Caravan and Grand Caravan offer a slightly higher seating position that enables even short drivers to see over traffic. Yet a rope isn't needed to climb into the seats, unlike SUVs and some of the more truck-like minivans. The driver's seat could use more support in the seat bottom, however.

The gauges are straightforward, big, round analog displays, a great basic design. The instruments feature light gray faces with black numerals that are not quite as legible as white on black; they illuminate in green at night. The dash is canted slightly forward; the designers claim this provides better visibility. Indicators for the turn signals and high beams are cleverly located in a thin hooded display above the instrument panel where they are easy to see.

The steering wheel controls are among the best we've seen. Cruise controls are on the front of the steering wheel and allow precise control of the speed; an indicator on the dash tells the driver the system is on. Behind the steering wheel are audio controls that let the driver easily adjust volume, seek, switch among pre-set stations, and switch between AM and FM bands. It's a brilliant design.

Controls for the sound system and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) are intuitive and easy to use. However, the audio system's on-off/volume knob is obscured by the gearshift lever when in Drive and the separate button on the radio for setting a preset seems less convenient than the traditional method of holding the button down. Our test vehicle had the 4-CD in-dash changer, a nice feature even though it is separated from the AM/FM/cassette unit by the HVAC controls. Three-zone temperature controls allow the driver and front-seat passenger to set their own comfort levels and there's a separate control for the rear of the cabin for the kids to fight over.

Access to the rear sets of seats is easy, much easier than in a sport-utility. Power sliding doors, available for one or both sides work very well. The driver can operate them by pressing buttons on the dash or on the keyless remote. The second-row passengers can operate them by pressing a switch on the B-pillar, but that can be overridden by the driver. And yes, for safety's sake, the doors (and liftgate) will reverse if they strike an object when opening or closing.

Our Grand Caravan ES came equipped with bucket seats in the second row and a 50/50 split rear bench seat. The second-row buckets make the second-row passengers as comfortable as the front-seat passenger.

The third-row bench provides room for two adults rather admirably, but is a bit short of shoulder room for three adult males. The split rear is easier to remove because the two seats are easier to lift out individually than a big, heavy bench seat.

The seats are easy to remove. They come loose in three steps and can be rolled out on rollers to facilitate conversion of the van from people mover to cargo hauler. One person can do it, but they are heavy, so it's easier on the back to have a little help moving them from the van to the garage. With both rows of seats removed, the Grand Caravan can haul 4x8-foot sheets of plywood. It offers 158.5 cubic feet of cargo space. That's 16 cubic feet more than the shorter Caravan.

Cup holders are everywhere. The Grand Caravan is brimming with cupholders, the third row of seats having multiple holders for drinks of different shapes. Seatbacks can also be folded flat to make tables, complete with molded-in cup holders, just the thing for taking friends to the football game.

Our Grand Caravan was equipped with the optional power liftgate. The power doors may seem like an extravagance until your arms are full and it's raining. The power liftgate also keeps you from having to touch the liftgate when it's all gorpy with road sludge.

Optional pop-up paper grocery bag holders in the cargo compartment keep the bags from tipping over. Standard are hooks on the rear seatbacks for those plastic grocery bags that otherwise scatter your oranges and rutabagas all over the place at the first corner or stop sign. A net fitted between the front seats is handy for keeping mail or other items used for daily chores from sliding around on the van's flat floor. The optional moveable and powered center console that can be placed between the front or middle-row buckets is interesting.

Dodge minivans come loaded with safety features. Side-impact airbags for the front seat passengers are optional on all models. Front airbags, which, of course, are standard, feature multi-stage inflators designed to automatically compensate according to the severity of the accident. Front seat belts use pretensioners to take up slack during a collision. Middle- and third-row seats include child-seat anchors for a more secure installation.

Nature didn't cooperate by giving us a snowstorm to drive in, but the windshield wiper deicer that starts with the Sport trim level includes heating elements on the glass where the wipers park, an excellent addition for anyone drives in wintry conditions.