Motor Trend Car Of The Year 1996

It turns out that making history is easy. At least it is in this case. Motor Trend's Car of the Year award has been in existence since 1949, and during that nearly half-century, we've scrutinized every new domestic car to hit the marketplace. We've driven thousands of cars over the years, but never before have we selected a vehicle quite like the Dodge Caravan. For the first time ever, we've awarded a minivan Motor Trend's Car of the Year.

It seems fitting that the company that created this segment should drive home with MT's Golden Caliper award. Particularly when you look closely at the magnitude of accomplishment Chrysler Corp. has made with the brand-new Dodge Caravan. Point after point, the Caravan redefines the boundaries of what we've come to expect from a family vehicle.

Naturally, in light of Chrysler Corp.'s unparalleled success in the field (it's been the segment sales leader since its inception), expectations were high for its new-generation minivans. Simply put, the Caravan exceeds those expectations. Like we said, this history-making choice was an easy one. For its smart design, advanced engineering, excellent value, sweeping market significance, and a long list of other positive factors, the Dodge Caravan has been chosen Motor Trend's 1996 Car of the Year.

A Great Car, Without CompromiseEver since Chrysler Corp. created the minivan market in 1984, each successive new competitor has aspired to make its entry more carlike. With the '96 Caravan (designed at a cost of $2.6 billion), the segment decisively has moved beyond a significant milepost. The Caravan isn't merely carlike-it's quite simply a car. Load in the family, take the wheel, and you'll find that this Dodge captures most every positive trait prized in an automobile, while eliminating all the space and comfort compromises inherent in the classic sedan format. It's our experience that even people who have no interest in minivans end up liking the new Caravan after just a short time behind the wheel.

Designed By The Expert: YouDodge's Caravan reigns as the world's best-selling minivan, and key in Chrysler Corporation's ability to please more minivan shoppers than any other manufacturer is its assertion that all buyers are not alike. To please a diverse customer body, a varied model line is an absolute necessity. That's why Chrysler Corp. offers three different lines of the same basic vehicle. The broad-range Dodge Caravan is the leading seller (a key factor in choosing it as Car of the Year over its near-identical siblings), followed by the Plymouth Voyager, with its high-value, entry-level orientation. Meanwhile, Chrysler's Town & Country offers luxury and prestige to a smaller slice of the populace. Beyond the simple brand delineations, this family of minivans comes in long- and short-wheelbase models, three- and four-door configurations, and with eight different powertrain choices-even a compressed-natural-gas-powered version is in the works. Then there are the options: Choose from several seating variations, leather upholstery, dual-zone air conditioning, superb sound systems, and a long list of other upgrades. This variety effectively allows buyers to custom-build a minivan that strikes the best balance between features and cost.

Bigger On The InsideThe great appeal of minivans is their ability to swallow up passengers and cargo with ease and enthusiasm. According to Theodor R. Cunningham, Chrysler Corp. Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, and General Manager, Minivan Operations, "Our five-million-plus owners have repeatedly told us that it's the packaging inside that's most important, and to please not compromise."