corners. That's definitely a benefit in the Caravan. Tall minivans tend to lean a bit when cutting a corner or hitting a cloverleaf. The Grand Caravan's suspension is so well controlled that even when it leans it feels solidly planted. Power rack-and-pinion steering adds to the responsiveness during abrupt lane-change maneuvers and when negotiating tight turns. The Grand Caravan rides as smoothly and as quietly as many sedans.The 3.8-liter V6 engine that came on our Grand Caravan ES is the biggest engine offered in the Dodge, Chrysler and Plymouth minivans. Rated at 180 horsepower, it provides significantly more punch than the 158-horsepower 3.3-liter engine. The 3.8-liter engine delivers lots of thrust in all situations-whether launching from a standing start, passing slowpokes on the highway or merging into heavy traffic. Coupled with a 4-speed automatic transmission with AutoStick, it really delivers the goods. The Grand Caravan ES goes 0 to 60 in 10.1 seconds. It offers comparable performance to the Honda Odyssey LX, but the Ford Windstar LX and Toyota Sienna XLE have an edge in the drag racing contest. Grand Caravan's front disc and rear drum brakes offer controlled stopping power. All but the base model come standard with anti-lock brakes, which allow the driver to maintain steering control during panic stops.
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