A new Sport model joins the lineup of Dodge's popular minivan for 2000, while air conditioning and dual sliding doors are now standard on the lowest-priced Caravan. Caravan shares its design with the Chrysler Town & Country and the Chrysler--formerly Plymouth--Voyager. All come in extended-length models, with Caravan and Voyager also offering regular-length versions. And all three will be redesigned for 2001, with fresh styling and new features, including two power sliding side doors and a power rear liftgate.
Base and SE Caravans come in both body lengths. LE, ES, and the new Sport are extended-length Grand models. Standard seating includes front buckets with second- and third-row benches. Second-row buckets are available, as are two integrated second-row child safety seats. All configurations seat seven. Two sliding side doors are standard, even on the base regular-length Caravan, where the driver-side slider had been optional.
Regular-length Caravans use a 4-cylinder engine or optional V6s of 3.0 and 3.3 liters. Grands get the 3.0 and 3.3, plus a 3.8-liter V6. The 4-cylinder comes with a 3-speed automatic transmission, V6s with a 4-speed automatic. ES models get the 3.8 and Chrysler's Autostick transmission with a separate gate for manual shifting. Front-wheel drive is standard. Traction control is standard on ESs and optional on 3.8-liter LEs.
All-wheel drive (AWD) is optional on LE and ES Grand Caravans and is standard on the Sport. The Sport also includes the 3.8 V6, load-levelling suspension, fog lights, and a rear spoiler. Antilock brakes are optional on base models, standard on other Caravans. AWD models have 4-wheel discs. Standard on ES models and optional on SE models are 17-inch wheels and tires, the largest on any minivan.
A $1500 option on Town & Country, Caravan, and Voyager is a dealer-installed rear-seat video entertainment system that includes a VCR, 6.4-inch liquid crystal display screen, headphones, and remote control.