I sent my 2007 Chrysler Town and Country Touring(3.8) to a body shop for some minor rust repair and rented a 2007 Dodge Caravan(3.3),I know there is not much difference between these 2 engines but for whatever reason/s this 3.3 is a piece of ****. Doesn't have anything close to what my 3.8 gives. Plus this Dodge is the short wheel base model so it even has a little less weight to deal with. This 3.3 only has little over 86,000 miles while mine has around 108,000. If these engines were still being placed in New vehicles, I would stay away from the weak and useless(my opinion) 3.3

 

The 3.3 petrol engine is slower on acceleration and top speed than the 2.5 manual diesel that we used to have in the UK. I don't know how it compares in performance with the 2.8 auto diesel that Chrysler have supplied since 2004 but any of the petrol engines are very expensive to run for us.

 

To begin with there is about a 35 or so BHP difference between the 3.3 and 3.8 in the 2007 model, However, It can be difficult to judge the performance of a rental because you'll often find that it has been adjusted so as not to allow full throttle. In the past this was done by simply adjusting the throttle linkage but in this modern age its often done through the ECU.

back in 2012 I rented an SRT8 Challenger for a weekend and it was disappointing to say the least. It's not that SRT8's are underpowered, but it was simply that this one had most definitely been detuned. So I'd say yes there is a drop in power over the 3.8 but also to consider it may have been detuned.