Not sure why all the infighting on the merits of the vans.
I have had a 2013 Grand Caravan for a year, replacing a 1992 Dakota club cab with cap.
The GC is by far superior for my needs.
The Dakota held a theoretical 6 people (in reality, 2 in the front and 2 crammed in the back with difficult access and 12 inches of legroom. It did have a bed that was wide enough for plywood, and with the tailgate down, held 4x8 sheets. Or it could hold 3 people in the cab and 3 bicycles in dry, locking storage in the rear. Or 800 lbs of paver stones. Or a bed full of soil, mulch and lime. It got 19 mpg highway, sometimes 20-21.
The GC holds up to 7 people comfortably (OK, maybe 6 Comfortably); it holds 4 x 8 plywood with the middle and back rows folded down, in dry locking storage. Or 4 people with gear, or 6, or 3 with 3 bicycles. Or same amount of pavers, mulch, dirt, etc. It gets 25 mpg average, as high as 27 on long highway trips. It also has rear climate control for what's in the back. It has better visibility, a better ride and handling, has 100 more hp while weighing only 100 lb more, and has 6 gears vs 4, for more versatile driving. It OPTIMIZES utility.
