2019 Dodge Grand Caravan

The Dodge Grand Caravan is the minivan that time forgot. It was last redesigned a decade ago into the shape you see here, and since then has seen key competitors like the Honda Odyssey redesigned three times and the Toyota Sienna twice.

In 2016, Dodge's parent company, Chrysler, rolled out a new upscale van called the Pacifica, leaving this popular box as one of the oldest designs you'll find today in a new-car showroom.

For 2019, the Grand Caravan carries over with no changes.

At the very least, this van gets its motivation from a reputable source, Chrysler's 3.6L "Pentastar" V6, used in vehicles as varied as mid-size SUVs, full-size sedans and here, where it makes 283 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque.

Those numbers are competitive, but this is now the only minivan stuck with a six-speed transmission (all of Dodge's competitors boast at least eight ratios, the Pacifica uses a nine-speed and the Honda Odyssey offers the class's only 10-speed) and that deficit shows up in the Grand Caravan's fuel consumption figures, estimated at 13.7/9.4 L/100 km (city/highway). Those numbers make this the thirstiest minivan on the market.

Grand Caravan trim levels include Canada Value Package (CVP), SXT, SXT Premium Plus, Crew, Crew Plus and GT.

The CVP trim is a pretty basic van whose most notable features are manual dual-zone climate control and heated side mirrors. You have to move up to the SXT (and then option up to the Plus package) to get things like fold-in-floor second-row seating, power second-row windows and alloy wheels.

SXT Premium Plus brings a power driver's seat, and Crew builds on that with three-zone automatic climate control, vehicle information centre, leather-trimmed steering wheel and shifter and fog lights. Crew Plus adds a 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, power sliding doors and tailgate, leather-faced, heated and power adjustable front seats and a garage door opener.

GT trim gets a performance suspension, navigation, nine-speaker stereo, window shades, heated second row seats and a heated steering wheel.