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Dodge Grand Caravan News & Reviews

   2011 Dodge Charger Road Test Review

"OK, so we've got this great platform we've inherited from Mercedes that's doing well as the Chrysler 300. We're thinking it'd

Dodge has finally given its Charger the styling its legendary name deserved. (Photo: Dodge)

be good for Dodge to have a large car too. What can you come up with?"

And that was essentially the conversation that led to the development of what ultimately became known as the Dodge Charger. And therein lies the rub. The people working on the car knew they were working on a large sedan for Dodge, but they didn't know it was going to be called a Charger. That decision came after the car was done.

When it came time for the update though, they knew they were doing a Charger-and it shows! The new design bristles with heritage cues from the iconic Chargers produced between 1968 and 1970 both outside and inside the car. Yet, the 2011 Charger also projects a fresh, contemporary appearance. The new Charger's interior is miles ahead of the one it replaces. Still businesslike in every respect, the extreme austerity of the previous edition has been left behind.

Two engines are available <Read More>

   2010 Dodge Ram 1500 Road Test Review

Of the four brands in Chrysler's portfolio, the latter being Ram, which has now been spun off into its own separate entity, it's difficult

The Ram 1500 remains a bold face in the pickup truck segment. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

to knock the newest. Dodge, the brand that until recently carried the Ram nameplate, has had its fair share of ill-conceived products, or at least vehicles that haven't measured up to their segment rivals, whereas Ram trucks are every bit as good as their competitors and clearly better than each and every one of them in some respects.

Most noticeable is styling, although this is a personal preference issue. I've always liked the highway rig design elements Dodge has incorporated into its Ram, a design language that's so good that number one truck seller Ford emulated it for its heavy duty F-250, F-350 and F-450 models. The new Ram 2500 and 3500 models offer a bigger and bolder grille too, although while not as intimidating as the heavy duty Fords or its own heavy duty siblings, the reverse-canted chrome crosshair grille on my recent tester is hardly something to scoff at, especially if it's coming up into your rearview mirror.

The <Read More>

   2010 Dodge Ram 1500 Road Test Review

Of the four brands in Chrysler's portfolio, the latter being Ram, which has now been spun off into its own separate entity, it's difficult

The Ram 1500 remains a bold face in the pickup truck segment. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

to knock the newest. Dodge, the brand that until recently carried the Ram nameplate, has had its fair share of ill-conceived products, or at least vehicles that haven't measured up to their segment rivals, whereas Ram trucks are every bit as good as their competitors and clearly better than each and every one of them in some respects.

Most noticeable is styling, although this is a personal preference issue. I've always liked the highway rig design elements Dodge has incorporated into its Ram, a design language that's so good that number one truck seller Ford emulated it for its heavy duty F-250, F-350 and F-450 models. The new Ram 2500 and 3500 models offer a bigger and bolder grille too, although while not as intimidating as the heavy duty Fords or its own heavy duty siblings, the reverse-canted chrome crosshair grille on my recent tester is hardly something to scoff at, especially if it's coming up into your rearview mirror.

The <Read More>

   480 Horsepower and 8-Speed Auto in 2011 Challenger SRT8?

Once Chrysler-group's 6.1-litre Hemi V8 seemed all-powerful, but since the Challenger SRT8 had to go up against Ford's 500-plus

Dodge has gone plum crazy with the 2011 Challenger SRT8, which will push out 480hp and 460 lb-ft of torque! (Photo: Dodge)

horsepower Shelby Mustang GT500, the 425-hp muscle car seems a bit on the conservative side.

While it might now sport quite as much power as the top-tier Mustang, the new Challenger SRT8's mill will be enhanced with 0.3 litres of extra oomph that is reported to add 55 horsepower to the mix for 480, while torque is expected to reach 460 lb-ft. This would all be good news if it weren't for the 2011 model's transmissions, but rather the news is great being that Dodge is expected to add three more gears to the current five-speed unit, for a nice even eight forward speeds! More gears equal improved fuel economy as well as better performance.

The new transmission, co-developed by Chrysler and ZF, will be used by other Challenger models, <Read More>

   2010 Dodge Caliber Road Test Review

Let's get one unpleasant fact out of the way right at the start -- the Dodge Caliber is not the darling of many automotive enthusiasts.

Few people have ever complained about how the Caliber looks... it's a sporty, solid looking five-door. (Photo: Dodge)

The Caliber came along in 2007 to replace the Dodge Neon; and though it's a slightly larger, much more useful and arguably a better vehicle, it hasn't exactly lit the automotive world on fire.

The Caliber's five-door hatchback body style is a versatile setup that puts it head-to-head with enthusiast darlings like the Mazda3 and Volkswagen Golf, and tepid performance from the base engine doesn't match up. Dodge wasted no time in getting aggressive R/T and SRT4 models onto the streets, but for some reason the Caliber still hasn't caught on in a big way and they were discontinued. Now Dodge has revised the model lineup that continues forward with the Canada Value Package, SE and SXT trims. So what's the matter with the Caliber, then?

Well, it certainly lacks manners. <Read More>

   2010 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic Road Test Review

"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways." These beautiful words were written by one of my favourite poets, Elizabeth Barrett

The Challenger R/T is one hot looking car! (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

Browning. If you're a fan of Victorian literature, you may have heard of her. She also just happened to be married to another famous poet by the name of Robert Browning. Back then, and even still today they're kind of a big deal.
 
Now if you are wondering why Victorian poets have anything to do with the 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic, I'll explain. As I was driving around this sexy hunk of burning muscle, the lines of that poem popped into my head, only it went a little like this, "Why do I love the Challenger so much? Well, let me tell you…"
 
For one, I'm into looks. A car that looks good scores points with me. That's just the kind of gal I am! I couldn't help but fall in love with the Challenger's physique. It is heavily influenced by the original/first generation <Read More>

   Chrysler Getting into the Sport Van Game?

Is the minivan segment set to make a major rebound? Once a thriving segment serving almost every family in North America, the so-called "soccer mom" stigma did as good a job

Now that's a family hauler! (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

  of reducing the number of brands building what many see as the most practical vehicle ever made as the environmental movement did in nearly wiping out the full-size SUV. Like people who need to tow heavy loads continue to opt for large sport utes, those that need to haul a lot of people continue to go the minivan route. But could a cool minivan cause buyers to aspire to the segment?

That's a question no one seemed to be asking when Toyota answered it with the new 2010 Sienna SE, and one that Honda appears ready to respond to with a much more stylish 2011 Odyssey. Dodge is by far the number one minivan brand, however, so will Auburn Hills create a sport van of its own?

The Wall Street Journal reports that Chrysler's sportier Dodge brand could bring a performance-oriented minivan to market within a few months, <Read More>

   2010 Dodge Journey Road Test Review

Let's get one thing completely straight: the next time I hear somebody criticize the Dodge Journey for not delivering premium

A smart looking crossover SUV, the Journey also represents superb value. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

levels of interior materials quality I'm gonna flick him on a side of his ear with my middle finger for not thinking before he speaks.

First of all, the Dodge Journey has a pretty good interior all-round compared to a number of its competitors, except for a couple of substandard items such as a difficult-to-open central storage bin atop the dash and a really cheesy feeling glove compartment lid. The dash itself is soft-touch plastic all the way across, and there are soft squishy plastics elsewhere in the interior too, which is something that Toyota can't say for its much lauded Highlander; the Japanese car is all hard and cheap inside, but you won't hear the pundits complain despite an entry fee (you'd better sit down for this) that's $13,455 more expensive.

That's right. <Read More>

   2010 Dodge Avenger R/T Road Test Review

The Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger get a lot of flack from critics for not measuring up to segment expectations, and to be

The Avenger is good looking midsize sedan... (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

fair to the naysayers the former Sebring, at least, was a very attractive car that sold extremely well, so for many the new one has been a letdown.  The new Avenger, however, takes the styling reins from Chrysler and hands them over to Dodge thanks to Charger design cues, and the overall look is good, especially in upgraded R/T trim like my tester. 

Let's get real for a minute.  Despite criticism from auto journalists and other industry types the Dodge Avenger sells quite well, and one of the reasons it gets the nod by so many midsize consumers is the appealing styling I just mentioned.  The other is price, and with an MSRP of $20,245 for the base SE, making it the lowest priced midsize sedan on the market, it packs a pretty good punch.  Then factor in discounts that can be in <Read More>

   2010 Dodge Journey R/T Road Test Review

The 2010 Dodge Journey R/T is what I would call a workhorse; it gets the job done without a lot of fuss.  It doesn't require a ton

It looks small from the outside, but the Journey can seat up to seven. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

of grooming to keep it looking good, it won't break the bank when it comes to buying one and it does its job very well.  It's these characteristics that make the Journey, and other Dodge vehicles, very appealing. 

A common thread I find between Dodges is that no matter what trim level you're purchasing, whether the top-of-the-line or the base model, it's almost impossible to feel lost when you step inside.  Usually, the Dodge interiors are pretty straightforward, there aren't a lot of buttons and they aren't super fancy. The standard features are abundant and they are reliable modes of transportation. The Journey fits this mold. 

From the outside, the Journey has an athletic appearance and a signature front grille.  <Read More>