If you have a growing family, a band or just like a vehicle that has plenty of room for passengers, a minivan is an excellent choice. Only the best minivans survived the small minivan market and today there are only seven different minivans available. Here’s a comparison between two of the most affordable minivans in 2016, the Dodge Grand Caravan and Nissan Quest.
2016 Dodge Grand Caravan R/T
Affordability and options are important to the minivan market, and the Dodge Grand Caravan lineup has that in spades. Knowing that finances are important to a growing family or business, Dodge created the Dodge Grand Caravan American Value Package (AVP), which has a starting price of $23,595 making it the most affordable minivan on the market by almost $3,000.
However, to give people options, Dodge created the Grand Caravan R/T, a minivan infused with Road/Track technology, giving it a little more zest than the average minivan. Not only does this minivan offer optimal power, it also comes with excellent interior space, modern tech and Stow ‘n Go seating. The MSRP for the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan R/T starts at $32,495.
2016 Nissan Quest Platinum
The Nissan Quest is another family minivan that’s roomy and versatile. The base Nissan Quest, the Quest S, starts at $26,580, making it one of the most affordable minivans, but still nowhere near the Grand Caravan’s affordability. However, the top Nissan Quest trim, the Quest Platinum, does offer a lot of power and bells and whistles like the Grand Caravan, but buyers are going to pay for that, MSRP for the 2016 Nissan Quest Platinum starts at $42,230.
Engine
2016 Dodge Grand Caravan R/T
Under the hood of the Dodge Grand Caravan is a 283-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 24-valve engine with VVT. “VVT” stands for “variable valve timing,” a process integrated into many engines today to increase performance and optimize fuel efficiency. The gears shift with a 6-speed automatic transmission with AutoStick, a driver-interactive transaxle shifting process that provides clutchless manual shifting. All of this helps the Dodge Grand Caravan to average 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg when on the highway.
2016 Nissan Quest Platinum
The Nissan Quest Platinum is powered by a 3.5L-liter DOHC 24-valve V6 engine. “DOHC” stands for “Double Overhead Cam”, meaning the engine has two camshafts and outperform cars with just one cam shaft. However, it’s horsepower clocks in at 260 horses. The Nissan Quest has an average fuel economy of 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway .
Interior
Both the Nissan Quest and Dodge Grand Caravan are 7-passenger minivans that have three-zone climate control and backup cameras, but there is one big difference between the Grand Caravan and the Nissan Quest — and that is interior volume.
The Dodge Grand Caravan offers two advantages. It has a total of 143 cubic feet of interior volume, when the seats are folded down, and it has second- and third-row Stow ‘n Go seating and the third-row seats can be rotated to face the back of the vehicle for tailgating or camping.
Stow ‘n Go seating is an awesome feature that is unique to the Grand Caravan and the new Chrysler Pacifica. Whether up or down, Stow ‘n Go seating is a very easy and convenient seating technology that offers maximum cargo space. When someone wants to get rid of the second- or third-row seating, all one has to do is fold the seats down into the floor. And when not in use, the storage compartment that would hold the seats can be used as a covered storage compartment.
Seats on the Nissan Quest, or almost all other minivans, do not have the option to fold into the floor. When the Nissan Quest’s second- and third-row seats are folded flat, there is a total of 108.4 cubic feet of interior volume.
Safety
Along with fuel economy, engine and interior options, safety is a big factor for people looking for a new minivan. Both minivans have advanced dual-stage or multi-stage airbag system with supplemental side-airbags, active head restraints, and an engine immobilizer. However, that’s where the similarities end.
The Nissan Quest Platinum comes standard with blind-spot warning, moving object detection, and zone body construction. The Dodge Grand Caravan R/T has options for blind spot monitoring and ParkSense Rear Park Assist.
Warranty
Both the Grand Caravan and Nissan Quest are backed by the typical 3-year or 36,000-mile basic warranty and 5-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. However, the Dodge Grand Caravan also comes with roadside assistance for 5 years or 100,000 miles and rust-through protection for the same duration.
Photo source: dodge.com