2001 Chrysler Voyager, 2001 Dodge Caravan, and 2001 Chrysler Town & Country

Reviews

Click here for a review of the 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan with all wheel drive

Click here for a review of the 2001 Chrysler Town & Country (almost identical to the Chrysler Grand Voyager and Dodge Grand Caravan).

Click here for previous-version minivans.

Key new features of the 2001 Chrysler minivans

Drastic increases in power and performance of V-6 engines
Powered tailgate
Removable centre console with power outlet
Powered, dual sliding side doors, featuring an industry-first, inside-the-door motor
Industry-first power sliding door obstacle detection system when opening and closing
Three-zone automatic temperature control system
Powerful, new 104kW (140 bhp) 2.5-litre common rail, direct injection turbo diesel engine. (104 kW @ 4,000 rpm / 312 Nm @ 1,800 rpm)
Side air bags
Front seat belt pretensioners
Universal child seat anchors (ISOFIX)
Quad head lamps incorporated in distinctive Chrysler front-end style

As time goes by: minivan decontenting

Unfortunately, after the takeover, Chrysler engineers were raided by a small team of overzealous cost-cutters. Some cuts, which may only apply to lower trim levels, included switch backlighting, the left flood interior light on the tailgate door, and the intensely useful windshield de-icers.

Models: Chrysler Voyager, Dodge Caravan, Town & Country

As in the past, Chrysler and Dodge offer a wider range of minivans than anyone else. With what may be the only four cylinder model, they start at 2.4 liters, and finish with the 230 hp 3.5 V6, with two other engines (3.3 and 3.8) between. The Mitsubishi 3.0 V6 is conspicuously absent in 2001 models. (Click here for dimensions and more details on the engines).

As in the past, there are two basic models - standard and extended wheelbase - with both front wheel drive and all wheel drive options.

Since Chrylser no longer aspires to be a near-luxury brand, the Town & Country is no longer a premium model. However, a Limited model takes over where the old Town & Country left off, with a three-zone temperature control and other luxury features.

The Dodge Caravan includes SE, Sport, and ES models. The ES includes an AutoStick overridable automatic transmission.

2001 Dodge and Chrysler minivan Safety

Dodge and Chrysler minivans comply with all domestic and European passenger car motor vehicle safety regulations, as well as head impact protection standards and the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) side- and offset-impact standards.

Some of the safety improvements include:

A body structure upgraded to enhance real world safety performance
Optional side (head and thorax) air bags provide side-impact protection for the driver and front seat passenger. Side air bags feature "blow through" seams.
Air bags with dual stage inflators which provide appropriate restraint from the severity of an impact, reducing the potential for injury in a low-speed collision
A redesigned steering column, with a stamped steel bracket at the forward end of the column, which absorbs and manages energy from an impact
Front seat belt pretensioners that eliminate slack from the seat belt system in a collision and constant force retractors which manage peak loads
A-, B-, C- and D-pillar covers molded from a derivative of polypropylene that deforms and absorbs loads on impact. Covers are offset from the body structure and include concealed ribs for energy absorption
Molded, impact-absorbing polyurethane foam bonded to the headliner and roof side rails for additional protection
Energy-absorbing front door armrests tuned to "give" in a side-impact collision
Child seat anchors - much better than the seat belts for holding a child seat

Driving Improvements for the 2001 Chrysler minivans

Head lamps provide an 80 percent improvement in lighting
Brake rotors and calipers are larger and improved
Engine and accessory changes increase the power and torque of the 3.3- and 3.8-liter engines while also improving engine sound quality and overall noise level
3.3-liter engine power increased by 15 percent to 180 horsepower from 158 horsepower; torque increased 2.5 percent to 210 ft.-lb. @ 4000 rpm from 205 ft.-lb. @ 4000 rpm
3.8-liter engine power increased by nearly 20 percent to 215 horsepower @ 5000 rpm from 180 horsepower @ 5000 rpm; torque increased 2 percent to 245 ft.-lb. @ 4000 rpm from 240 ft.-lb. @ 4000 rpm
An additional two degrees of caster in the front suspension and a 30 percent more powerful, more precise steering gear improve steering returnability and precision feel
A 20 percent increase in torsional stiffness of the body structure
Increased area for windshield wiper defroster grid and a 42 percent increase in power provide more effective wiper de-icing
A low-effort, low-travel paddle bar switch mounted on the back surface of the liftgate light bar triggers a solenoid that releases the liftgate latch
Aluminum steering knuckles reduce vehicle weight 12 pounds (5.5 kg) while maintaining durability
A state-of-the-art electrical architecture utilizes electronic relays to provide integrated self diagnostics as well as circuit protection

Noise, Vibration, and Harshness Reduction

Rear suspension attachment locations on the body structure are eight times as stiff, which reduces road noise
Molded foam gaskets between outside mirrors and the body prevent wind noise
Molded gaskets seal the inside and outside door handles to curtail noise entry
Acoustic materials that supply sound dissipation and absorption were applied to the concealed side of the headliner, on the dash panel, under the carpet and over rear wheel houses
A thicker underhood silencer pad reduces engine noise in the passenger compartment
Improved molded liners for the seat striker pockets reduce floor pan noise transmission
The front strut, control arm, and engine mounts and isolators were redesigned to reduce road noise and minimize shake
A toe board crossmember and instrument braces were added to minimize shake
The roof rack cross bows were refined through wind tunnel testing in order to minimize wind noise and eliminate rumble

Towing

Jerry Olsen wrote that 4-wheel disc brakes are now available on both the short wheelbase and Grand Caravan Sport models. It seems to be part of the "Sport Touring Group" and is a long awaited option. The "Trailer Tow Group" also seems to include the brakes, but only on the Grands.

2001 Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Voyager, etc. Interior

The rear liftgate and dual sliding rear door are powered from controls on the overhead console. The motors for the rear sliding doors are actually inside the doors themselves. The doors also have a manual override and an obstacle detection system that protects them from accidental damage while opening and closing.

The removable centre console may be latched into place either between the front (on automatic transmission vehicles) or the middle-row seats. Docking into brackets attached to the floor, the console provides power through an outlet designed into its front compartment. When the console is removed, the bracket functions as a storage tray, complete with a rubber liner.

The centre console includes two separate storage compartments with lockable hinged latching lids. The rear compartment is illuminated and has a large open storage area, complete with removable bin. A tissue and map holder are molded into the underside of the rear lid.

The front compartment features a removable bracket holder for a cellular telephone and a power outlet for the phone's battery charger. Power is always supplied to the front mounting location to allow overnight charging of battery-powered equipment. A pen/pencil holder is molded into the telephone holder. When mounted between intermediate seats, the console is powered when the ignition is on.

Since the removable centre console may also be located between the middle row seats, cup holders previously located on the inboard seat assembly have been moved to the outboard sides of the seat risers. When the seat is tipped forward for rear seat access, the cup holder remains in place as the seat rotates around it, to prevent spills.

A rear cargo organizer, mounted on the floor behind the rear seat, represents another MPV first and is available in Europe as an accessory. When open, the cargo organizer forms a storage bin with two folding dividers that are spaced to accommodate up to six full-size paper grocery bags. The organizer may also be used with the existing seat-back mounted grocery bag hooks to carry plastic grocery bags. Both features allow owners to transport groceries without spillage. The rear cargo organizer may be positioned at floor level or raised to a mid-level position.

In the raised position with storage compartments closed, the organizer aligns with the surface of the folded down rear seat back to create a continuous-load floor, allowing the user to carry 4' x 8' sheets of plywood. Also, while in the raised position, other items including pushchairs and golf clubs may be stored beneath in the closed storage compartments.

Front seat tracks have been extended by 10 mm to provide more leg room for tall drivers.

The instrument panel is visually detached from the door trim panels. The instrument panel features a message centre and has a deeper soft-touch pad area, extending farther forward to the base of the windshield.

A new molded front seatback panel includes an integral assist handle and two shopping bag holders on both driver and passenger front seats. All models add a vinyl map pocket on the left side while luxury editions and premium models with leather trim add an umbrella holder on the right side. Re-contoured inboard armrests now provide more walk-through space when folded upright.

The face of the centre console (the dashboard panel, not the removable center console) is canted upward for better visibility. Relocated front door switch modules provide easier access as they are closer to the occupants and angled farther inboard. Memory push-button switches have been repositioned for easier access.

The new centre console form is continuous from top to floor. Dual air flow outlets at the top of the centre console provide a consistent appearance while a fixed centre vent directs air to the rear seats and also includes the automatic temperature control sensor. Surface-integrated ventilation controls, audio controls, new centre console module, and an MPV first four-disc CD player follow the contour of the centre stack to maximize a built-in appearance.

The redesigned overhead console features a single door that now holds two pairs of sunglasses. The overhead rear climate control module, which now includes separate rear-area temperature controls, has been relocated from the driver's side to the centre, providing access for both centre row passengers.

Appearance

Aside from a Durango-like hood crease and changes to the headlights, it will be hard for the unpracticed eye to tell a 2000 from a 2001 model.

International: Chrysler Voyager

The Chrysler Voyager is sold in more than 70 countries. First introduced in 1988, the international Voyager entered European production in Graz, Austria, in 1991. Over 400,000 have now been sold outside North America. However, Chrysler only has a little over 12 percent of the European market, selling 50,000 per year in a 400,000 minivan market. In other markets, including Africa, Asia, and South America, Chrysler sells only 10,000 minivans per year.

Production for the international version of the redesigned Chrysler Voyager begins/began in January 2001 in Graz, Austria.

We have heard that, rather than putting the Chrysler logo onto Dodge Caravans, this year Chrysler will sell the Chrysler Town & Country as the Chrysler Voyager outside of the United States. Not a huge difference, in any case. International Voyagers will also include a short wheelbase version (think standard Voyager with a Town & Country nose and tail), along with the usual diesel and standard transmission versions not available in the US.

Decontenting?

R. Batchelor noted that the 2003 minivans no longer have the windshield wiper defroster, a very helpful and important feature in winter. Geoff Gariepy noted that his 2003 Grand Caravan did have it. However, we do know that it was gone by 2004.

2001 minivans: specifications (mm/in.)
	Long Wheelbase	Short wheelbase	Comparison: 1984-1990 minivans
Wheelbase:	3030 (119.3)	2878 (113.3)	112” and 119”
Overall Length:	5094 (200.5)	4803 (189.1)	176” and 191”
Overall Width:	1997 (78.6)	1997 (78.6)	69”
Overall Height:	1748 (68.8)	1749 (68.9)	64”
Track -- front:	1600 (63.0)	1600 (63.0)
Track -- rear:	1626 (64.0)	1626 (64.0)
Power	180 - 215 hp	150 - 180 hp	102 hp - 106 hp (1984) - 150 hp (1990)