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The Dodge Grand Caravan is an established seven-seat minivan, and is known as a no-nonsense family hauler, designed to fit within a budget and well known for being roomy and reliable. It comes in six trim levels, with one being called the American Value Package, which sounds like something for the budget-minded. The others are the SE, SE Plus, SXT, SXT Plus and R/T. All trim levels come with the same 3.6L V6 Flex-fuel engine and 6-speed automatic transmission.

2016 Dodge Grand Caravan trim levels:

  • American Value Package
  • SE
  • SE Plus
  • SXT
  • SXT Plus
  • R/T

Dodge Grand Caravan American Value Package

The American Value package is the basic trim level for the caravan, although it still comes with heated mirrors and a tilt and telescopic steering wheel. The air conditioning is dual zone and it has an auxiliary transmission fluid cooler. It has good safety features including auto delay off headlamps, head airbags in all three rolls, post-collision safety system and height adjustable headrests. Options include body color running boards, aluminum wheels, light graystone seats and an engine block heater.

Highlights:

  • Auxiliary transmission fluid cooler
  • Auto delay off headlamps
  • Cloth bucket front seats

Dodge Grand Caravan SE

The SE is the next up. The primary difference between this and the American Value is the leather and simulated alloy steering wheel. It adds a rear DVD player as an option. Like all of the Grand Caravan trim options, it is a very incremental improvement - in fact, it is probably worth considering specific features individually.

Highlights:

  • Leather and simulated alloy steering wheel
  • Optional rear DVD player
  • Optional engine block heater

Dodge Grand Caravan SE Plus

The SE Plus trim level is very close to the SE. It adds premium cloth seats, an electrochromatic inside rearview mirror and painted alloy wheels. The steering wheel is leather rather than leather and simulated alloy - but otherwise this is essentially the same vehicle with a few mostly cosmetic additions.

Highlights:

  • Eletrochromatic inside rearview mirror
  • Premium cloth seats
  • Painted alloy wheels

Dodge Grand Caravan SXT

The SXT is also not hugely different from the SE. The only big difference is alloy wheels instead of steel and a powered liftgate (although anyone who has owned a minivan knows just how nice a powered liftgate is). Extra options include 8-way power adjustable drivers seat and SiriusXM satellite radio - but this is a very minor trim change.

Highlights:

  • Alloy wheels
  • Powered liftgate
  • Optional SiriusXM

Dodge Grand Caravan SXT Plus

Like the SE Plus, the SXT Plus is also a fairly minor upgrade over the SXT - it does come with the 8-way power and height adjustable driver’s seat as standard, and the front seats are leatherette or suede rather than cloth. And it comes with 12 months of satellite radio service, painted alloy wheels, and the option of a DVD/Blu-Ray player. The trim options on the Grand Caravan are, generally, fairly incremental.

Highlights:

  • 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat
  • Leatherette or suede front seats
  • Painted alloy wheels

Dodge Grand Caravan R/T

The R/T is a high end trim level - it comes with leather bucket front seats, both of which are 8-way power adjustable and height adjustable. The driver seat also has power adjustable lumbar support. The rear seats recline. It has heated mirrors, a rear view camera, a tilt and telescopic steering wheel (leather and simulated alloy), three zone climate control and a DVD player as well as the stereo. It comes with twelve months of satellite radio service. The exterior includes manual rear side sunshades, alloy wheels and a power liftgate door. It also has an array of safety features including dusk sensing and auto delay off headlamps, post-collision safety system, stability control, head airbags in all three rows. Options include a Blu-ray player, black side roof rails, body color running boards and an engine block heater.

Highlights:

  • Leather seats
  • Three-zone climate control
  • Optional Blu-ray player

Conclusion

Choosing a Caravan trim level, unless you are going for the premium R/T, can be difficult as the differences tend to be minor and cosmetic - unless you have need for a specific feature then you might as well stick with the basic trim level and possibly a couple of options. This fits the Grand Caravan’s reputation as a family workhorse.