Long-Term Update

'96 Dodge Grand Caravan ES
Our long-term Dodge Grand Caravan ES is an ideal people mover, with every seat in the house receiving raves from our various occupants. In addition to providing abundant elbowroom, the Caravan's captain's chairs and rear bench offer living-room comfort, making this minivan seem much like a factory-built conversion van. In driving the Caravan daily, MT staffers have appreciated its subtle touches such as the contoured door handles, plethora of storage compartments, high-swinging rear hatch, and optional dual-zone climate-control system. The Caravan's logbook cites it as "an easily justifiable family vehicle choice," with its flexible seating arrangement, rear air ducts, integrated child safety seats, and child door locks. Beyond its functionality, the Grand Caravan ES has been enjoyable to drive, with the strong 3.8-liter/166-horsepower V-6 and touring suspension. Fuel economy has averaged a reasonable 19 mpg for a regular city circuit. Our only gripe thus far regards occasional difficulty in removing the key from the ignition.

'96 Honda Civic EX
On March 21, 1996, our new long-term Honda Civic EX rolled off the assembly line in East Liberty, Ohio, and out into the cold, cruel world of endless driving miles. At merely one day old, the Civic and an intrepid staffer began a cross-country trek that ended at our Los Angeles office with a mileage best of 33.3 mpg. On such a long trip, our driver was thankful for the extensive list of standard equipment, such as 1.6-liter/127-horsepower engine, automatic transmission, anti-lock brakes, dual airbags, air conditioning, power moonroof, keyless remote entry, cruise control, and power windows/locks/mirrors. One feature we fully appreciated was the AM/FM stereo head unit linked to an optional CD player ($399). It wasn't long, however, before we discovered that flipping open the floor-mounted cupholder blocked access to the CD player. For other options, we added floor mats ($69) and a security system ($155). When all was said and done, the total came to $18,083 for the heavily equipped sedan. Fresh from the extended road trip, our lively Civic netted a 10.9-second 0-60-mph run.