Chrysler · 2000–2010

Chrysler minivans

The fourth generation of the Chrysler minivans are a series of minivans produced by Chrysler from the 2001 to 2007 model years. A substantial revision of the previous design, the fourth-generation design received an all-new chassis and body design. The generation marked the retirement of the Plymouth brand (during its launch), the return of the cargo van variant, and the replacement of removable seating with fold-flat second and third-row (Stow 'N Go) seating. In another design change, the dual sliding doors introduced by the previous generation became a standard feature. Officially designated the Chrysler RS platform, the dual-wheelbase body again made its return. Coinciding with the retirement of the Plymouth brand, the nameplates underwent a revision, with the Voyager living on as the entry-level Chrysler minivan (adopting its export nameplate), slotted below the Dodge (Grand) Caravan and the Chrysler Town & Country. For 2004, the RS platform became the basis of the Chrysler Pacifica, a three-row full-size CUV sized closely with the long-wheelbase minivans. As with previous generations, the RS-platform minivans were assembled by Chrysler at its Windsor Assembly facility (Windsor, Ontario, Canada), supplemented by Saint Louis Assembly (Fenton, Missouri). This would be the final generation of Chrysler minivans assembled by Eurostar, later Magna Steyr (Graz, Austria) .

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Design overview

In development from February 1996 to December 1999, the 2001 design was intended as an extensive evolution of the NS generation. Design work by Brandon Faurote was approved in January 1997 and reached production approval in October 1997. Unveiled at the 2000 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), the model line release was part of a promotional tie-in with Nabisco, which unveiled their new "Mini Oreos" inside the van during the unveiling. The first RS-generation minivans left the Windsor assembly line on July 24, 2000, entering sale for August. Chassis. The RS-platform chassis carried both wheelbase lengths from its NS platform; short-wheelbase vans used a 113.3-inch length while long-wheelbase vans used a 119.3-inch length (unchanged since 1994). The suspension was carried over, including front MacPherson struts and a leaf-sprung solid rear axle. To reduce road noise, the body mounts for the suspension (both axles) underwent several changes. While front disc/rear drum brakes were standard equipment, four-wheel disc brakes were included on several option packages. Powertrain details. The fourth-generation minivans underwent a minor revision of the powertrain line. Though the 2.4 L I4 returned as the standard engine (only in the United States), the Mitsubishi 6G72 V6 was dropped as the base V6 option (for the first time since 1987). Both the EG-series V6 engines returned, with the 3.3 L and 3.8 L units offered as options. During its development, the SOHC 3.5 L V6 (shared with the LH cars and the Pacifica) was under consideration as an option, but was ultimately dropped from consideration. The 2.4 L engine was initially mated to a 3-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission; both V6 engines were mated to a 4-speed Ultradrive automatic. After October 2001, the Torq

Marketing variations

The RS-platform minivan was developed before the closure of Plymouth, with several changes in both branding and exterior design reflecting the retirement of the brand after the 2000 model year. As the generation came to market for the 2001 model year, it was marketed by Chrysler and Dodge, with the Voyager nameplate continuing on through the Chrysler brand; the model line was marketed in Europe as the Chrysler Voyager. For 2003, Chrysler reintroduced the cargo van design variant (last seen in 1995) as the Dodge (Grand) Caravan C/V. To bridge the gap between the outgoing B-series Ram Van and the Mercedes-produced Sprinter van, the C/V cargo van was assembled with deleted side windows (replaced by composite panels), a cargo floor made of plastic material similar to pickup truck bedliners and rubber cab flooring (in lieu of carpeting); the liftgate design remained carryover (with an optional rear window). While Europe accounted for over 80% of its production, the Austrian-manufactured Chrysler Voyager/Grand Voyager was sold in over 70 countries. In contrast to North America, Chrysler held a 12% market share of the MPV segment in Europe. Chrysler Town & Country. Initially introduced as the flagship model of the Chrysler minivan range, the Town & Country took on a wider role from previous generations, with some trims serving as a Chrysler counterpart of the Dodge (Grand) Caravan. For 2001, both body lengths returned in the previous LX, LXi and Limited trims. To accommodate for the Voyager nameplate shifting to the Chrysler line, Chrysler added entry-level eL and eX trim variants of the LX and LXi for 2002 (dropping them after 2003). For 2004, the entry-level trims were dropped, and the Chrysler Voyager was renamed as an unnamed base trim (offered only with the short-wheelbas

Licensed production

Taiwanese-market Town & Country minivans were assembled between 2005 and 2007 in Yangmei, Taiwan under license by the China Motor Corporation, starting with the 2006 model year. They were based on the RG variant Grand Voyager for global market. Taiwanese models featured minor variations for the local market including LED taillights, backup cameras and mirror-mounted turn signals. Coinciding with its relationship to Mitsubishi, the manufacturer again fitted the 3.0 L Mitsubishi 6G72 V6 to the model line (for the first time since 2000). In 2007, production ended and the production line was relocated to China where Soueast (a three-way joint venture between CMC, Mitsubishi Motors and the Fujian Motors Group) assembled the Chrysler Grand Voyager and Dodge Grand Caravan from 2007 until late 2010. The Grand Voyager was largely identical to the Taiwan-market Town & Country, fitted with turn signals on the fenders and the side mirrors. The Grand Caravan was fitted with its own grille, incandescent taillamps (rather than LED units), but shared its wheels with the SXT trim of its American namesake. The RS-generation Voyager and Caravan were discontinued after 2010; the Grand Voyager moved on to the RT-generation design, while the Grand Caravan was replaced by the Dodge JCUV (Dodge Journey), which entered local production in 2009.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Chrysler minivans (RS)
Manufacturer: DaimlerChrysler (2001–2007), Chrysler LLC (2007)
aka: Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Voyager, Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan (LWB), Chrysler Grand Voyager (LWB), Chrysler Caravan (Brazil), Chrysler Grand Caravan (LWB, Brazil), Chrysler Ram Van (Netherlands, Panel Van), Dodge Ram Van (Netherlands, Panel Van)
Production: July 24, 2000 – July 2007 , 2007–2010 (China)
Model years: 2001–2007
Related: Chrysler Pacifica
Body style: 4-door minivan
Assembly: Windsor Assembly, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Fenton, Missouri, United States, Graz, Austria (Eurostar), Fuzhou, China (Soueast: 2007–2010), Taoyuan, Taiwan (CMC: 2005–2007)
Platform: Chrysler RS platform, Chrysler RG Platform
Engine: 2.4 L EDZ I4, 3.0L Mitsubishi 6G72 V6 (China), 3.3 L EGA V6, 3.8 L EGH V6 2, 2.5 L Turbo Diesel R 425, 2.8 L Turbo Diesel R 428
Transmission: 3-speed 31TH automatic with 2.4EDZ, 4-speed 41TE automatic, 5-speed manual
Layout: Front-engine, front-wheel drive / all-wheel drive
Wheelbase: SWB: 113.3 in, LWB: 119.3 in
Length: 2001–2004 SWB: 189.1 in, 2005–2007 SWB: 189.3 in, LWB: 200.5 in/200.6 in
Width: 78.6 in
Height: 68.9 in
Designer: Brandon Faurote (1997)
Predecessor: Chrysler minivans (NS)
Successor: Chrysler minivans (RT), Dodge Journey (For SWB Version)

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30599110CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_minivans_(RS)CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1356822495 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chrysler_Voyager_front_20090206.jpgAttribution · Photo: Rudolf Stricker · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.