pet connection

Meet the new car, same as the old car. Except, well, it’s not.

When I started these reviews, it was because my 1998 Plymouth Voyager SE, a/k/a Forrest — as in forrest green — was getting a little tired of hauling dogs coast to coast, in all kinds of weather, through all kinds of terrain. Not really meant to ford shallow streams and plow over rutted fields, Forrest was starting to drop things, like pieces of his bumper, when out in the fields where I train my dogs.

I needed to start thinking about something new, and … well, here we are, with the dogmobile reviews.

Forrest has been a trooper, and I have no complaints. But I wanted something this go-around with off-road capability, along with that which all dog-lovers crave: Cargo space galore and value. Plus, I wanted something a little less soccer-mommy. I know a minivan is perfect for me, especially one with all-wheel drive (like the Toyota Sienna, coming up in the weeks to come). But I just don’t want a minivan anymore.

Which is why I sighed when the nice men from from the company that handles all the manufacturers’ media requests took away the Land Rover and left a Dodge Grand Caravan in its place. After a couple weeks of having people wonder who was driving that stylish L3 or head-turning yellow Toyota FJ Cruiser, I was back to being an invisible middle-aged minivan mom.

Really, I need to talk to a therapist about how suddenly my self-worth is influenced by what I’m driving. Because in fact, a minivan is still one of the best dogmobiles ever, and this particular minivan, with Stow ‘N Go seating, is truly an eye-popper.

One of the problems I’ve seen with many of the vehicles I’ve driven is that the manufacturers have traded cargo space for passenger space. Third-row seats that are hard to get rid of and second rows that don’t fold flat seem more common than ever. Swell for the folks hauling little Susie and all her Brownie troop friends, but hell for those of use who are trying to ditch the seats (cupholders, DVD players, etc.) and make room for Rover.

Nothing I’ve yet seen handles this challenge as well as the Stow ‘N Go seats in the Dodge and Chrysler minivans. You can go from having a seven-passenger van to having a wide-open cargo van in less than five minutes. You can have some seats but not others. The seats disappear into the floorboards in so many different ways and so easily that even I, with my minivan ennui, was impressed beyond all measure. The seats you don’t stow? Pull up the floorboards in front of them and … more there’s cargo room underneath!

Truly, truly an astonishing feature.

As for everything else, the changes in 10 years since Forrest joined the family are all good ones, if not as revolutionary as the Stow ‘N Go seats. The Caravan I tested stickered-out at a tick under $36K, with every imaginable option on board, from DVD player to heated seats to a towing package. It’s still a comfortable, responsive drive, and not too much of a gas-sucker (18/25). The side doors and rear hatch entry open automatically with two presses of the key fob, with the same controls repeated on the inside console.

Honestly, you can’t beat these minivans, and heaven knows with the one I have, I’ve sure tried. If ol’ Forrest is any indication of durability, the new Dodge and Chrysler vans will take you just about anywhere — still not recommended for off-road, though — with any configuration of people and pets for many years to come. They’re still not exciting, but if you’re more mature and sensible than I am, you’ll snap this puppy up next time you’re in the market for a dogmobile.