Chrysler's sub-$25,000 minivan will disappear

[datech]

I saw this on the web...

"

January 31, 2015

DETROIT -- Fiat Chrysler plans to abandon the bottom end of its minivan lineup next year as the redesigned 2017 Chrysler Town & Country replaces the existing model and the Dodge Grand Caravan.

That means that Fiat Chrysler's sub-$25,000 minivan -- the Grand Caravan's American Value Package starts at $22,390, including shipping -- will disappear.

Instead, the redesigned Town & Country will start around $26,000 and climb to $45,000 and up, depending on features, Chrysler brand head Al Gardner told Automotive News.

 

[Kuato]

Mistake.


They are removing themselves from an income segment.

 

[abycat]

Originally Posted By: Kuato
Mistake.


I think you are right. I wonder if their plan is to get more sales with more higher end buyers and the price increase will help them even more if sales were higher.

 

[hypervish]

Bad move for sure.

IMO, the only thing those minivans have going for them is that they are CHEAP!

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: hypervish
Bad move for sure.

IMO, the only thing those minivans have going for them is that they are CHEAP!


Yup. There are better on the market for only a bit more ... and less than the T&C.

 

[OneEyeJack]

Maybe they will replace their cheaper current mini-van with a Fiat van. The current American era Chrysler/Dodge cars may soon disappear and be replaced with Fiats.

Fiat passenger van.

 

[nthach]

Originally Posted By: datech


That means that Fiat Chrysler's sub-$25,000 minivan -- the Grand Caravan's American Value Package starts at $22,390, including shipping -- will disappear.

I wouldn't be surprised if Toyota made a even lower-end Sienna beneath the regular model or if Honda introduced a Odyssey DX. Or if Ford decides to agressively market the Transit Connect Wagon.

 

[IndyIan]

I do wonder how much they made on a $18k van? It would be interesting though if they did bring the Fiat vans over. It seems as if they could be cheaper still but I think they would have to be made in NA somewhere.

 

[Andy636]

I know that you can buy over there the Dodge Ram ProMaster City (what we call Doblo Cargo) but on the same platform Fiat has a nice MPV, although I don't see the point in bringing them on that side of the pound since the 1.6 and 2.0 M-jet are such a big no-no

 

[UNC151]

Originally Posted By: Kuato
Mistake.


They are removing themselves from an income segment.

+1 - while I have no desire to own one, they have a huge following. Fiat is not known as an "American" staple (if that is the plan to replace) so I predict epic fail.

 

[Yah-Tah-Hey]

Fiat 500 POP, only way to go.

 

[CrawfishTails]

Chrysler-Fiat is ceding the cheaper mini-van market to the Ford Transit Connect for current soccer moms who only want a 4-cylinder minimal mini-van.

 

[CrawfishTails]

Or even about a grand cheaper than a Transit Connect, and looking swoopier, Mazda5 minivan:

 

[badtlc]

Originally Posted By: CrawfishTails
Or even about a grand cheaper than a Transit Connect, and looking swoopier, Mazda5 minivan:

Mazda5 is no longer a USA vehicle.

 

[CrawfishTails]

Originally Posted By: badtlc

Mazda5 is no longer a USA vehicle.

The 2015 Mazda5 is available in the U.S. now. This is the last year, so new ones will stop production in a few months.
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayP...5#photos-videos

I'll bet the used minivan market will heat up. You can't even get a Kia Sedona for under $25,000 anymore. And only hamsters drive Souls, I understand.

 

[LX289]

Good i don't really feel for these vans as i have been in one and the seats are terrible for comfort. Go sit in one of the new sienna's and they have nice padding on the seats and they are contoured to your back. My grandpa has one with about 95,000 and it needed a new engine he still had warranty on it so he got a new engine for free. 2010 year. It burned a horrible amount of oil. Talk about quality right there...... He even ran Synthetic Valvoline in it.

 

[01rangerxl]

I wonder what the sales percentage is for each nameplate. It seems like I see a lot more of the Dodge branded vans than Chrysler ones. Maybe that's just a regional thing, or selective attention/memory.

The Dodge/Ram version is a popular commercial vehicle around here in both the Ram C/V and the Dodge passenger configurations. I guess the small Promaster City van will be taking over that role, but it has max seating of 5 in the wagon version, so they may lose sales from commercial buyers looking for an affordable people moving box on wheels. I guess they are willing to sacrifice those sales to the Transit Connect wagon which can seat up to 7.

With all the small Euro vans coming in, this was probably only a matter of time, but I don't think FCA really has all the gaps covered that will be left when the Dodge/Ram version of this platform is discontinued. The cheaper versions of these vans are still a big favorite with a lot of commercial buyers and municipalities.

 

[CT8]

A 6 or 7 year loan will allow those who can't afford a new car the ability to buy one.

 

[hattaresguy]

Honda gets over $40k for theirs, so makes sense.

 

[wirelessF]

Fiatization, make popular minivan more expensive, introduce Fiat version as cheaper version:

Slap some Mopar parts on this thing!