I drive a '08 Grand Caravan C/V (Commercial Van), I have it loaded with steel shelving and cabinets, repair parts, tools, and service manuals ( about 2500-3000 Lbs) I average 20 MPG city/hwy.

 

Got 29 mpg w poor running 93 Caravan 4cyl 5sp. Just purchased it and brought it home. It has 180k miles now, getting ready for overhaul w mild hop up tricks, hope to get 40 mpg when done. These are rare vans w manual trans and I looked long and hard for this one.

 

My nephew had a 1978 Trans Am with a 6.6 liter that got just as good mileage as my Caravan. The gentle hills of South Texas ate this vans' lunch. That little motor was screaming for mercy, probably clocking about 6 grand in RPMS on some of these hills. We only got 320 miles from a full 20 gallon tank. That plain SUCKS for a 4 cylinder engine. I used to get 400 miles from a 17 gallon fill up on my 2001 Monte Carlo, and it had a 3.4 liter V-6!! 16-18 MPG for a 4cyl. 100% is unacceptable. This is my first and last Caravan.

 

Maybe you shouldn't try to climb up hill at 80 MPH.
6,000 RPM, give your head a shake...

 

That's with the cruise control on. Thats is what the van wants to do with it's super smart computer system. It downshifted itself to 3rd at about 60-65 mph. I dont have a tach, but that's what the motor sounded like. I had to shut the cruise off because it became annoying after a while. So I climbed the hills at a pitiful 50MPH, gas pedal 3/4 to the floor trying to keep it from downshifting out of 4th so I wouldnt get the engine "scream". A four cylinder in something that damn big, with the capacity to carry six 200 pound adults plus luggage is absurd.

 

The super smart computer is supposed to do what the super smart driver tells it to do when it's in cruise. If the super smart driver tells it to speed uphill, guess what it does. If you wanted a 5000lb soccer mobile to do 80 uphill, you should have gotten the bigger engine. Fuel efficiency is 80% about matching the machine to the task.

 

My 98 3.8L gets 15mpg all city and I like to have my fun. I regularly hit over 4000rpm's hot roddin my grocery getter.

 

What do you mean matching the machine to the task? So I shouldn't take vacations in places that have hills if I have 4cyl Caravan? Pikes Peak is off limits? And the cruise? I set it on 70. It does what cruise does after that. You cant "tell" my cruise to speed uphill. Cruise or no cruise, if I dont want to end up going 35MPH on a hill NOFRAG, then my foot has to sink the pedal, go back into 3rd, and hope the poor little 2.4 don't fly apart. If Dodge is going to offer a 4 cylinder in a vehicle that heavy, that is DESIGNED to haul 6 adults plus luggage, (repeating self because was not heard the 1st time) they should find some way to give more power.

 

I know what you're saying subdivisions, but what I'm saying is that I highly doubt anyone looked into the 2.4 caravan being a heavy hauler. I would expect it to be something more of a commuter, something for people that don't need power. For people that needed power, they had 3 other engines available, and even that wasn't enough for some people, so they made the durango. See what I'm getting at? I'm not criticizing you or anything, I'm just saying that it wasn't meant to do what you want it to do. But the caravan wasn't really designed for 6 adults plus luggage, it was designed for 2 adults and five children.

 

Sorry but the engine controller ain't "Super smart"
The cruise responds to engine load. To maintain the same speed uphill requires tons of power. Probably 3-4 times as much as a level surface.
Slow down and manually downshift uphill, you'll save lots of gas and arrive 3 mins later.
You notice the big rigs always gear and slow down when going up hill? What makes you think you should be doing different. These guys are pro's!
Modify your driving style...