Why is the Dodge Caravan discontinued?

The Dodge Grand Caravan was retired after the 2020 model year in North America, driven by dwindling demand for traditional minivans and a strategic pivot toward the Chrysler Pacifica and a broader shift to SUVs and crossovers.

Historical context and market pressures

The Grand Caravan debuted in 1984 and became a staple of family transport for decades. In recent years, consumer preferences shifted away from two-box minivans toward taller, more versatile crossovers and SUVs. At the same time, automakers faced pressure to update aging platforms, meet stricter safety and efficiency standards, and invest in newer, more profitable products. This combination of declining sales, rising development costs, and the desire to streamline the lineup led Stellantis to end the Grand Caravan in North America and focus on its modern minivan offering.

Here are the main factors that influenced the decision:

• Declining demand for traditional minivans as buyers moved to SUVs and crossovers.


• Rising costs to update an aging minivan platform to current safety, technology, and efficiency standards.


• Strategic consolidation of minivans around a single modern model (Pacifica) to avoid internal competition and simplify development.


• The opportunity to push electrified and more efficient family-transport options, notably the Pacifica Hybrid, over an older gas-only design.

Ultimately, these factors reflect broader automotive market trends and a shift in corporate strategy away from maintaining two overlapping minivan models in the Dodge lineup.

What replaced it and the current minivan lineup

With the Grand Caravan discontinued, Dodge and its parent company redirected minivan duties to the Chrysler Pacifica family, which serves as the brand’s modern minivan offering in North America. The Pacifica lineup includes standard gas models and a plug-in hybrid variant, delivering more efficiency, tech, and versatility than the older Grand Caravan ever did.

Key points about the replacement and lineup shift:

• The Chrysler Pacifica is the primary minivan in Stellantis’ North American lineup, succeeding the older Town & Country lineage and consolidating minivan sales under one modern platform.


• Pacifica variants include a plug-in hybrid option (Pacifica Hybrid), offering greater fuel efficiency and the potential for short all-electric drives.


• Dodge, as a brand, no longer markets a separate new minivan model in North America; customers interested in a Dodge-branded van typically pursue the Pacifica within the Stellantis family.

For buyers today, the practical takeaway is that the Pacifica family has become the focal point for new minivan purchases, while the Grand Caravan remains available only in the used market or as part of legacy fleets in some regions.

Market trends shaping the decision

Analysts cite broader industry movements that influenced the discontinuation. SUVs and crossovers have captured a larger share of family-vehicle demand, and customers increasingly want more efficient powertrains, advanced safety tech, and flexible interiors. Automakers have therefore trimmed redundant models in favor of streamlined, modern offerings that can better compete on safety, fuel economy, and total cost of ownership.

What this means for current and prospective owners

Owners of older Grand Caravans or shoppers evaluating minivans should consider the following:

• New minivan options are dominated by the Chrysler Pacifica family, which offers modern tech, safety features, and a hybrid variant.


• If you prefer a Dodge-branded vehicle, you’ll be looking at the Pacifica within the Stellantis lineup rather than a new Grand Caravan, making a used Grand Caravan a potential option for budget-focused buyers if found in good condition.


• Consider total cost of ownership, including maintenance, fuel economy, insurance, and resale value, which tend to favor newer, more efficient platforms such as the Pacifica Hybrid.

In summary, the discontinuation reflects a market-driven consolidation within Stellantis’ minivan strategy, prioritizing the modern Pacifica lineup and broader SUV demand over maintaining a second Dodge minivan. The shift aligns with industry-wide trends toward more versatile, efficient, and tech-forward family transportation.

Summary

The Dodge Grand Caravan was discontinued due to a combination of declining minivan demand, the high cost of updating an aging design, and a strategic move to concentrate minivan offerings around the Chrysler Pacifica. This decision mirrors wider market trends favoring SUVs and crossovers, as automakers invest in newer, more efficient, and technologically advanced family vehicles. Today, buyers looking for a new minivan in the Stellantis family will find the Pacifica as the primary option, while the Grand Caravan lives on primarily in the used-car market or legacy fleets in some regions.

What car 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. 

Why did they discontinue the Dodge Caravan?

In simple terms, consumer tastes shifted, and minivans stopped selling as well as they once did. FCA's decision to end the Grand Caravan's production was strictly economical, with its 2020 statement saying, "This decision comes as the company works to align volumes with demand."

Will the Dodge Grand Caravan come back?

No, Dodge is not bringing back the Grand Caravan; the model was discontinued in 2020. The nameplate was moved to Chrysler for the 2021 model year, where it is now used for an entry-level minivan that is a version of the Chrysler Pacifica. The discontinuation of the Dodge Grand Caravan was part of the company's shift in focus towards performance vehicles. 
This video shows a first look at the 2026 Dodge Grand Caravan: 44sKMEDIA HUBYouTube · Jul 15, 2025

• The Dodge Grand Caravan was discontinued in 2020: after the 2020 model year. 
• The Grand Caravan nameplate moved to Chrysler: for the 2021 model year. 
• The Chrysler Grand Caravan is now a version of the Chrysler Pacifica: and serves as an entry-level minivan under the Chrysler brand. 
• Dodge is focusing on performance vehicles, so a return of the Grand Caravan under the Dodge brand is unlikely. 

This video shows a full review of the 2025 Grand Caravan interior and exterior: 44sJohnston Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FiatYouTube · Apr 19, 2025

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.