When did Dodge stop making the caravan?
The Dodge Caravan nameplate effectively ended with the 2020 model year; production ceased in early 2020, with the final Grand Caravan reportedly rolling off the line in March 2020 at the Windsor, Ontario plant.
Context and what happened
The Dodge Caravan, introduced in 1984 along with its Plymouth Voyager sibling, helped popularize the modern minivan. Over the years, the lineup evolved, with the Grand Caravan serving as the larger, more feature-rich variant for many generations. In the late 2010s, automakers shifted away from traditional minivans as the market moved toward SUVs and crossovers. FCA (now Stellantis) confirmed that the Grand Caravan would be discontinued after the 2020 model year, marking the end of Dodge’s involvement in the traditional minivan segment for retail customers. Production for the final year was completed in early 2020 at the Windsor Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada.
Timeline of Dodge Caravan production
The following timeline highlights key moments in the Caravan/Voyager lineage and its end.
- 1984 — Dodge introduces the Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager as the first modern, front-wheel-drive minivans, signaling a new era for family transport.
- 1987 — The Grand Caravan variant enters the lineup, offering a longer wheelbase and additional space for families and cargo.
- 1990s–2000s — Generational updates keep the Caravan/Grand Caravan in production, retaining its role as a budget-friendly family minivan alongside the Chrysler Town & Country/Chrysler Pacifica family in the broader minivan segment.
- 2010s — Chrysler reorganizes its lineup; the Pacifica becomes the flagship minivan for the brand, while the Grand Caravan continues in some markets as a lower-cost option, primarily for fleets and value-conscious buyers.
- 2020 — End of production for the Grand Caravan; Dodge does not replace the Caravan with a new retail minivan, signaling a shift toward SUVs and crossovers in Dodge’s consumer lineup.
The timeline reflects how the Caravan evolved from a groundbreaking family vehicle to a model that ultimately ended as part of a broader corporate move away from traditional minivans in favor of SUVs.
What replaced or followed the Caravan in Dodge’s strategy
In the years after the Caravan’s demise, Dodge shifted its emphasis to SUVs and performance-oriented models, while the minivan category in Dodge’s everyday retail lineup diminished. The more spacious and versatile minivan needs in the market continued to be served by other brands and by the Chrysler Pacifica lineup, which remains the primary minivan offering from the parent brand family. Fleet-oriented versions of the Grand Caravan continued to appear briefly in some markets, but there was no direct retail replacement from Dodge for the traditional Caravan.
In summary, Dodge stopped producing the Caravan with the 2020 model year, ending a long-running chapter in North American family transportation. The industry trend toward sport-utility vehicles contributed to the end of Dodge’s minivan era, and the Caravan name has since become a historical reference in Dodge’s product history.
Summary
The Dodge Caravan line concluded in 2020, with the final Grand Caravan produced in early 2020 at Windsor, Ontario. Since then, Dodge has not offered a new retail minivan, reflecting a broader market shift toward SUVs and crossovers within the brand and the broader auto industry.
What is the difference between a caravan and a Grand Caravan?
The main differences are that the Dodge Grand Caravan was a larger, longer-wheelbase model with a more powerful engine (a 3.6L V6), while the Caravan was the shorter-wheelbase version with a smaller base engine (like a 2.4L 4-cylinder or 3.0L V6). The Grand Caravan also often had more premium features, including optional Stow 'n Go seating and dual power sliding doors, which were not always available on the standard Caravan. The Dodge Caravan was produced from 1984 to 2007, while the Grand Caravan had a longer production run until 2020.
This video compares the Dodge Grand Caravan with the Chrysler Town and Country: 57sVitaliy KofmanYouTube · Aug 26, 2020
You can watch this video for a review of the Dodge Grand Caravan: 1mDriven CompanionYouTube · Oct 17, 2021
Key differences
| Feature | Dodge Caravan | Dodge Grand Caravan |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | Shorter | Longer |
| Engine | Smaller base engine, e.g., 2.4L 4-cylinder or 3.0L V6 | More powerful base engine, a 3.6L V6 |
| Horsepower | 150 hp (2.4L engine) | 283 hp (3.6L engine) |
| Torque | 165 lb-ft (2.4L engine) | 260 lb-ft (3.6L engine) |
| Production Run | 1984–2007 | 1987–2020 |
| Premium Features | Less likely to have premium features standard | More likely to have premium features like Stow 'n Go seating and power sliding doors |
| Dimensions | Shorter and narrower overall | Longer and wider overall |
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Which one is right for you?
- Choose the Dodge Caravan if you want a smaller, more basic minivan for city driving and a lower starting price, though fewer options were available compared to the Grand Caravan.
- Choose the Dodge Grand Caravan if you need more space, a more powerful engine for highway driving, and features like power sliding doors and Stow 'n Go seating.
What replaced the Dodge Caravan?
The Dodge Grand Caravan was replaced by the Chrysler Voyager and Chrysler Grand Caravan in 2020, which are both based on the platform of the Chrysler Pacifica. The Chrysler Voyager is sold in the US as a budget-friendly fleet and commercial-focused model, while the Chrysler Grand Caravan is sold in Canada as a similar entry-level option. The more modern Chrysler Pacifica is still available as a premium minivan.
Model breakdown
- Chrysler Pacifica: Introduced in 2017, the Pacifica was the initial modern replacement for both the Grand Caravan and the Chrysler Town & Country. It continues to be sold as the higher-end minivan in Chrysler's lineup.
- Chrysler Voyager: This was the model introduced to replace the Dodge Grand Caravan in the US for the 2020 model year, primarily for fleet and commercial sales.
- Chrysler Grand Caravan: The nameplate was revived for the Canadian market in 2020. It is essentially a rebadged Chrysler Voyager and serves as the new entry-level model in Canada.
Do they make a 2025 Dodge Caravan?
MEET THE 2025 CHRYSLER GRAND CARAVAN
Stow 'n Go® 2nd- and 3rd‑row Seating and Storage. Heated Front Seats and heated leather-wrapped Steering Wheel. Power 12‑way Driver's Seat including 4‑way Power Lumbar Adjust.
Why did Dodge stop making Grand Caravan?
The Dodge Caravan was discontinued primarily because of a shift in consumer demand away from minivans and toward SUVs, as well as the company's strategic decision to focus on higher-performance vehicles. Additionally, declining birth rates and a negative image associated with minivans contributed to the shrinking market, and Stellantis (formerly FCA) phased out the model to streamline its lineup and produce more profitable models.
This video explains the rise and fall of minivans: 55sWheels HistoryYouTube · Jul 16, 2025
Market and strategic factors
- Decline in minivan sales: The overall minivan market has shrunk significantly as consumers increasingly prefer SUVs and crossovers, which were marketed as more adventurous alternatives.
- Company strategy: Dodge (and its parent company, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) decided to refocus on its muscle car and performance lineup, like the Challenger and Charger, which was a more profitable part of the brand.
- Aging platform: The Grand Caravan's design was aging, and it was seen as less modern compared to newer competitors and even its Chrysler sibling, the Pacifica.
- Market saturation: The minivan market was already a staple of American family life, so it had a lower growth potential. Many manufacturers had already introduced their own minivan models, and the market was saturated.
- Declining birth rates: A drop in the birth rate meant that families no longer needed as many large, three-row vehicles, making the minivan less appealing to the average consumer.
Replacement and production
- Chrysler Voyager: To fill the gap, Chrysler introduced the Voyager, a less-expensive version of the Pacifica, for the 2020 model year.
- Production: Production of the Dodge Grand Caravan officially ended in the summer of 2020.
This video explains what the discontinuation of the Dodge Caravan means for the Charger: 58sKnockout 360YouTube · Mar 3, 2020
