Suburban Dad Vacation: Is it Like Driving a Bus?
I have to admit, when I saw the Dodge Sprinter in my driveway I was intimidated by its size. In some ways it was smaller than the van I had been picturing in my mind, but in person it stood awfully tall and was verrryyy long. I asked myself, “What have you gotten yourself into?”
I needn’t have worried. The Sprinter is a more-than-capable travel van, one that took my family (and a couple of extended family members) to upstate New York and back in style and comfort. Sure, there were a few things we’d have changed, but all in all I wouldn’t hesitate to rent one of these for another long road trip.
Beforehand, what unnerved me most about driving the Sprinter was the way I expected it to handle on the open road. Boy, was I mistaken. While there are adjustments you’ll have to make, it’s a very small learning curve. After only a short drive, I found the acceleration, shifting and handling very similar to my Kia Sedona (and minivans like it), and I can honestly say I really enjoyed driving it.
Even though it’s a big van, I never lacked for power to get going or pass on the highway. That’s thanks largely to its diesel engine, which not only provides enough oomph but also kept its gas mileage pretty reasonable for a van this size (another post on mpg is coming later this week). That being said, there was definitely an upper limit on how fast I could drive and feel comfortable with. Getting up to 70 mph was no problem, but once I passed 75 there was a growing disconnect I could feel with the road. It was nothing dangerous, just an unsettled feeling. I kept it between 65 and 72 for most of the trip.
The cruise control was a huge help for me; once it was set, just toggling the accelerate/decelerate lever to the upper left, off the steering wheel, provided enough throttle control. Because the Sprinter is so large, even a small push down on the decelerate lever dropped the speed quickly, so I could drop back when I had to.
No matter the speed, I found myself being more cautious as I took curves, but I never felt like I might tip over. I will admit I was more cautious than I would have been in any of last year’s SUVs.
In something of a gain over last year’s cars, visibility was no problem in the Sprinter. Even with enough suitcases and bags for eight people, there was plenty of storage space behind the last row so my view out the back window was never blocked. That’s a lot of storage space, my friends. The side mirrors had a great combination of standard flat mirrors plus some convex mirrors on the bottom that gave me a wide view of each lane on either side of the van. Lane changes were easily accomplished and there was no drama.
So, does it drive like a bus? Yes and no.
How it does:
- You’re definitely sitting up high, and that’s a big positive for me. Being able to see far ahead and over the traffic in front of you is a big safety plus, and it definitely gave me a much higher comfort level.
- While there’s not a lot of engine noise, there’s enough “diesel feel” to the Sprinter when it accelerates to remind you that you’re not driving the family minivan down the road.
- Finally, virtually everyone on the trip besides me could stand up inside the Sprinter, which they loved. That extra space — even just the sense of that space, I think — was a source of comfort to my passengers. My sister-in-law, mom of the 4-year-old and 2-year-old also on the trip, found that space handy when she had to shift around to keep one or another of her boys happy.
How it doesn’t:
- Each seat was comfortable and came equipped with a three-point belt; one teenage cousin who went for a ride was surprised to find the belts inside.
- Road noise and engine noise were largely absent, which is not at all reminiscent of the buses I’ve ridden in over the years. There was no need to shout to be heard at the back of the Sprinter. Unless of course the kids had their headphones cranked.
- There wasn’t the dread you often feel when getting back inside. I remember being on field trips and just loathing the thought of getting back onboard the bus. Instead, I quite enjoyed driving the Sprinter, even for more than 25 hours total.
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