The Dodge Grand Caravan does 19.8 mpg combined (17.1 city, 24 highway), which works out to about $1,939 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.5L 4-cyl does 20.7 mpg while 3.8L 6-cyl does 18 — a difference of $278 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Dodge Grand Caravan engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Dodge Grand Caravan ranges from 20.7 down to 18 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $278 a year across 7 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 18.1 / 25 | 1988–1994 | $1,855 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 17 / 24 | 2002–2004 | $1,920 | |
| 4L 6-cyl | 17 / 25 | 2009–2010 | $1,920 | |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 17 / 25 | 2011–2020 | $1,920 | |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 17 / 24 | 2004–2004 | $2,021 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 16.7 / 21.4 | 1988–1994 | $2,053 | |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 15 / 22 | 2002–2002 | $2,133 |
What that actually costs
The Dodge Grand Caravan burns a gallon every 19.8 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 606 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.162 |
| Fuel per year | $1,939 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,695 |
| Against other V6 cars | +$9 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,135 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Dodge Grand Caravan gives up 6.9 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 24 out there against 17.1 in town, a 40% drop worth $646 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 17.1 mpg | $2,246 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 24 mpg | $1,600 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6.9 mpg (40%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Grand Caravan changed over the years
The Grand Caravan peaked in 1990 at 20.5 mpg (18 city, 24 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2002 at 19 — 1.5 mpg apart, or $148 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2020 car does 20. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 17 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2019 | 17 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2018 | 17 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2017 | 17 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2016 | 17 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2015 | 17 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2014 | 17 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2013 | 17 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2012 | 17 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2011 | 17 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2010 | 17 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2009 | 17 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2004 | 17 / 24 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 2002 | 16 / 23 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 1994 | 17.5 / 23 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 1993 | 17.5 / 25 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 1992 | 17.5 / 22 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 1991 | 17.5 / 22 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 1990 | 18 / 24 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 1989 | 17 / 23 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 1988 | 17 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,969 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 30 EPA ratings of the Dodge Grand Caravan — 7 engines across 1988–2020. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $3,135. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Dodge Grand Caravan get?
19.8 mpg combined on average — 17.1 in the city and 24 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1988–2020.
How much does a Dodge Grand Caravan cost in fuel per year?
About $1,939 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,695 over five years, or 0.162 dollars a mile.
Which Grand Caravan engine is the most economical?
The 2.5L 4-cyl at 20.7 mpg, against 18 for the 3.8L 6-cyl — a difference of about $278 a year.
Is the Grand Caravan good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world Grand Caravan figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Dodge Grand Caravan is $3,135 against the $1,939 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 22 and 18 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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